PHOTOS: COLE ROKOSKY |
performance of the season. He defeated“ Stevie Fast” Jackson in the final with an astounding 3.677 elapsed time at 204.70 miles per hour. His 3.699 from the semi-final round was enough to back up his final round performance and reset the Pro Nitrous National ET Record. Franklin put a bold proverbial exclamation point on his championship, effectively silencing his naysayers.
“ You always have your haters and you always have people looking for excuses, but I can honestly say that we did it the way it should be done,” Franklin emphasized.“ We ran fast. I didn’ t give away anything. Nobody gave anything away for us. I race with Pat and Lizzy a lot and we help each other a lot, but she beat me in the final at GALOT by. 00 margin of victory and then her and I had to race second round of the Bradenton race, and she was certainly going after me there. There’ s no doubt we were definitely racing for it every round. The people out there that say it was different are crazy to think that. I don’ t
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want anything given to me.
“ It was a hard battle all year long,” Franklin added.“ Jay was strong. In the middle of the season I think he went three in a row. I got the crew together, regrouped and told everybody,‘ Look, all we can do is control what we do.’ I have a great crew that really keep their composure well. That’ s the way we went into Virginia, confident in what we could do. Sunday at Virginia just became a perfect dream season. I think we went 3.70, 3.70,
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3.69 and 3.67 there.
“ Jay and I have an interesting relationship,” continued the Fredericksburg, Virginia native, hinting toward the friendly rivalries that exist between Pro Nitrous competitors.“ Yeah, we are friends, but we’ re very, very, very competitive toward each other. Jay talks a lot of junk and Jay’ s crew talks a lot of junk. I’ ll just say it like this: It was very satisfying to shut them up. You can build yourself up, but it’ s a hard fall if you don’ t live up to it. I don’ t like to talk a whole lot of junk, but it’ s kind of easy to Jay for some reason. He’ s the only one it comes easy to. He’ s already starting to talk smack for next year. We’ ll see. You’ re not getting into my head. I don’ t care.”
It seems the more intense the battle, the more satisfying the victory. After two seasons of championship near-misses and a down-to-the-wire championship decision in 2016, Franklin is finally able to revel in the thrill of victory. That doesn’ t mean he’ s about to slow down, however. Franklin and engine builder Pat Musi have a full offseason planned.
“ We’ re working on advertising and sponsorship draws for next year,” explained Franklin, who coowns the PDRA and owns two other businesses he and wife Judy run on a daily basis.“ As far as our team, we’ re working on our engine program. I’ m helping Pat head a lot of that up while he’ s overseas. For anybody that thinks we’ re going to get behind, it ain’ t going to happen. We’ ve got a lot of stuff in the works for next year. I’ m helping Pat make sure that doesn’ t lose any ground while he’ s out of the country. We’ ve got some exciting things coming.”
“ It was huge to be able to clinch the championship, and win the race, and set the national record all in one day,” Franklin said.“ There’ s not a whole lot more I can ask for.”
He again thanked the Lord, also adding thanks to his wife, two daughters and other family for their support, as well as his crew which consists of Chris Murray, Chase Murray and Todd Wilcox, and team partners Pat Musi Racing Engines and Wayne Rogers with Rogers Automotive.
- LISA COLLIER DI
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