Special Section
PRO 632
AMBER FRANKLIN
AS A PAST PDRA Pro Jr . Dragster world champion , Amber Franklin knew what it would take to win a world championship in her first full season of $ hameless Racing Pro 632 competition . The second-generation PDRA champion used a combination of determination , consistency , and strong performances to clinch the 2022 Pro 632 world championship .
Franklin earned her first win at the second race of the year , then won again at the next race , doubling up with her father , Pro Nitrous star Tommy Franklin . She also had two runner-up finishes this season . Along with Franklin , Alan Drinkwater and Lexi Tanner became first-time winners , while Daryl Stewart also won two events . Walter Lannigan Jr . and the $ hameless team were the championship runner-ups despite going without an event win .
“ The competition is definitely tough and we have some good drivers in the class ,” Franklin said . “ I ’ m excited to see where next year goes . We ’ re not stopping here . We ’ re not just satisfied with what we ’ re doing . We ’ re always working to see what else we can find to be a little better for next year . I think we ’ ll find some of that over the winter and hopefully go back-to-back .”
PRO NITROUS MOTORCYCLE
TRAVIS DAVIS
THREE-TIME DRAG 965 Pro Nitrous Motorcycle world champion Travis Davis didn ’ t set out to chase the 2022 PDRA title , but with hard work , smart calls , and a little luck , the Georgia native secured his fourth PDRA world championship . Davis won it on the strength of two event wins in four appearances at the five races the class attended .
“ Winning the championship was kind of unexpected , to be honest ,” Davis said . “ To win four of them , I ’ m proud of our team and everybody that helps me . We really weren ’ t focused on the championship , just trying to develop a new engine and take a little time off , but we managed to do it . We didn ’ t go to the Ohio race , so any time you start skipping races , championships usually aren ’ t in play . But the races we did show up at , we either won or went rounds and put ourselves in a position to do it . You try to win them all , but you ’ ve got pretty stiff competition to do that .”
PRO STREET
TIM ESSICK
TIM ESSICK MADE PDRA history in 2021 when he won the first-ever world championship in the Pro Street category . Following a 2022 season that saw Essick win twice in his ProCharger-boosted “ Brown Sugar ” ’ 18 Mustang , the Maryland native is yet again the Menscer Motorsports Pro Street presented by AFCO world champion . “ It was just a terrific feeling to be able to back it up ,” Essick said . “ It kind of validates everything that we ’ ve worked for . It just goes to show that it ’ s a successful program . It makes you feel good about what you ’ re doing .” Like Pro 632 , Pro Street saw new contenders emerge . After Essick ’ s win at the season opener , Bill Riddle and Ty Kasper became first-time winners , with Kasper winning back-to-back races . Essick picked up a second win late in the season , while Riddle was declared the winner of the World Finals .
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