Mon, 02 Dec 2024, 20:26 PM Amber Denton Claims Second PDRA Pro 632 World Championship, Third in Series

Courtesy of Drag Illustrated on behalf of the Professional Drag Racers Association Photo copyright 2024 Tara Bowker and Gary Rowe

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - Amber (Franklin) Denton is now a second-generation two-time world champion in the Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series professional classes, as she won the 2024 Pro 632 world championship. Denton, who won the 2017 Pro Jr. Dragster and 2022 Pro 632 world championships, secured the title by winning three races in six final rounds across the eight-race season. She also qualified No. 1 six times before closing out the season - and her Pro 632 career - by setting a new class E.T. national record.

Following a third-place finish in the 2023 standings, Denton and her Tommy Franklin Motorsports team were determined to get back to championship form this season. She claimed two No. 1 qualifier awards and two runner-up finishes in the first three races of the season before getting her first win of the season at the North vs. South Shootout at Maryland International Raceway. That was the first of two double-up wins with her father, three-time Pro Nitrous world champion Tommy Franklin. The second came just two races later at the inaugural Thunder Valley Throwdown at Bristol Dragway. Denton in her Musi-powered "OG Jungle Rat" '69 Camaro then dominated DragWars at GALOT Motorsports Park, qualifying No. 1 and winning the race. She clinched the world championship during eliminations.

Amber Denton (right) and sister Ashley Franklin celebrate their PDRA world championships.

"I think it was just a testament to our team this season," said Denton, who married 2023 Super Street world champion Blake Denton in September. "They fought hard all year, and to pull it off a race early was really special for us. It relieved the stress a little bit coming into the World Finals. There were other drivers on our team fighting for a championship. We had a great car all season, but once we finally were able to pull off a win, we carried that momentum. We made a bunch of changes going into Bristol, so winning that race was big for us. It set us up great going into GALOT."

Denton and tuner Jeff Pierce didn't let up at the Brian Olson Memorial World Finals at Virginia Motorsports Park. She qualified No. 1 for the sixth time this season, then laid down a 4.086-second pass at 176.07 MPH on a first-round bye run to become the first driver in class history to dip into the 4.00-second range. The Virginia native went on to the final round, where she lost to longtime friend Lexi Tanner.

"Setting the record is a really great feeling," Denton said. "It's my first record, so that was really fun. It's been a great year and I can't thank everyone that's behind me enough. I get the recognition as a driver, but it's really everyone behind me that takes it."

The World Finals was a major championship weekend for the Tommy Franklin Motorsports team. Tommy was in contention for the Switzer Dynamics Pro Nitrous title until he lost in the semifinals. Amber's younger sister, Ashley Franklin, secured the Coolshirt Systems Pro Jr. Dragster presented by Philadelphia Racing Products world championship, so the sisters got to share the championship winner's circle together.

"It's everything. It's why we do it together," said Denton, the 2017 Pro Jr. Dragster world champion. "I get more excited for their wins than my own sometimes, and being emotional and seeing her emotional for her championship, it's really special. It's her last year in a Jr. Dragster, so we wanted that bad for her. She's a great driver, a great racer, and she deserves it."

Denton, who is making the move up to Pro Nitrous for the 2025 season, praised parents Tommy and Judy, the whole TFM team, and their partners for helping her achieve her goals this season.

"I just want to give all the glory to God as always and dedicate this championship to Lizzy Musi and my late grandmother," Denton said. "Just a huge thank you to my parents, my husband, my crew, and all of our sponsors like Red Line Oil, Pat Musi Racing Engines, and Menscer Motorsports. There's a whole line of people that make it work for us."

Walter Lannigan Jr. finished second in the championship points behind Denton. Driving for Chris Holdorf in the Nelson-powered Freedom Grow '10 GTO, Lannigan won one race in three final-round appearances. He also qualified No. 1 once. Rookie Andy House finished third in Meade Baldwin's Southern Diamond Company '69 Camaro thanks in part to a win in his debut at the season-opening East Coast Nationals.

The Red Line Oil PDRA Drag Racing Series will celebrate its 2024 world champions at the annual PDRA Championship Awards Banquet on Friday, Dec. 13 in downtown Indianapolis.