Chuck Etchells Racing Turtle Wax Sponsorship Announced

Putnam, Connecticut, February 22, 1999 - Chuck Etchells Racing and driver Whit Bazemore today announced that they had acquired a new weapon to assist them in their pursuit of the NHRA's Winston Funny Car championship. Sleek and aerodynamic, it is designed to guard its occupants in case of danger, withstanding the challenge of repeated three hundred mile-per-hour runs. No, we are not talking about a new carbon fiber body for their fuel coupe, but a turtle shell. More specifically, it is the hard-shell protection of Turtle Wax and its Formula 2001 and CD-2 brands, which have joined Kendall Motor Oil and Superwinch as sponsors of the Etchells Racing Camaro Z28 Nitro Funny Car.

"Whit Bazemore is one of the more recognizable stars in the NHRA," stated Bob Piche, Director of Marketing for Turtle Wax. "Having proven he can win and perform under pressure with his own team, I believe that his moving over to drive for a proven contender such as Chuck Etchells Racing has given him the opportunity for even greater success. We are certainly glad to be on board for what promises to be an outstanding season."

Bazemore enters his first season as pilot of the Chuck Etchells Racing entry with five career wins, including the prestigious U.S. Nationals title in 1997. He acknowledges the pressure of joining a team that has a proven history as one of the most consistent in the sport, posting seven consecutive Top Five points finishes with Etchells at the helm. But the 35 year-old Bazemore plans to take full advantage of this opportunity, and aims to improve upon his career-best third place effort in the championship chase. He looks forward to relinquishing the pressures of team ownership to Chuck Etchells and concentrating on his duties as driver under the guidance of veteran crew chiefs Tim and Kim Richards.

"New sponsors are the lifeblood to any motorsports series, and everyone at Chuck Etchells Racing is thrilled to have Turtle Wax join us and the NHRA family," said Etchells. "Drag racing is fortunate to have an extremely loyal fan following, who are very involved with their personal vehicle's maintenance. Therefore, I believe it will be a perfect fit for Turtle Wax and its Formula 2001 and CD-2 brands. In addition, with their support, we will be able to sustain the type of effort necessary to stay in the championship fight throughout the season. It should be one heck of a ride for all involved!"

Turtle Wax's association with the Etchells organization mirrors that of their recently announced alliance with CART star and team owner Robby Gordon.

"Our goal is to do a more effective job of reaching younger males," detailed Piche. "For example, we have designed our entire advertising platform for our CD-2 performance products around the intensity and high performance of professional motor racing. With that in mind, I don't think we could have gotten two better representatives than Whit Bazemore and Robby Gordon."

The Turtle Wax presence will be primarily marked by their sponsorship of the on-board camera, which will provide a unique perspective on every run.

"It's great to welcome Turtle Wax and its Formula 2001 and CD-2 brands, not only to Chuck Etchells Racing, but to the sport of NHRA Drag Racing," exclaimed Bazemore. "Turtle Wax is a famous brand name, and it's exciting that they are planning marketing strategies around this team. Our sport has a tremendous amount to offer consumer goods companies, and I'm proud Turtle Wax has chosen us to represent them."