Jump to content

Ernie Francis Jr.: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Pjchilds (talk | contribs)
138 edits
 
(100 intermediate revisions by 43 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American auto racing driver}}
{{short description|American racing driver (born 1998)}}
{{infobox NASCAR driver
{{Infobox Champ Car driver
|name= Ernie Francis Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|1|23}}
|image= Ernie Francis Jr. NJMP 2018.png
| birth_place = [[Davie, Florida]]
| image = Ernie Francis Jr. NJMP 2018.png
| caption = Francis at [[New Jersey Motorsports Park]] in 2018
| caption = Francis at [[New Jersey Motorsports Park]] in 2018
|birth_place= [[Davie, Florida|Davie]], [[Florida]], United States
| achievements = 2017, 2018 [[Trans-Am Series]] TA class champion<br>2016 Trans-Am Series TA4 class champion<br>2014, 2015 Trans-Am Series TA3A class champion
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1998|1|23}}
| Total_Busch_Races = 1
| racing licence = [[File:FIA Gold Driver.png|12px]] [[FIA Gold Categorisation|FIA Gold]]
| Years_In_Busch = 1
| Total_Lights_Races= 16
| Busch_Car_Team =
| Years_In_Lights = 2
| Prev_Busch_Pos = 84th
| Lights_Car_Team = No. 99 ([[HMD Motorsports]] with Force Indy)
| Prev_Busch_Year = 2017
| Best_Busch_Pos =
| Best_Lights_Pos =
| First_Lights_Race = [[2022 Indy Lights|2022]] [[Grand Prix of St. Petersburg|Indy Lights Grand Prix of St. Petersburg]] ([[Grand Prix of St. Petersburg|St. Petersburg]])
| First_Busch_Race = [[2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series|2017]] [[Johnsonville 180]] ([[Road America]])
| Last_Lights_Race = [[2023 Indy NXT|2023]] [[Grand Prix of Indianapolis|Indy NXT Grand Prix of Indianapolis]] ([[Indianapolis Motor Speedway|Indianapolis]])
| First_Busch_Win =
| First_Lights_Win =
| Last_Busch_Win =
| Busch_Wins = 0
| Last_Lights_Win =
| Busch_Top_Tens = 0
| Lights_Wins = 0
| Busch_Poles = 0
| Lights_Podiums = 0
| Lights_Poles = 0
}}
| module2 =
{{Infobox racing driver|embed=yes
|titles=[[Trans-Am Series]]
|prev series years= [[2013 Trans-Am Series|2013]]–[[2021 Trans-Am Series|21]]<br/>[[2021 SRX Series|2021]]<br/>[[2021 Formula Regional Americas Championship|2021]]<br/><br/>[[2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East|2018]]<br/>[[2017 SprintX GT Championship Series|2017]]<br/>[[2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series|2017]]<br/>[[2013 Pirelli World Challenge|2013]]–[[2017 Pirelli World Challenge|17]]
|prev series= [[Trans-Am Series]]<br/>[[Superstar Racing Experience]]<br/>[[Formula Regional Americas Championship]]<br/>[[NASCAR K&N Pro Series East]]<br/>[[SprintX GT Championship Series]]<br/>[[NASCAR Xfinity Series]]<br/>[[Pirelli World Challenge]]
|title years=[[2014 Trans-Am Series|2014]]–[[2020 Trans-Am Series|2020]]
}}}}


'''Ernie Francis Jr.''' (born January 23, 1998) is an American [[sports car racing]] and [[stock car racing]] driver who currently competes in [[Indy NXT]] driving for Force Indy.<ref name=":0" /> He previously ran full time in the [[Trans-Am Series]], running the 98 car for Breathless Racing, where he is a seven-time champion. In 2021, he competed in the [[Formula Regional Americas Championship]] running the 98 car for Future Star Racing, and in the inaugural [[Superstar Racing Experience]], driving the No. 2 car. He became the youngest winner in the [[Superstar Racing Experience|SRX]] series when he won at [[Lucas Oil Raceway]]. He secured 2nd place in the SRX championship. When he is not racing, he works at the family race shop - Breathless Racing Team - run by his father (Ernie Francis Sr.) and stepmother (Monica Zima Francis) in Davie, FL. He has also competed part-time in [[NASCAR]] in the past in both the [[Xfinity Series]] and the [[East Series]].
'''Ernie Francis Jr.''' (born January 23, 1998) is an American [[sports car racing]] and [[stock car racing]] driver. He last competed part-time in the [[NASCAR K&N Pro Series East]], driving the No. 42 Toyota for [[Rev Racing]].


