Modified Racer Tyson Franks Talks About Upcoming Season

One of the top up and coming open wheel modified racers from the Natural State is Batesville native Tyson Franks. At just 20 years old, Franks has already won his first points championship, winning the championship at Batesville Motor Speedway in 2009.

According to his website, www.TysonFranksRacing.com, Tyson started racing go-karts at the age 7, winning 4 points championships, 2 Arkansas national championships, finished 7th at the Tulsa Shootout out of 225 in 2002 and 12th out of 256 in 2004. He has over 80 feature wins and undefeated on coke syrup (including heats), and 2 Enik Sanders Memorial wins.

Franks recently sat down with ArkansasDirtRacing.net to discuss his career and the upcoming season.

“I started off racing in go-karts when I was around seven years old.” said Franks. “When I turned 16, I moved into an E-Mod, and the past three years, I have been in a full blown open wheel modifieds, and won my first points championship at Batesville last year.”

When asked if he was going to return to Batesville in 2010 to defend his title, Franks stated that he was not, but only due to the track going with an IMCA sanction this year.

“The IMCA deal is really good for local guys who don’t travel much.” said Franks. “There are ups and downs with the sanction, but we have decided that we are going to continue to run full blown mods and race with the USCS and USMTS guys. We will mainly race USCS, but if USMTS comes within about five hours, then we will probably hit them up. The game plan right now is to do that, and to try to find one really big show each month to go race.”

When asked what drew him into racing, and what keeps him in racing, Franks stated one simple thing. Speed.

“My favorite thing about racing is the speed.” said Franks. “I’ve never been afraid of going fast, or of high speeds. I just love to be able to go fast and to be able to control a machine that has so much power, and to control something that not everyone out there can control. There is nothing like modified racing. You have all of that horsepower and you are trying to keep it hooked up on those little tires, it is fun to control that, and try to make it around the track without hitting something or other cars.”

He also spoke about his favorite win to date.

“My first feature win at Batesville is without a doubt my favorite.” said Franks. “It was so cool because I had Jeff Taylor on my tail all race long, and I just knew that he was going to pass me on the last lap. I fully expected to look up and see him flying past me, but I was able to hold him off, and get the win.”

Tyson plans on racing the upcoming Batesville Mid-America Modified Championship in March, but not in his car.

“I’ll be racing the Mid-America Modified Championship again this year, but not in my car.” said Franks. “I’ll be driving for Charlie Armstrong that night. It is kind of funny because my cousin Richie Tosh and Charlie used to have some epic battles. They have claimed one another many times, and Richie told me that just because I am family, that does not mean he will not claim me if I finish in the Top 5, because I’m racing for Charlie, and that is just what they do to one another. Of course, I know he is just playing around, and we are just going to go out and do our best to get a win that night.”

Tyson is sponsored by Rockhard Powdercoating, Mark Martin Chevrolet, Griffin Transportation LLC., Bell Racing Products, Wayne Brooks Racing Engines, and ArkansasSpeedways.com.

For more information on Tyson, visit his website at www.TysonFranksRacing.com