NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

Like so many others in the industry, Jim Epler will mourn the loss of another racing venue this week when Heartland Motorsports Park plays host to professional drag racing for the last time with the 33rd renewal of the Menard’s NHRA Nationals presented by Pet Armor.

However, for the Executive Vice-President of Phillips Connect and principal in Max Out Motorsports LLC, it’s more than just losing another place to race. It’s saying goodbye to an old friend.

That’s because for the past 30 years, Epler and Heartland Park have been inextricably linked by history. On Oct. 3, 1993, racing against Gordon Mineo in the first round of what then was the Sears Craftsman Nationals, Epler accelerated from zero to 300.40 miles per hour in 5.167 seconds, setting an NHRA national record for the quarter-mile and becoming the first Funny Car driver to break a 300-mph barrier once thought to be unreachable.

Ever since, he’s been “Mr. 300,” a nickname bestowed by the late Hall of Fame announcer, Dave McClelland. 

Although he raced in 12 final rounds on the pro tour, was a multitime No. 1 qualifier and top 10 finisher, and, in 2000, won the sport’s biggest single event, the Labor Day U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Epler forever will be remembered for that singular accomplishment.

Ironically, coming into Topeka that year, the record was “only” 295.37 mph, a mark established six months earlier by Freddy Neeley. However, as the weather cooled following a hot summer, a host of teams began to sense the record-breaking potential of upcoming fall events, especially the one at Heartland Park.
    
“We went 299.90 in qualifying in perfect conditions,” Epler recalled of a Topeka speed that at the time was the fastest in NHRA Funny Car history. “It ran on eight [cylinders] all the way to the finish line, so I knew it was good. My crew chief, Mike Kloeber, put a big [fuel] pump on it for first round against Gordon Mineo, and it made the same big move and ran clean again on all eight. 

“I really thought it could run 300,” Epler said, “but when it did, I was still a little surprised. At the top end, everybody was jumping up and down and holding three fingers up. It changed my life when it happened.”

Epler rode the wave of momentum from that performance to a season-ending victory in the Winston Finals six weeks later that included top speed of the meet at 297.12 mph. Ironically, Epler’s Topeka record breaker was the only 300-mph Funny Car speed of the entire season. It would be four months and a new season before Al Hofmann would join him as a member of the unofficial 300 MPH Club by accelerating to 301.10 at Phoenix.

Last year, Epler and Phillips Connect offered another 300-mph challenge to the NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car ranks. NHRA partnered with Phillips for the formation of the “Phillips Connect 300 at the 1/8” program, a special club that will honor the first 10 drivers in either Top Fuel or Funny Car to reach the 300-mph milestone in the eighth-mile. 

“When I broke 300 mph in a Funny Car at the quarter-mile, it was a major accomplishment," said Phillips Connect EVP Epler. "Now you see drivers reaching this speed at just half the distance. It’s a true testament to the technology and the incredible crew chiefs that have taken this sport to the next level. We’re honored to be a part of this groundbreaking club and appreciate the hard-working teams that have kept the NHRA excited.”