==Racing career==
==Racing career==

Ernie Francis Jr. is a professional racing driver who grew up in a racing family. His father, Ernie Francis, Sr., competed at the club level in both SCCA and NASA. He started racing go-karts when he was four years old and moved up into racing cars when he was 13 year old<ref>https://performance.ford.com/enthusiasts/newsroom/2018/01/trans-am-history-ernie-francis-jr.html</ref>.

At 14 he won Spec Miata championships in both NASA and FARA grabbing 32 top ten finishes, 26 top five finishes, 25 podiums and 21 wins. At 15 he became the youngest, licensed driver in the Pirelli [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blancpain_GT_World_Challenge_America|World Challenge]] Championships earning Rookie of The Year.

In 2014, racing he claimed the TA3-A [[Trans-Am_Series|Trans Am]] Championship title, becoming the youngest driver ever to claim any TA class championship. When he wasn't competing in the Trans AM, Ernie also drove a Touring Car A Mazda in the World Challenge, taking 3rd place in the championship.

In 2015 he raced again in the Trans Am and World Challenge. In 2016 Ernie ran a Ford Mustang Boss 302R and clinched his third straight Trans Am TA4 Championship.

===NASCAR Xfinity Series===
===NASCAR Xfinity Series===
[[File:13 Ernie Francis Jr 2017 Johnsonville 180.jpg|thumb|left|Francis' 2017 Xfinity car at [[Road America]]]]
[[File:13 Ernie Francis Jr 2017 Johnsonville 180.jpg|thumb|left|Francis' 2017 Xfinity car at [[Road America]]]]
In 2017, Francis Jr. made his NASCAR debut, driving the No. 13 Toyota for [[MBM Motorsports]] at Road America. He started 38th and finished 39th due to engine problems.
In 2017, Francis Jr. made his NASCAR debut, driving the No. 13 Toyota for [[MBM Motorsports]] in a partnership with [[NextGen Motorsports]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://speedsport.com/nascar/xfinity-series/ernie-francis-jr-xfinity-debut/|title=Ernie Francis Jr. set for NASCAR Xfinity Series debut|website=Speedsport.com|date=August 24, 2017|access-date=May 19, 2020}}</ref> at Road America. He started 38th and finished 39th due to engine problems.


===NASCAR K&N Pro Series East===
===NASCAR K&N Pro Series East===
Line 40: Line 37:
In 2018, Francis Jr. began racing in the Pro Series East, driving the No. 42 Toyota for Max Siegel's [[Rev Racing]] team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://autoweek.com/article/nascar/trans-am-champ-ernie-francis-jr-set-nascar-kn-test|title=Trans-Am champ Ernie Francis Jr. set for NASCAR K&N race|date=June 12, 2018|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2017/11/07/news-media20171107unveil-of-2018-nascar-drive-for-diversity-class-marks-new-methodology/|title=Unveil of 2018 NASCAR Drive for Diversity class marks emphasis on seat time|last=Spencer|first=Reid|date=November 7, 2017|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref> He began on the pole position at Millville and finished second to Will Rodgers. He returned for the [[Watkins Glen International|Watkins Glen]] race, where he started 19th and finished 11th.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://autoweek.com/article/nascar/late-race-heroics-earn-brett-moffitt-watkins-glen-nascar-kn-east-victory|title=Late-race heroics earn Brett Moffitt Watkins Glen NASCAR K&N East victory|last=Segal|first=Davey|date=August 3, 2018|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref>
In 2018, Francis Jr. began racing in the Pro Series East, driving the No. 42 Toyota for Max Siegel's [[Rev Racing]] team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://autoweek.com/article/nascar/trans-am-champ-ernie-francis-jr-set-nascar-kn-test|title=Trans-Am champ Ernie Francis Jr. set for NASCAR K&N race|date=June 12, 2018|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2017/11/07/news-media20171107unveil-of-2018-nascar-drive-for-diversity-class-marks-new-methodology/|title=Unveil of 2018 NASCAR Drive for Diversity class marks emphasis on seat time|last=Spencer|first=Reid|date=November 7, 2017|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref> He began on the pole position at Millville and finished second to Will Rodgers. He returned for the [[Watkins Glen International|Watkins Glen]] race, where he started 19th and finished 11th.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://autoweek.com/article/nascar/late-race-heroics-earn-brett-moffitt-watkins-glen-nascar-kn-east-victory|title=Late-race heroics earn Brett Moffitt Watkins Glen NASCAR K&N East victory|last=Segal|first=Davey|date=August 3, 2018|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref>


