Jimmy DeFrank: 13 National Event Wins And Counting

Written by Kelly Wade

Sometimes, the best plan is not having a plan. For three-time Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Super Stock world champion Jimmy DeFrank, that formula just seems to work.

At the beginning of the 2012 season, DeFrank’s idea of defending the Pacific Division championship – his ninth division title – centered around having fun and getting comfortable in both of his racecars after a very busy holiday season for the family business, California Car Cover Company. The “take each race one at a time and see where we are” approach proved successful with relative speed when DeFrank went to the final round at the Las Vegas divisional and the very next weekend powered his way to the winner’s circle in the DeFrank & Sons Racing Chevy Cobalt to collect his 13th national event win at the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals.

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway has always been a favored track for the SoCal-based DeFrank; the city that never sleeps provides an entertaining and engaging atmosphere in and of itself, and the refined facility nestled beneath a backdrop of desert hills is close enough to DeFrank’s home that loads of family and friends get to come out and see him in action in both Super Stock and Stock Eliminator.

The final Lucas Oil Series event of 2011 moved The Strip even higher on DeFrank’s list of favorite places to compete when he won the race to seal up the division championship. Although he had yet to win a national event in Las Vegas at that point, he had been to the final round on three separate occasions – including last year, when he was the runner-up to Toby Lang in Stock Eliminator at the spring race.

At this season’s event, the SS/BS Cobalt, powered by a Jeff Taylor Performance-engine and featuring CFE cylinder heads, a Pro Trans transmission, Weld wheels, Quick Fuel carburetors, Comp Cams components and a Jesel drivetrain, finally got the job done. DeFrank topped Glenn Snow in the final with a .016 reaction and 9.043 on his 9.03 dial to Snow’s .065 start and breakout 10.456 (10.47).

“I didn’t even think about winning until after we won,” said DeFrank. “You just never know with any round or any race what’s going to happen, and I never count on it until it’s done. I didn’t see the win light, and when my dad came on the radio and said, ‘We won! We won!’ That’s when I knew, and wow, that was wonderful feeling.”

DeFrank was greeted at the top end by his parents, Jim Sr. and Loraine, along with longtime friend and racing mentor Jeff Taylor and his wife, Patty. The fact that his mom was there was something really special – she hadn’t planned on attending the event, but they talked her into it at the last minute. Taylor’s presence, as well, truly made a difference in the outcome, according to DeFrank.

“He is family,” explained DeFrank. “And I don’t believe we would have won this race without him. He helped get the car straightened out, and he helped with the dials. Really, my dad, Jeff, our assistant crew chief Tom Kerr and I all won this together in equal parts. If anything, they are more responsible for the win than I am.

“This is always about family and friends for us, and I was so pleased to win with Jeggie [Super Comp event victor Jeg Coughlin], too. We’ve had some great times recently, and to stand there with each other there on stage, and everyone is just so excited – his wife, Sam, Woody from Jegs, Papa Jeg – and everyone is hugging each other, it was just really neat.

“I got a lot of help throughout the weekend from Pete Biondo and Kyle Seipel, they were giving me encouragement and data over the phone, and gosh, all of that was so helpful. It’s so hard to win, and having friends like that who can give you such words of encouragement and keep you focused is very valuable. It means something to hear those words from the best there is.”

Las Vegas hasn’t always been peaches and cream for DeFrank, and in fact, the humble sportsman ace will admit that they have struggled to find consistency there in the past. With the collaboration of the solid team over the last couple of years, though, they believe that they found the combination that works for the high-altitude, oft-windy racetrack and look forward to returning.

“As far as the schedule and what we’ll do the rest of the season, we are sticking with the plan to not have a plan right now,” said DeFrank. “We will be in Sonoma, and we’ll be at Indy because that’s my dad’s favorite race and we always enjoy going there for the exciting class racing. We’re just going to continue to enjoy ourselves and see where that takes us.

“That being said, I will continue to follow the example of friends like Pete Biondo and Kyle Seipel. When they race, they have a blast but they’re also professional and focused. They took me in over the last couple of months and reminded me of how serious this is, and how I know what to do and just need to be focused to win. It’s so hard to do that, but I think I owe that part of this win to them. I hope we can keep it up.”

The win was bittersweet for DeFrank, who learned of the passing of friend Lloyd MacKay just before the event. “We want to honor his memory; Lloyd was a great guy and a friend,” said DeFrank. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Lloyd’s friends and family.”

The team is led by DeFrank’s father, Jim Sr. and was kept in motion in Las Vegas by Taylor; Kerr; DeFrank’s mom Loraine; Taylor’s wife, Patty Taylor; brother Tony who holds down the fort at California Car Cover; and the many phone calls and texts of encouragement and guidance from Biondo, Seipel, and Eric Reyes. Most of all, DeFrank thanked God for the opportunity to race and win.

DeFrank & Sons Racing would like to extend sincere appreciation to California Car Cover Co., California Car Duster Co., Golden Shine Car Care, K&N Filters, Jegs, Phoenix Race Tires, Redline Oil, Biondo Racing Products, Spring Fling 20s, Helmet City, Racers for Christ, and Meziere Components.