Dirt
Tommy Franklin wins first PDRA
event of the year in fine fashion
By Lisa Collier
I
n a postponed finale, Tommy Franklin became the first Pro Nitrous victor of
the season with a 3.742 run against Travis
Harvey in the final round. In qualifying for
the event, Franklin and Steve Jackson recorded
the quickest and fastest side-by-side run in Pro
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Nitrous history, with Franklin’s 3.686 pass edging out Jackson’s 3.697 for the quickest ever Pro
Nitrous run. Franklin hoped to back up his run
to officially reset the ET record during eliminations. He nearly did it in round two, posting
a 3.726, when he needed a 3.722. However, as
the day went on weather conditions worsened,
making it unsafe to complete the race at Tulsa
Raceway Park. The final two rounds of competition were completed during qualifying for the
PDRA Spring Nationals at Rockingham Dragway,
and although Franklin went on to win the event,
with the variation in weather conditions he was
unable to repeat his Tulsa performance.
Franklin qualified second for the Spring Nationals, but exited in the second round as he
ran into trouble on track and had to slow. Still,
Franklin is an early-season favorite, sitting second
in points behind Harvey who went on to win
Rockingham.
“It feels really good [to record the quickest ever
PN pass],” told Franklin, who has held the na-
Issue 109
PHOTO: RICK BELDEN
Coming Out Swinging