In 2019, Francis Jr. is expected to return to Siegel's [[Rev Racing]] team as part of the [[Drive for Diversity]] driver development program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/12/06/nascar-drive-for-diversity-program-class-of-2019/|title=NASCAR announces Drive for Diversity program’s Class of 2019|date=December 6, 2018|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref>
In 2019, Francis Jr. returned to Siegel's [[Rev Racing]] team as part of the [[Drive for Diversity]] [[driver development program]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/12/06/nascar-drive-for-diversity-program-class-of-2019/|title=NASCAR announces Drive for Diversity program's Class of 2019|date=December 6, 2018|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref>


===Trans Am Series===
===Trans Am Series===
{{expand section|date=June 2021}}
[[File:2017 Road America TransAm TA 98 Ernie Francis Jr.jpg|thumb|left|Francis' 2017 Trans Am car at [[Road America]]]]
[[File:2017 Road America TransAm TA 98 Ernie Francis Jr.jpg|thumb|left|Francis' 2017 Trans Am car at [[Road America]]]]
As of 2019, Francis Jr. has won five consecutive Trans Am championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racer.com/2019/02/27/storylines-building-ahead-of-2019-trans-am-curtain-raiser/|title=Storylines building ahead of 2019 Trans Am curtain-raiser|last=James|first=Richard|date=February 27, 2019|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref>
Francis Jr. has won seven consecutive [[Trans-Am Series]] championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://racer.com/2019/02/27/storylines-building-ahead-of-2019-trans-am-curtain-raiser/|title=Storylines building ahead of 2019 Trans Am curtain-raiser|last=James|first=Richard|date=February 27, 2019|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref>
{{-}}
{{-}}

===Indy Lights===
For the 2022 racing season, Francis Jr. signed to drive for the Force Indy team in the [[Indy Lights]] series. Francis Jr.'s hiring came as part of an initiative by the Force Indy team to give African-American drivers and mechanics opportunities to enter open-wheel racing.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.indycar.com/sitecore/content/indycar/home/news/2022/01/01-27-forceindy-francis|title=African American-led Force Indy rises to Indy Lights with Francis|date=January 27, 2022|accessdate=February 5, 2022|first=Dave|last=Furst|website=IndyCar.com|publisher=Brickyard Trademarks, Inc.}}</ref>


