Two Winners Racing makes changes for 1997

Gold Eagle and Ford: Two Winners MARION, IN (December 12) - Two Winners Racing is proud to announce that the Gold Eagle Company will be the major sponsor on its #7TW sprint car for the next three World of Outlaws seasons. This will mark the fifth year the leading manufacturer of automotive additives and leak stoppers has used driver Jeff Swindell and the Two Winners team to promote its family of products. "We couldn't be more pleased to have Gold Eagle on-board with us again, and to know we're going to represent them for three more years, that's saying a ton," team co-owner Bob Kramer said Wednesday. "We've really worked hard to show them results from their sponsorship these past four years, and it's obviously paid off. It's great to hear fans at the race track say 'Hey, I had no idea who Gold Eagle was a couple of years ago, but now I buy their products all the time.' This not only shows that we've put their name out there, but that Gold Eagle has a great line of products for a race fan's personal automobile." Joining Gold Eagle on Two Winners' sprinter in 1997 will be the blue oval of the Ford Motor Company. At the same time, Kele & Associates, a distributor of computerized climate-control interface products, will again be one of the team's associate sponsors. "Bob Kriner did a heck of a job for us last year, and we certainly would recommend him to anyone," team co-owner Tom Wimmer said, "but you can't deny the success Casey Luna and Ron Shaver have had in developing the Ford (engine)." Swindell, who has driven for Two Winners Racing since the middle of the 1993 season, echoed his co-owners' sentiments. "Change is not something that is always welcome in racing, but sometimes racing mandates it," he said. "We have several changes coming about this year that, I think, will help put forth the effort to win the '97 championship. "The main change is the switch to the Ford engine, with backing from Ford Motorsports SVO for the first time in World of Outlaws history. Maintaining the engine building expertise of Ron Shaver, along with the backing of Casey Luna, should supply more than enough horsepower to get the job done. We're also going to run a J&J chassis this year since Jack Elam has the most experience in building a championship-winning car around the Ford motor." Swindell became the first to win a World of Outlaws race in a Ford-powered sprinter when he drove his #91 Shaver Specialties Gambler to a preliminary feature victory at Manzanita Speedway on February 28, 1986. Another change for Two Winners Racing will be the crew behind Swindell. Kirk DeWease, formerly with Cris Eash and Jac Haudenschild, will join Jamey Vanater in Indiana to assemble J&Js during the off-season. Vanater joined Two Winners Racing late in 1996 after helping Travis Cram win the "C" Feature at the Amoco Knoxville Nationals. Probably the most noticeable change, however, will be the paint scheme for the Gold Eagle Ford next season. After a collaboration of efforts from Action of Indy T-shirt artist John Augsburger and DeWayne Smith of Smitty's Custom Paint, the new "flame job" was unveiled at the Afco Shocks display during the recent Performance Racing Industry trade show in Columbus, OH. WoO