DeFrank's Sonoma Return Conjures Positive Memories
7/26/2011
Sonoma, CA
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While many drivers have been playing hard in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series for the last couple of months, three-time Super Stock world champion Jimmy DeFrank has been hard at work at the family business, California Car Cover (www.calcarcover.com), but now it's time to get back in the national event game with a return to Infineon Raceway for the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals in Sonoma.

The return to Northern California is eagerly anticipated by DeFrank, who nearly doubled up at the event last year when he won the Stock Eliminator title for the first time in his career and posted a final-round finish in Super Stock.
 
"Gosh, we were so close to that double win," recalled DeFrank. "I had a worse light than I should have in Super Stock and then we broke a valve spring, but it is so hard to make the final round – and let alone with 2 cars.
 
"The track is always so organized and fun thanks to [Infineon Raceway Track Manager] Georgia Seipel – you know, the mother of the 'infamous' Kyle Seipel, our friend who makes us all laugh. We're really looking forward to racing there again."
 
In addition to his exceptional performance at the facility last season, DeFrank won Super Stock there in 2005 over brother Tony, who was the Sonoma winner in 1998.
 
The racetrack has been good to the family, and earlier this year DeFrank enjoyed several triumphs elsewhere before stepping back for a moment to focus on business; he finished in the final round at both the season-opener at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and at the JEGS Pacific SPORTSnationals in Fontana in Super Stock and was a finalist at the national event in Las Vegas. On the divisional level, DeFrank has been to the semifinals in both Super Stock and Stock.
 
"I do feel like we have some catching up to do as far as improving our performance,"  he said. "We had the opportunity to race in Sonoma this past weekend for the Lucas Oil division race, and I felt just a bit rusty. We did a good job but not a great job, and hopefully we can improve this weekend."
 
Thousand Oaks, Calif., resident DeFrank, who will wheel the California Car Cover Co. '11 SS/BS Chevy Cobalt in Super Stock competition and the family’s Stock Eliminator '69 B/SA Chevy Camaro, continued, "It is very comfortable to get back in the race cars, though, especially since we have raced these same cars for the past few seasons. The hard part is being very sharp and detailed and really refining things again, such as the set-up of the car, the lights and the correct dial-ins."
 
DeFrank will be buoyed as he takes on the task in Sonoma by dad Jim, mom Loraine on prayer duty, crew chief Davey Allison, friend Wally Bose – a big contributor at recent events – and Jeff Taylor, who will be close at hand via cell phone to offer guidance. Brother Tony will also be just a call or text message away as he holds down the fort on the homefront.
 
The team also acknowledges the support of California Car Cover Co., California Car Duster Co., Golden Shine Car Care Products, K&N, Redline Oil, Phoenix Tires, Jegs, Racers For Christ, CFE and Pro Trans.
 
"The Sonoma track is beautiful, and it has been so great to our family and team over the years," said DeFrank. "What a great memory it was to see Tony win there in 1998 and to have us both in the final in 2005 with our parents there to support us and enjoy the day. We have always enjoyed coming here since we started racing in 1995.
 
"We are going to try our best this weekend. To expect what we did last year will be hard, but we will take one round at a time and try our best."

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