==Motorsports career results==
==Motorsports career results==
===Career summary===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"
!Season
!Series
!Team
!Races
!Wins
!Poles
!F/Laps
!Podiums
!Points
!Position
|-
! rowspan="3" | 2013
|align=left| [[2013 Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am Series - TA3]]
| rowspan="3" align=left| Breathless Performance
|1
|0
|1
|1
|1
|18
|18th
|-
|align=left| [[2013 Pirelli World Challenge|Pirelli World Challenge - GTS]]
|2
|0
|0
|0
|0
|64
|43rd
|-
|align=left| [[2013 Pirelli World Challenge|Pirelli World Challenge - TCB]]
|14
|7
|7
|6
|9
|1345
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|'''3rd'''
|-
! rowspan="3" | 2014
|align=left| [[2014 Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am Series - TA3A]]
| rowspan="3" align=left| Breathless Performance
|9
|5
|7
|7
|9
|316
|style="background:#FFFFBF;" |'''1st'''
|-
|align=left| [[2014 Pirelli World Challenge|Pirelli World Challenge - GTS]]
|1
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|40th
|-
|align=left| [[2014 Pirelli World Challenge|Pirelli World Challenge - TCA]]
|13
|3
|0
|3
|11
|1366
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|'''3rd'''
|-
! rowspan="2" | 2015
|align=left| [[2015 Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am Series - TA3A]]
| rowspan="2" align=left| Breathless Performance
|12
|8
|12
|10
|8
|249
|style="background:#FFFFBF;" |'''1st'''
|-
|align=left| [[2015 Pirelli World Challenge|Pirelli World Challenge - TC]]
|18
|4
|4
|5
|10
|1621
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"|'''2nd'''
|-
! rowspan="4" | 2016
|align=left| [[2016 Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am Series - TA3]]
| rowspan="2" align=left| Breathless Performance
|2
|0
|1
|1
|1
|54
|16th
|-
|align=left| [[2016 Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am Series - TA4]]
|10
|9
|8
|10
|10
|338
|style="background:#FFFFBF;" |'''1st'''
|-
|align=left| [[2016 Pirelli World Challenge|Pirelli World Challenge - GTS]]
| rowspan="2" align=left| Breathless Racing
|4
|0
|0
|0
|0
|268
|21st
|-
|align=left| [[2016 Pirelli World Challenge|Pirelli World Challenge - TC]]
|2
|0
|0
|0
|0
|37
|32nd
|-
! rowspan="4" | 2017
|align=left| [[2017 Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am Series - TA]]
|align=left| Breathless Pro Racing
|13
|10
|7
|10
|11
|386
|style="background:#FFFFBF;" |'''1st'''
|-
|align=left| [[2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series|NASCAR Xfinity Series]]
|align=left| [[MBM Motorsports]]
|1
|0
|0
|0
|0
|1
|84th
|-
|align=left| [[2017 Pirelli World Challenge|Pirelli World Challenge - GTS]]
| rowspan="2" align=left| PF Racing
|4
|0
|0
|0
|1
|59
|19th
|-
|align=left| [[2017 SprintX GT Championship Series|SprintX GT Championship Series - GTS Pro-Am]]
|1
|1
|0
|1
|1
|25
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|'''3rd'''
|-
! rowspan="3" | 2018
|align=left| [[2018 Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am Series - TA]]
|align=left| Breathless Racing
|11
|5
|3
|3
|7
|279
|style="background:#FFFFBF;" |'''1st'''
|-
|align=left| [[2018 Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am Series - TA2]]
|align=left| ECC Motorsports
|5
|0
|0
|0
|1
|88
|15th
|-
|align=left| [[2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East|NASCAR K&N Pro Series East]]
|align=left| [[Max Siegel]]
|2
|0
|1
|0
|1
|76
|28th
|-
! 2019
|align=left| [[2019 Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am Series - TA]]
|align=left| Breathless Racing
|11
|4
|5
|4
|8
|316
|style="background:#FFFFBF;" |'''1st'''
|-
! 2020
|align=left| [[2020 Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am Series - TA]]
|align=left| Breathless Pro Racing
|9
|4
|3
|4
|6
|253
|style="background:#FFFFBF;" |'''1st'''
|-
! rowspan="3" | 2021
|align=left| [[2021 Formula Regional Americas Championship|Formula Regional Americas Championship]]
| rowspan="2" align=left| Future Star Racing
|18
|3
|0
|0
|4
|160
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|'''3rd'''
|-
|align=left| [[2021 Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am Series - TA]]
|11
|1
|4
|4
|4
|257
|style="background:#FFDF9F;"|'''3rd'''
|-
|align=left| [[2021 SRX Series|SRX Series]]
|align=left| N/A
|6
|1
|0
|1
|2
|192
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"|'''2nd'''
|-
! rowspan="2" | 2022
|align=left| [[2022 Indy Lights|Indy Lights]]
|align=left| Force Indy
|14
|0
|0
|0
|0
|299
|10th
|-
|align=left| [[2022 SRX Series|SRX Series]]
|align=left| N/A
|3
|0
|0
|0
|0
|58
|11th
|-
! rowspan="2" | 2023
|align=left| [[2023 Indy NXT|Indy NXT]]
|align=left| [[HMD Motorsports]] with Force Indy
|13
|0
|0
|0
|1
|300
|9th
|-
|align=left| [[2023 SRX Series|SRX Series]]
|align=left| N/A
|1
|0
|0
|0
|0
|0
|NC†
|-
!2024
|align=left| [[2024 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America|Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America - Pro]]
|align=left| [[TR3 Racing]]
|6
|2
|1
|?
|5
|70*
|'''2nd*'''
|}

