Second year Sport Mod driver Trevor Frank had accomplished a lot in his short racing career before last Saturday night. Multiple top 5’s, podium finishes and Plymouth Dirt Track Racing Rookie of the Year in 2020, and now 8 Heat race wins, 8 Top 5’s and 5 Podiums in 2021. However, a first career A Main had so far eluded the Sheboygan, WI native. From spinning while leading, being taken out in incidents, to just plain bad luck, Trevor had wondered if it would ever happen.
Well, wonder no longer Trevor Frank. It happened.
The night began with the Frank Motorsports 21F Team drawing a #37 pill, which put Trevor in the 7th starting position in PDTR Sport Mod Heat 2. Frank quickly worked his way through the field, reaching the Top 3 when a Yellow flag flew late in the 10 lap heat. Using the high line on the restart, “Ballpark” rocketed around the cushion to grab the lead and in doing so, his 8th Heat Race victory of 2021.
“It felt fantastic to go last-to-first in the heat.” Frank said. “The car was an absolute rocket ship. We sat around with my brother and dad, trying to decide if we should change anything for the A Main, and I’m really glad we didn’t because we’d end up having to do the same thing again in the feature starting in the middle of the pack.”
An 8 car invert put Trevor starting in the 8th spot for the night’s 25 lap Main Event. On the initial start, Frank committed to the top of the racetrack and actually fell back a position early. After fighting with the 22M of Barry Maas and the 2K of Rick Kretschman in the early stages, Trevor found the bottom of the Speedway and moved past Maas and up into 7th before a yellow flag flew on lap 4.
On the ensuing restart, Frank moved to the middle of the track and began to roll through the center of the slick ⅓ mile surface, and it paid off. “Ballpark” would move past the 66 of Steve Lorier and the 17 of Brandon Knepperath for a top 5 spot by the halfway point.
After a mid-race caution for a spinning 13AA of Phil Campanella, Trevor found himself inside the Top 5 and starting on the outside once again due to PDTR’s “Delaware Double File” Restarts. Once again, Frank went to the middle lane and ran it to perfection, passing the 59S of Spencer Long for 4th and then the 55 of Donny Singer on the next circuit to move into a podium position.
However, Frank had no plans of stopping there.
“When I got into 3rd I knew I had a really good shot.” Frank said after the race. “I could tell the middle was faster and the car was just rolling so smoothly over the bumps in 1 and 2 and I could get a lot better drive off the corner than the Top 2 guys. I just knew I had to be patient and keep doing what I was doing.”
It took the American Senior Benefits of Wisconsin 21F car just 3 laps to catch and pass the 2nd place car of Shane Long in the 17s, but now Frank would have to contend with the leader; his championship rival Justin Bauer in the 75.
Running side by side for multiple laps, it appeared the two were evenly matched for the time being. But then, Frank launched into turn 3, squared up the car in the middle of the corner and rocketed out of the turn and into the lead with just 7 laps remaining. Bauer tried to fight back into turns 1 and 2, but Frank held off the 75 and solidified his lead just as another caution came out with 6 circuits to go.
Frank now planted the 21F on the bottom of the speedway, forcing Bauer to either try a dive-bomb move to the inside or to go around him on the top. After another restart with 3 laps to go though, the move never came. Trevor Frank crossed under the twin checkered flags with a fist pumping out of the window in celebration of his first career A Main win.
“I honestly wish I could find the right words to describe how this feels.” Frank said after the emotional Victory Lane celebration with his Family and Crew. “I wish my Grandma could be here to see this. We lost her last December and she was always my biggest supporter in life. Yeah, this one’s for her.” Frank then expressed his thanks to his family and crew for sticking by him through some tough weeks earlier this year.
“My dad puts so much time into this car. Checking every single bolt all week long to make sure we don’t have any issues and he gives me so much support at the track.” Frank said. “My mom, Brandon, Thana, my girlfriend Makayla and everyone else who has ever helped out on this thing, thank you. Of course, a huge thank you to Cody’s Custom Bodies and Cody Schroeder for helping me so much this off-season and during the season with all of our body work, and all our other partners and fans for their support. We couldn’t do this without you! Now onto the Captain this week. Hopefully we can keep the momentum going!”
The win closed the gap from Frank to PDTR Sport Mod Points Leader Justin Bauer to just 2 markers with only 2 points paying races remaining at PDTR in 2021 for the Sport Mod division.
Next up for Trevor and the Frank Motorsports team is this Tuesday through Thursday’s $10,000 to win Captain of the Creek at 141 Speedway in Maribel, WI. Tickets are available at the track for Tuesday’s Practice night and Wednesday and Thursday’s full programs. The action will also be broadcast LIVE on FloRacing.
Trevor Frank and the entire 21F team would like to thank their 2021 partners for helping them be able to compete at the front this season!
American Senior Benefits of Wisconsin
Cody’s Custom Bodies
Odyssey Fun Center
Crazy G Design LLC
Frank Motorsports
Doug’s Skip’Er Inn
Throttle Down Threads
Josfo Electric
Box3 Media
Chad Marquardt Photo
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