Congrats, AJ!!
SEASON OF DEVASTATION
CONTINUES FOR FRANTZ
(8/9/2019)- The 2019
season has been a season to forget for the Frantz
Racing Team, and this past Friday night, the
hardship continued.
Paul
started on the pole in his heat race, and at the
race's end he would finish sixth. A little confused
he stated:" I didn't expect to drop like that. I
thought we could make a run for that h
eat
win. We'll make some changes for the feature and
see what we can do."
Paul's dad
Russ, along with a host of others, discussed some
changes and went to work to make the car better.
The Associated Chiropractic/Haines Exxon #112
started from the eighteenth position for the 35 Lap
race. Paul was able to gain a few spots early, but
spun to avoid an incident forcing him back to the
rear. When the green waved for the restart, Paul
again started passing cars. He was closing in on
the top ten only to fall back a few spots due to
contact from another car. Just past the halfway
point of the race, disaster struck. While coming
out of turn two, a car spun in front of Frantz. He
turned toward the infield to attempt to avoid the
spinning car but was unsuccessful. Paul wound up
getting airborne and finally came to rest in the
infield just inside turns three and four.
After
catching his breath and taking a look at the car, a
dejected Frantz made the trip back to the pits.
"We didn't
need this. I thought I had him missed. Next thing
I knew, I was in the air. I'm not sure what all is
bent.
We'll have
to get it home and take the car apart and look it
over. That's how racing goes sometimes. I just
wish we could find some good luck" Paul stated with
a forced smile.
Right now, the remainder of the season is
uncertain. The team will evaluate the car, and see
about funding for the last two races. The hope is
to get it back together for the next race September
6, and have Paul's dad Russ come out of retirement
and race the car.
Paul added:"I hope we
can get it back together, and find sponsorship for
the next race. I would really like to see Dad race
again, and to do it in this car. AJ(Paul's son)
wants a chance to see his pappy in a car, and I feel
it would only make the car better for me."
Frantz
is looking for additional sponsorship to finish out
the 2019 season.
MECHANICAL FAILURE
ENDS NIGHT EARLY FOR FRANTZ
(7/21/19)- The old
saying goes,"If I didn't have bad luck, I'd have no
luck at all." Well, according to Paul Frantz, he
would take no luck right now.
Paul and
the Frantz Racing Team went into this week's event
with high hopes. Twin twenty-five lap races were on
the schedule, and the team felt very confident they
could wind up in victory lane in at least one of
them. That was not to be.
Due to his
last place finish the first race, Paul started the
Associated Chiropractic/Haines Exxon #112 from the
pole position. He quickly took the lead and was
comfortably there until the caution waved on lap
three. On the restart, he fell back and while
trying to hold on to third, he spun out after some
contact with another car. The end result was a
seventh place finish.
As he came
off the track, he noticed the car not going into
gear properly. Crew chief Russ Frantz, looked over
the car and determined the clutch had gone bad,
causing the team to load up the car and end their
evening.
An
obviously dejected Frantz stated: "I don't know what
we need to do to catch a break. We really thought
we were leaving here with a win tonight. Now, I
don't know if we will make the next race. With the
rules in place, we have to buy three tires each
race, and the funds aren't there right now.
Hopefully, we can find some sponsorship to make the
August 9th race. There is plenty of room on the car
to put someone's name, and this team has a lot of
potential."
OPENING NIGHT ENDS
EARLY FOR FRANTZ
(6/15/19)- Weather
finally cooperated, and the Frantz Racing Team was
anxious to get the 2019 season at Evergreen Raceway
started. "For the first time in fifteen years, we
had the car ready for practice and haven't been able
to get it out of the garage due to rain. I'm
really excited for the season. I think we have a
car that can run up front"; Frantz stated.
Eighteen cars were on
hand for the 75 Lap event. Paul started ninth in
his heat race and finished eighth which would have
him starting sixteenth for the feature. He said
after the heat:"I didn't want to abuse the tires in
the heat. We are all in the show, so save them for
when it counts. Dad is going to make some changes,
and hopefully the car gets even better."
At the drop
of the green, Paul started making his way toward the
front in the Associated Chiropractic, Haines Exxon
#112. By lap ten, he was running in the top ten.
Unfortunately, it was short lived. Some cars had to
check up and Paul got into the car in front of him
causing the car to spin out. No damage was done to
the car, so Paul rejoined the rear of the field.
Paul rode there behind three time Evergreen Champion
Matt Hirschman for a while. As the laps were
clicking off, Paul started passing cars again. He
worked his way up near the top ten once again.
Entering
turn one on lap forty-one, a car two positions in
front of Paul spun out. Paul hit the brakes hard
and spun his car to try and avoid contact, but he
was unable. He drove away from the accident and
headed pit-side. The crew changed the right rear
tire and were ready to send Paul back on the track
when Paul's dad Russ noticed damage to the rear end
housing ending the night for Paul , and relegating
him to an eighteenth place finish.
"We can't
catch a break. I wasn't even pushing the car. I
was half throttle almost the entire time. I was
just trying to save the tires for the last
twenty-five thirty laps to make a run to the front.
The car rolled through the corner pretty well, and
came off the corner great. Each car I passed, I
really didn't put much effort into it. I guess I
should have stayed right with Hirschman and went
when he did. The changes Dad made were great. I
just hope the rear isn't bent too bad"; a dejected
Frantz stated.
Next up for the Frantz Racing Team, is Friday night
July 19 at Evergreen Raceway. Twin 25 Lap features
for the modifieds. Also on the schedule are the
Street Stocks and 4 Cylinders. Admission is $18,
racing starts at 8:00pm.