===SCCA National Championship Runoffs===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
|-
! Year !! Track !! Car !! Engine !! Class !! Finish !! Start !! Status
|-
| 2019 || [[Virginia International Raceway|VIR]] || [[Ford Mustang]] || [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] || GT-1 ||style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1 || 2 || Running
|-
| 2020 || [[Road America]] || [[Ford Mustang]] || [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] || GT-1 || 12 || 1 || Retired
|}


===NASCAR===
===NASCAR===
Line 54: Line 372:
====Xfinity Series====
====Xfinity Series====
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
! colspan=42| [[NASCAR Xfinity Series]] results
! colspan=40| [[NASCAR Xfinity Series]] results
|-
|-
! Year
! Year
Line 123: Line 441:
| [[Mid-Ohio Challenge|MOH]]
| [[Mid-Ohio Challenge|MOH]]
| [[Food City 300|BRI]]
| [[Food City 300|BRI]]
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[Johnsonville 180|ROA]]<br><small>39</small>
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[Johnsonville 180|ROA]]<br>{{small|39}}
| [[VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200|DAR]]
| [[VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200|DAR]]
| [[Virginia 529 College Savings 250|RCH]]
| [[Virginia 529 College Savings 250|RCH]]
Line 136: Line 454:
! 84th
! 84th
! 1
! 1
! <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/francer01/2017/B|title=Ernie Francis, Jr. – 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=March 13, 2019}}</ref>
! <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/francer01/2017/B|title=Ernie Francis, Jr. – 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results|website=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref>
|}
|}


====K&N Pro Series East====
====K&N Pro Series East====
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
! colspan=21| [[NASCAR K&N Pro Series East]] results
|-
! colspan=45| [[NASCAR K&N Pro Series East]] results
|-
|-
! Year
! Year
Line 176: Line 493:
| [[South Boston Speedway|SBO]]
| [[South Boston Speedway|SBO]]
| [[Memphis International Raceway|MEM]]
| [[Memphis International Raceway|MEM]]
| [[New Jersey Motorsports Park|NJE]]
| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''[[New Jersey Motorsports Park|NJM]]'''<br>{{small|2}}
| [[Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park|TMP]]
| [[Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park|TMP]]
| style="background:#DFDFDF;"| '''[[New Hampshire Motor Speedway|NHA]]'''<br><small>2</small>
| [[New Hampshire Motor Speedway|NHA]]
| [[Iowa Speedway|IOW]]
| [[Iowa Speedway|IOW]]
| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[Watkins Glen International|GLN]]<br><small>11</small>
| style="background:#DFFFDF;"| [[Watkins Glen International|GLN]]<br>{{small|11}}
| [[Gateway Motorsports Park|GTW]]
| [[Gateway Motorsports Park|GTW]]
| [[New Hampshire Motor Speedway|NHA]]
| [[New Hampshire Motor Speedway|NHA]]
Line 186: Line 503:
! 28th
! 28th
! 76
! 76
! <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/francer01/2018/E|title=Ernie Francis, Jr. – 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|accessdate=March 13, 2019}}</ref>
! <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/drivdet/francer01/2018/E|title=Ernie Francis, Jr. – 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref>
|}

