early morning hours. Fans responded to
the idea, and came out in large
number. With the younger generation
racers being allowed to stay up past
bedtime in order to make their runs,
Amber qualified seventh in Huddleston
Performance Top Junior Dragster during
Friday’s qualifying. When it came down
to eliminations, it was Amber’s day.
She defeated Mazlin Goforth and Mia
Schultz before earning a bye run to
the finals where she faced number one
qualifier Kaylee Shepherd.
Amber says that having consistently
good reaction times is one of the
hardest things about racing. It would
be Amber’s focus on her lights that
would lead to her first victory. She
bested Shepherd by two tenths on
reaction time and cruised her way to
the win. “I’d like to thank God, my
dad, my mom, my sister, all our
friends and family, the Roloff family,
the Schultz family and the Tanner
family,” Amber said, giving credit to
those who have helped her along the
way. The Franklins also appreciate the
help of their
crew members from this past weekend
and wish to thank them for all their
hard work- Chase Murray, Todd Wilcox,
and Chris Murray.
While Amber’s first win is something
the family won’t soon forget, perhaps
the bigger story behind Amber’s win
was seven year old Tulsa native
McKinley Pearson. Amber choose to race
‘Under the Lights’ in honor of
McKinley, who is battling cancer. The
young drag racer has a big heart and
had decided prior to the race to
donate 50% of her winnings to
McKinley’s family. McKinley’s dad and
brothers joined the Franklins at the
track Saturday and watched Amber race
to victory in McKinley’s honor.
Amber’s first Junior Dragster career
win couldn’t have come at a sweeter
time.
Although Amber has grown up watching
her dad race, this is only her second
year behind the wheel herself. She is
no doubt setting herself on the path
for a long and successful racing
career, and with her heart of gold, a
full and satisfying life as well.
Already following in his footsteps,
she wants to be like Dad. “I want to
drive a Pro Mod car when I get older,
just because my dad does.”
Showing great maturity for someone
just entering the seventh grade, Amber
advises other kids her age who dream
of racing to “focus and don’t give
up.” Taking her own advice of
consistency and focus, Amber says, “I
just have to do the same thing each
time and not let it get to me if I’m
racing a friend of mine.” Or, when the
pressure is on to turn on the win
lights for McKinley.
Besides running the full PDRA
schedule, Amber also competes in local
events, close to the Franklin’s
Fredericksburg, Va. home, as well as
with the EOPM Junior Dragster series.
Before racing ‘Under the Lights’
Amber’s best finish was reaching the
semi finals. Now with a taste of
victory, Amber is surely going to be
hungry for more. With two races left
on the inaugural PDRA tour, Amber sits
fourth in Top Junior Dragster points
ensuring herself a top 10 finish.
Amber and her father will compete at
what is slated to be the PDRA’s
marquee event, Dragstock, at
Rockingham Dragway, September 3-7.
Tommy, who sits third in points, will
be looking for his first win in the
PDRA.
Few victories truly stand the test of
time. Amber and her family hope that
the win in Tulsa encourages McKinley
in her battle and helps her to come
through with a true victory of her
own.
