Sign In
Create Account
Ernie Franics Sr. won the Sportsman Showcase debut driving for 14-year-old car owner/son Ernie Francis Jr. at Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Brian Cleary)
by
4/29/2012
11:00
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Since 14-year-old Ernie Francis Jr. was too young to race in GRAND-AM’s new Sportsman Showcase, he loaned his new B-Spec car to his father – who went on to win the inaugural event on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Driving the No. 22 Breathless Performance/Joe Heck Racing Mazda 2, Francis took the lead with five laps remaining and held off No. 37 Mini of Charleston Mini Cooper Robbie Davis to win by 2.664 seconds.
Told by his son to “Bring back the car without a scratch,†Francis rubbed the car during an incident in the early laps as the result of side-by-side racing in a steady rainfall.
“We came from the back and worked our way forward,†Francis Sr. said. “I was able to go faster as the race went on because I could see better – it was very tough going in the early laps.â€
Todd Buras led the opening 15 laps before finishing third in the No. 50 Irish Mikes Racing Ford Fiesta, followed by Dan Carney in the No. 2 Berg Racing Mazda 2.
“I’m really glad I let him borrow the car,†Francis Jr. said. “It was a great experience.â€
Could his son have won the race?
“I’m sure he would have won,†Francis Sr. said. “He’s faster than me.â€
The next race for the Sportsman Showcase will be on Sunday, May 13, at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Top 3:
§ 1. Ernie Francis - No. 22 Breathless Performance/Joe Heck Racing Mazda 2
§ 2. Robbie Davis – No. 37 Mini of Charleston Mini Cooper
§ 3. Chip Van Vurst – No. 51 Irish Mikes Racing Ford Fiesta
Notes:
§ 11 a.m. – GREEN FLAG for the inaugural Sportsman Showcase race – under very challenging conditions with steady rain and standing water.
§ 11:03 a.m. – Lap 1 – Field has problems negotiating dogleg between NASCAR Turns 3 and 4; lead to Todd Buras (No. 50 Ford Fiesta), followed by Chip Howell (No. 55 Mini Cooper), Chip Van Vurst (No. 5 Ford Fiesta) and polesitter Ernie Francis (No. 22 Mazda 2). Ed Magner (No. 48 Mini Cooper) pulls off.
§ 11:05 a.m. – Lap 2 – Ernie Francis up to second, but goes on and off in Turn 2.
§ 11:07 a.m. – Lap 3 – Todd Buras leads by 4.711 seconds over Robbie Davis (No. 37 Mini Cooper); Chip Howell is 7.105 seconds back; Ernie Francis falls to fourth, 13.085 seconds back.
§ 11:09 a.m. – Lap 4 – Buras extends his lead to 5.391 seconds over Davis. … Dan Carney (No. 2 Mazda 2) is up to fifth. He is a reporter for www.msnbc.com . … Third place Chip Van Vurst spins and continues.
§ 11:11 a.m. – Lap 5 – Rain intensifies. … Buras leads by 5.492 seconds. … Francis pressures Howell for third, but goes straight in Turn 8. He continues, but loses a position.
§ 11:14 a.m. – Lap 6 – Buras leads by 5.788 seconds. … Dan Carney moves into fourth, 19.615 seconds back. Francis is fifth, 27.471 seconds behind. … Sixth-place Bruce Hollander (No. 68 Mini Cooper) on and off in Turn 1.
§ 11:18 a.m. – Lap 8 – FULL COURSE CAUTION due to deteriorating conditions and standing water. … Todd Buras leads, followed by Robbie Davis, Chip Howell, Ernie Francis, Dan Carney, Bruce Hollander and Chip Van Vurst.
§ 11:27 a.m. – Lap 11 – GREEN FLAG with 18 minutes remaining.
§ 11:29 a.m. – Lap 12 – The lead changes hands several times, with Robbie Davis (No. 37 Mini Cooper) taking the lead from Todd Buras (No. 50 Ford Fiesta). … Davis then goes off in Turn 2 and is able to continue, but falls back to sixth. … Bruce Hollander off in Turn 8 and continues.
§ 11:32 a.m. – Lap 13 – Todd Buras leads Chip Howell by 2.520 seconds, Francis third, 3.261 seconds back … Chip Van Vurst goes off but continues.
§ 11:34 a.m. – Lap 14 – Ernie Francis takes second, 2.128 seconds behind Buras. … Dan Carney up to third, 4.464 seconds back … Van Vurst off in Turn 2 and continues.
§ 11:36 a.m. – Lap 15 – Todd Buras’ lead cut to .953 seconds as Francis closes in. … Francis goes side-by-side in infield and pulls ahead in the backstretch.
§ 11:38 a.m. – Lap 16 – Ernie Francis takes the lead, Todd Buras .390 seconds back with approximately four laps remaining.
§ 11:40 a.m. – Lap 17 – Francis leads Buras by 2.088 seconds, Robbie Davis challenging for second, 2.537 seconds back, as Dan Carney falls to fourth.
§ 11:42 a.m. – Lap 18 – Francis now leads by 3.809 seconds, with Davis taking second from Buras. … Bruce Hollander goes on and off in Turn 2, shortly after taking fifth from Chip Howell.
§ 11:44 a.m. – Lap 19 – WHITE FLAG, Francis leads Davis by 4.068 seconds.
11:46 a.m. – Lap 20 – CHECKERED FLAG. … Ernie Francis of nearby Davie wins the inaugural Sportsman Showcase race in the No. 22 Breathless Performance/Joe Heck Racing Mazda 2 owned and prepared by his son, Ernie Francis Jr. Robbie Davis (No. 37 Mini of Charleston Mini Cooper) finishes second, 2.664 seconds back.
The link to the actual Grand-Am article: http://www.grand-am....anShowcase.aspx
Pic of the car on 3 wheels:
Pic of the post race interview:
Back to top
Report