===Superstar Racing Experience===
([[Template:American Open Wheel driver results legend|key]])&nbsp;<small>*&nbsp;– Most laps led. <sup>1</sup>&nbsp;– Heat 1 winner. <sup>2</sup>&nbsp;– Heat 2 winner.</small>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan=10| [[Superstar Racing Experience]] results
|-
! Year
! No.
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! {{Tooltip|SRXC|Superstar Racing Experience classification}}
! Pts
|-
! [[2021 Superstar Racing Experience|2021]]
! 2
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Stafford Motor Speedway|STA]]<br>{{small|6}}
| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[Knoxville Raceway|KNX]]<br>{{small|3}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Eldora Speedway|ELD]]<br>{{small|8}}
| style="background:#FFFFBF;"| [[Lucas Oil Raceway|IRP]]<br>{{small|1*}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Slinger Speedway|SLG]]<br>{{small|6}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Fairgrounds Speedway|NSV]]<br>{{small|6}}
! 2nd
! 161
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[2022 SRX Series|2022]]
! 5
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[2022 SRX Pensacola round|FIF]]<br>{{small|11}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[2022 SRX South Boston round|SBO]]<br>{{small|7}}
| [[2022 SRX Stafford round|STA]]
| [[Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway|NSV]]
| colspan="2" |
! rowspan="2" | 11th
! rowspan="2" | 58
|-
! rowspan=2| 99
| colspan="4" |
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"|[[I-55 Raceway|I55]]<br>{{small|6}}
| [[Sharon Speedway|SHA]]
|-
! [[2023 SRX Series|2023]]
| [[Stafford Motor Speedway|STA]]
| [[Stafford Motor Speedway|STA II]]
| [[Motor Mile Speedway|MMS]]
| [[Berlin Raceway|BER]]
| [[Eldora Speedway|ELD]]
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[Lucas Oil Speedway|IRP]]<br>{{small|11}}
! 25th
! 0<sup>1</sup>
|}

===American open-wheel racing results===
([[Template:American Open Wheel driver results legend|key]])

====Indy Lights/Indy NXT====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year
! Team
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! Rank
! Points
|-
| [[2022 Indy Lights|2022]]
! Force Indy
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg|STP]]<br>{{small|7}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Barber Motorsports Park|ALA]]<br>{{small|8}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Grand Prix of Indianapolis (Indy Lights)|IMS]]<br>{{small|9}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Grand Prix of Indianapolis (Indy Lights)|IMS]]<br>{{small|10}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Detroit Grand Prix (IndyCar)|DET]]<br>{{small|9}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Detroit Grand Prix (IndyCar)|DET]]<br>{{small|10}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Road America|RDA]]<br>{{small|10}}
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course|MDO]]<br>{{small|11}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Iowa Speedway|IOW]]<br>{{small|8}}
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[Music City Grand Prix|NSH]]<br>{{small|11}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Gateway Motorsports Park|GTW]]<br>{{small|9}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Portland International Raceway|POR]]<br>{{small|8}}
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[IndyCar Monterey Grand Prix|LAG]]<br>{{small|11}}
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[IndyCar Monterey Grand Prix|LAG]]<br>{{small|13}}
! style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 10th
! style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 299
|-
| [[2023 Indy Lights|2023]]
! [[HMD Motorsports]] with Force Indy
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Grand Prix of St. Petersburg|STP]]<br>{{small|6}}
| style="background:#cfeaff;"| [[Barber Motorsports Park|ALA]]<br>{{small|8}}
| style="background:#;"| [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway|IMS1]]<br>{{small|}}
| style="background:#FFDF9F;"| [[Detroit Grand Prix (IndyCar)|DET]]<br>{{small|3}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Detroit Grand Prix (IndyCar)|DET]]<br>{{small|7}}
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[Road America|RDA]]<br>{{small|12}}
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course|MDO]]<br>{{small|13}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Iowa Speedway|IOW]]<br>{{small|8}}
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[Nashville Street Circuit|NSH]]<br>{{small|18}}
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[Indianapolis Motor Speedway|IMS2]]<br>{{small|14}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[World Wide Technology Raceway|GTW]]<br>{{small|8}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[Portland International Raceway|POR]]<br>{{small|7}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca|LAG]]<br>{{small|7}}
| style="background:#CFEAFF;"| [[WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca|LAG]]<br>{{small|8}}
! style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 9th
! style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 300
|}
|}
{{sup|*}} Season still in progress


