Frana Grabs the Runner-Up Spot @ TORC Chicagoland

Frana Grabs the Runner-Up Spot @ TORC Chicagoland   Loves Park, IL (July 25, 2012) – The always fast John Frana arrived at the dirt track at Chicagoland Speedway knowing that the stadium-style track would suit his #907 RCV Performance/”the Official” Brand Name Prescription Card/Sway-A-Way/Rooster Synthetics/Frana Vehicles Honda-powered AWD PRO Buggy extremely well. The only question in the minds of TORC PRO-Buggy fans was, “Could he land on the podium during both nights of racing?”   The eight turn stadium style track that wound its way on and inside the .5 mile banked clay oval had a very challenging mix of jumps, bumps, and moguls. The top PRO Buggy drivers were completing laps in just under a minute.   Thursday – Round 7 The Friday afternoon qualifying session saw Frana experience several issues including a broken right rear control arm. Even with a limited number of laps, the RCV Performance PRO-Buggy qualified fourth fastest out of the thirteen entries.   The start of Round 7 saw Frana quickly take the lead by the end of lap 2. On the third lap the RCV Performance/”the Official” Brand Name Prescription Card/Sway-A-Way/Rooster Synthetics/Frana Vehicles Honda-powered AWD PRO Buggy opened a lengthy gap over the rest of the field as Frana set the fastest time of the class with a blistering 55.477 second lap. That was faster than the best lap times of half the PRO 2 field that evening! Then disaster struck midway through lap 6, the right rear hub assembly broke leaving only three wheels left to propel the PRO Buggy. Slowly Frana limped the racer back to the pit area, officially finishing in eleventh place.   Overnight, John and crew chief Ryan Brumund replaced both rear hubs, suspension uprights, and revalved the Sway-A-Way Racerunner shocks.   Friday – Round 8 You could feel the electricity in the air as the SPEED cameras began their live race coverage with the PRO Buggy race. Lining up in the last row of the field was John Frana. When the green flag was waved, it seemed like everyone had stepped up their game for the television broadcast. There was plenty of contact happening throughout the race and by the midway caution lap the #907 PRO Buggy had worked its way into third place. One lap after the caution Frana made his way around J.R. Wheeler for second place. Now his eyes were set on catching the leader, Mitchell DeJong. Unfortunately the gap to the leader was too large to overcome as John Frana crossed the finish line in second place.   “The track was rough and I think our power steering was starting to go,” noted John Frana. “Thanks to all my co-workers from RCV Performance that came to support our effort. They built the entire drivetrain for our car and it was working great tonight. I have to thank my dad and my crew chief Ryan, we rebuilt the rear end today and it paid off. Thanks also to Scott Taylor for his help with our shock package ….See you in Bark River.”   You can watch the XSAN broadcast of Rounds 7 & 8 anytime on the internet: on USTREAM     Next Race: August 11-12, TORC Bark River – Bark River, Michigan      – Mike Reusche, words