Special Section
BETWEEN TWO JR . DRAGSTER CLASSES AND A SLEW OF PROFESSIONAL AND SPORTSMAN CATEGORIES , THE PROFESSIONAL DRAG RACERS ASSOCIATION HAS A NUMBER OF YOUNG DRIVERS , TUNERS , CREW MEMBERS AND OTHER PERSONALITIES CONTRIBUTING TO THE ALL-EIGHTH- MILE SERIES ’ SUCCESS . MANY OF THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE APPEARED ON PAST DI 30 UNDER 30 LISTS , WHILE ANOTHER HANDFUL MADE THE LIST THIS YEAR . ¶ BUT THERE ARE ALSO MANY MORE UNDER-30 PDRA PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE STILL EARNING THEIR STRIPES , WITH JUST A FEW STEPS TO GO BEFORE THEY TOO MAKE IT ON THE 30 UNDER 30 LIST . THE FIVE PERSONALITIES IN THIS FEATURE HAVE EACH DONE BIG THINGS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS , AND THEIR PERFORMANCES SUGGEST THEY ’ RE ON AN UPWARD TRAJECTORY THAT WILL LAND THEM ON THE 30 UNDER 30 LIST IN THE COMING YEARS . [ EDITOR ’ S NOTE : JR . DRAGSTER CHAMPIONS ETHAN STEDING AND ROWAN PARLETT WILL APPEAR IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE CELEBRATING THE 2021 RACERS OF THE YEAR .]
AMBER FRANKLIN
Many onlookers had high hopes for Amber Franklin when it was announced that the 2017 Pro Jr . Dragster world champion would make her $ hameless Racing Pro Outlaw 632 debut at PDRA Proline Racing DragWars presented by Modern Racing in October . But her perfect . 000 reaction time in the first qualifying session definitely raised some eyebrows . When she finished the weekend with a runner-up finish and backed it up with another runner-up finish at the Brian Olson Memorial World Finals presented by Pro- Charger , everyone quickly realized the class had a new championship contender to watch out for in 2022 .
Franklin , 19 , is driving the same Jerry Bickelbuilt “ Jungle Rat ” ’ 69 Camaro that her father , Tommy Franklin , drove to the 2016 and 2017 Pro Nitrous world championships . The Franklins did make some modifications to run Pro Outlaw 632 , including a Musi 632ci engine in place of the Pro Nitrous-standard 959ci mill .
Franklin has proven she has what it takes as a driver to take advantage of the top-shelf equipment . She ’ s already one of the most consistently quick leavers in the class , showcasing the talent she developed in the Jr . Dragster ranks and in Top Dragster and local bracket racing competition .
Off the track , Franklin remains deeply involved in the sport through her work with the family businesses , which include the PDRA and Virginia Motorsports Park . She also supports her younger sister , Ashley , who now competes in Pro Jr . Dragster , as well as her dad in Pro Nitrous , and her boyfriend , Blake Denton , a Top Dragster standout .
TY KASPER
One of the rising stars in the PDRA ’ s new Drag 965 Pro Street is 22-year-old Ty Kasper , who finished third in points behind veteran drivers Tim Essick and Jesse Lambert . Driving the family ’ s twin-turbocharged Victus Sports / Kasper Performance Edge Mustang , Kasper reached two final rounds in six races . Kasper ’ s Mustang also frequently made the highlight reel , with its hardcharging , high-flying wheelstands down the eighth-mile racing surface .
With a little luck and some slightly quicker performances , Kasper will surely find his way to the winner ’ s circle in Pro Street ’ s second championship season .
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