==References==
==References==
Line 194: Line 628:
==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Ernie Francis, Jr.}}
{{Commons category|Ernie Francis, Jr.}}
*{{Racing-Reference driver|Ernie_Francis,_Jr}}
* {{Racing-Reference driver|Ernie_Francis,_Jr}}


{{Superstar Racing Experience}}
{{Rev Racing}}
{{MBM Motorsports}}
{{MBM Motorsports}}


Line 202: Line 638:
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:NASCAR drivers]]
[[Category:NASCAR drivers]]
[[Category:Racing drivers from Florida]]
[[Category:Indy Lights drivers]]
[[Category:21st-century American racing drivers]]
[[Category:Racing drivers from Miami]]
[[Category:People from Davie, Florida]]
[[Category:People from Davie, Florida]]
[[Category:SCCA National Championship Runoffs winners]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Broward County, Florida]]
[[Category:Formula Regional Americas Championship drivers]]
[[Category:Trans-Am Series drivers]]
[[Category:HMD Motorsports drivers]]
[[Category:African-American racing drivers]]
[[Category:Lamborghini Super Trofeo drivers]]

Latest revision as of 17:22, 14 July 2024

Ernie Francis Jr.
Francis at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2018
Born (1998-01-23) January 23, 1998 (age 26)
Davie, Florida, United States
Indy Lights career
16 races run over 2 years
Team(s)No. 99 (HMD Motorsports with Force Indy)
First race2022 Indy Lights Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg)
Last race2023 Indy NXT Grand Prix of Indianapolis (Indianapolis)
Wins Podiums Poles
0 0 0
Previous series
2013–21
2021
2021

2018
2017
2017
2013–17		Trans-Am Series
Superstar Racing Experience
Formula Regional Americas Championship
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
SprintX GT Championship Series
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Pirelli World Challenge
Championship titles
2014–2020Trans-Am Series

Ernie Francis Jr. (born January 23, 1998) is an American sports car racing and stock car racing driver who currently competes in Indy NXT driving for Force Indy.[1] He previously ran full time in the Trans-Am Series, running the 98 car for Breathless Racing, where he is a seven-time champion. In 2021, he competed in the Formula Regional Americas Championship running the 98 car for Future Star Racing, and in the inaugural Superstar Racing Experience, driving the No. 2 car. He became the youngest winner in the SRX series when he won at Lucas Oil Raceway. He secured 2nd place in the SRX championship. When he is not racing, he works at the family race shop - Breathless Racing Team - run by his father (Ernie Francis Sr.) and stepmother (Monica Zima Francis) in Davie, FL. He has also competed part-time in NASCAR in the past in both the Xfinity Series and the East Series.

Racing career

[edit]

NASCAR Xfinity Series

[edit]
Francis' 2017 Xfinity car at Road America

In 2017, Francis Jr. made his NASCAR debut, driving the No. 13 Toyota for MBM Motorsports in a partnership with NextGen Motorsports[2] at Road America. He started 38th and finished 39th due to engine problems.

NASCAR K&N Pro Series East

[edit]
Francis' 2018 K&N East car at New Jersey Motorsports Park

In 2018, Francis Jr. began racing in the Pro Series East, driving the No. 42 Toyota for Max Siegel's Rev Racing team.[3][4] He began on the pole position at Millville and finished second to Will Rodgers. He returned for the Watkins Glen race, where he started 19th and finished 11th.[5]

In 2019, Francis Jr. returned to Siegel's Rev Racing team as part of the Drive for Diversity driver development program.[6]

Trans Am Series

[edit]
Francis' 2017 Trans Am car at Road America

Francis Jr. has won seven consecutive Trans-Am Series championships.[7]

Indy Lights

[edit]

