Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
After finding himself in the b-main, Jade Franklin did what he had to do to win the event, and then drove his way through the field in the Autumn Colours Classic Thunder Car 50 to finish seventh.
Franklin started off the weekend by finishing seventh in his first heat on Friday night.
Later on that night, he started seventh in the APC Youngguns Showcase, making his way up to fourth by the third lap. He continued to run there till the only caution flew at Lap 14 for an incident on the backstretch. The restart saw him battle side-by-side with Treyten Lapcevich for third, but ultimately he’d fall back into fourth by Lap 17. He continued to run there, till he was passed on the last lap resulting in a fifth place finish.
Come Saturday, he once again had a difficult heat, picking up a seventh place finish.
With the pair of sevenths, he was forced to run the b-main, hoping to post a fourth place or better finish to qualify for the Autumn Colours Classic. A three-wide move on the opening lap didn’t go his way, though, resulting in a flat tire which sent him pit side. Luckily, the caution flew on the restart for a spin, allowing Franklin to rejoin the field.
Restarting at the tail of the field, he made his way through the field, taking the lead at Lap 11. From there on, there was no looking back as he cruised the rest of the way en route to the victory.
With the victory, Franklin started Sunday’s Autumn Colours Classic from the 21st position. He began to make up ground immediately, running 18th as of the first caution at Lap 5. He then escaped an incident ahead of him on the restart to continue to make up ground. Another restart in the books, and Franklin had made his way up to 13th by Lap 11. He then passed Brandon Passer a lap later to move up into 12th.
Franklin also continued his climb forward, passing Townsend for 11th on Lap 13, and kept moving forward to find himself ninth as of Lap 24. He’d continue making his way forward, moving into the eighth spot on Lap 42 after passing Coltin Everingham.
He then crossed the finish line in eighth, though was credited with a seventh place finish after the runner-up was disqualified.
A successful Autumn Colours Classic weekend adds to a banner year for Franklin in his sophomore season of competition. He finished fifth in the final points standings at Sunset Speedway with four feature top-fives, 11 feature top-10s and nine heat top-fives in 12 events.
“I think it went really great,” Franklin commented on his season. “I was hoping for a top-five points, which I got. I was hoping for a feature win – didn’t get that, but came close. We’ll come back next season and go at it.”
Franklin noted he learned a lot between his rookie season and this year, which made a difference behind the wheel.
“I was always getting told a couple years ago to keep my patience and this year I worked on that and did a better job on that,” he added.
Jaded Motorsports is supported by Destination RV, Nitro Industrial Sales, Duivenvoorden Haulage Ltd, Adco Tires and Sales Incorporated, Stefco Racing Engines, King, North River Motorsports and Discovery Dream Homes this season.
Be sure to also follow Jade Franklin on instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/franklin.jade/ to keep up with him and Jaded Motorsports going all year long.
Press Release by Ashley McCubbin/AM Marketing – ashleymccubbin17@gmail.com
