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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