TORC: John Frana Crandon season finale summary

Frana Continues to Challenge for Win - Takes Second at Crandon
Three wins during 2010 TORC season

Loves Park, IL (September 7, 2010) - John Frana and his Frana Vehicles AWD Honda powered Super Buggy have risen to the occasion with podium finishes at Bark River and Chicagoland, now it was time to prove their mettle at the most famous off-road track in the world, Crandon International Off-Road Raceway. John has raced at the Northwoods facility several times, but this year his talents as an engineer and race car driver have come together to become one of the fiercest competitors in the TORC Super Buggy division.

When the traditional Friday morning parade through downtown Crandon was about to begin, a steady drizzle fell throughout Forest County. By the time all the racers made it back to the track, the drizzle became a steady rain. It cancelled all track activities for Friday as well as Saturday morning practice. In fact several light rain showers past through the area just before Saturday's racing. All the rain and muddy track conditions put a smile on John Frana's face. The adverse track conditions would definitely give the all-wheel drive drivetrain of the Frana Vehicles BrandName Sway-A-Way FK Rods BFGoodrich Super Buggy a definite advantage over the traditional rear wheel drive buggies.

Somehow by the time the Super Buggy round of racing was set to go on Saturday, the track workers, to John's dismay, had taken care of any wet or sloppy portions of the 1.7 mile track. This would reduce to advantage that the Frana AWD Super Buggy would have on the rest of the field. Or so we all thought.

Saturday Round 11

The landrush start saw the field of eleven Super Buggy reach speeds nearing 100mph as they headed for Potawatomi Turn One. Quickly John found himself in third place behind Klaus and Greaves as the trio headed in down the skybox straightaway. By lap three, John moved up to second place, preparing for a second half charge for the lead. Before a serious attempt to challenge the leader, a rear lower control arm failed on the BrandName Super Buggy greatly reducing its race pace. Despite losing the right rear wheel and axle, John continued to finish the race, crossing the finish line in fifth place.

Overnight the Frana Vehicles quickly replaced the control arm and preformed the typical between rounds prep work.

Sunday Round 12

The final race of the season saw a great battle between CJ Greaves and John Frana. The start saw Greaves take the lead with John right on his bumper. The two racers steadily pulled away from the rest of the field. After the mandatory caution, John was looking to take the lead. With three laps to go,the Frana Vehicles BrandName Sway-A-Way FK Rods BFGoodrich Super Buggy made an inside move coming through Calamity Corner to take the lead. Then heading down the landrush straightaway Greaves regained the lead. From that point on, the crowd was on its feet, wondering if John could make the next pass stick and assume the lead. The final two laps saw the Frana Super Buggy get right on the bumper of the leader, but unable to find the spot to make a clean shot for the lead. At the finish it was Greaves-first, and John Frana-second.

"That was one heck of a race," remarked John Frana. "CJ had a little more top end, just enough to keep me at bay when we hit the long straightaway before Turn One. Regardless, we've have a pretty good season. Again all the hard work my team puts into this effort. My family, my wife, my crew chief Ryan Brumund, without them this wouldn't be possible. Thanks to RCV Performance, Sway-A-Way, FK Rod Ends, BrandName, and BFGoodrich, their product support has been key to our wins and podium finishes this year."

For the year, John Frana finished fifth in the 2010 TORC Super Buggy Championship. The season included seven Top-5 finishes, including two wins, two runner-up finishes, and a non-points victory at Chicagoland.

-source: ww.franavehicles.com