For the 2022 racing season, Francis Jr. signed to drive for the Force Indy team in the Indy Lights series. Francis Jr.'s hiring came as part of an initiative by the Force Indy team to give African-American drivers and mechanics opportunities to enter open-wheel racing.[1]

Motorsports career results

[edit]

Career summary

[edit]
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2013 Trans-Am Series - TA3 Breathless Performance 1 0 1 1 1 18 18th
Pirelli World Challenge - GTS 2 0 0 0 0 64 43rd
Pirelli World Challenge - TCB 14 7 7 6 9 1345 3rd
2014 Trans-Am Series - TA3A Breathless Performance 9 5 7 7 9 316 1st
Pirelli World Challenge - GTS 1 0 0 0 0 0 40th
Pirelli World Challenge - TCA 13 3 0 3 11 1366 3rd
2015 Trans-Am Series - TA3A Breathless Performance 12 8 12 10 8 249 1st
Pirelli World Challenge - TC 18 4 4 5 10 1621 2nd
2016 Trans-Am Series - TA3 Breathless Performance 2 0 1 1 1 54 16th
Trans-Am Series - TA4 10 9 8 10 10 338 1st
Pirelli World Challenge - GTS Breathless Racing 4 0 0 0 0 268 21st
Pirelli World Challenge - TC 2 0 0 0 0 37 32nd
2017 Trans-Am Series - TA Breathless Pro Racing 13 10 7 10 11 386 1st
NASCAR Xfinity Series MBM Motorsports 1 0 0 0 0 1 84th
Pirelli World Challenge - GTS PF Racing 4 0 0 0 1 59 19th
SprintX GT Championship Series - GTS Pro-Am 1 1 0 1 1 25 3rd
2018 Trans-Am Series - TA Breathless Racing 11 5 3 3 7 279 1st
Trans-Am Series - TA2 ECC Motorsports 5 0 0 0 1 88 15th
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Max Siegel 2 0 1 0 1 76 28th
2019 Trans-Am Series - TA Breathless Racing 11 4 5 4 8 316 1st
2020 Trans-Am Series - TA Breathless Pro Racing 9 4 3 4 6 253 1st
2021 Formula Regional Americas Championship Future Star Racing 18 3 0 0 4 160 3rd
Trans-Am Series - TA 11 1 4 4 4 257 3rd
SRX Series N/A 6 1 0 1 2 192 2nd
2022 Indy Lights Force Indy 14 0 0 0 0 299 10th
SRX Series N/A 3 0 0 0 0 58 11th
2023 Indy NXT HMD Motorsports with Force Indy 13 0 0 0 1 300 9th
SRX Series N/A 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC†
2024 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America - Pro TR3 Racing 6 2 1 ? 5 70* 2nd*

SCCA National Championship Runoffs

[edit]
Year Track Car Engine Class Finish Start Status
2019 VIR Ford Mustang Ford GT-1 1 2 Running
2020 Road America Ford Mustang Ford GT-1 12 1 Retired

NASCAR

[edit]

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Xfinity Series

[edit]
NASCAR Xfinity Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 NXSC Pts Ref
2017 MBM Motorsports 13 Toyota DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL CLT DOV POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA
39 		DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 84th 1 [8]

K&N Pro Series East

[edit]
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 NKNPSEC Pts Ref
2018 Rev Racing 42 Toyota NSM BRI LGY SBO SBO MEM NJM
2 		TMP NHA IOW GLN
11 		GTW NHA DOV 28th 76 [9]

Superstar Racing Experience

[edit]

(key) * – Most laps led. 1 – Heat 1 winner. 2 – Heat 2 winner.

Superstar Racing Experience results
Year No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 SRXC Pts
2021 2 STA
6 		KNX
3 		ELD
8 		IRP
1* 		SLG
6 		NSV
6 		2nd 161
2022 5 FIF
11 		SBO
7 		STA NSV 11th 58
99 I55
6 		SHA
2023 STA STA II MMS BER ELD IRP
11 		25th 01

American open-wheel racing results

[edit]

(key)

Indy Lights/Indy NXT

[edit]
Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Rank Points
2022 Force Indy STP
7 		ALA
8 		IMS
9 		IMS
10 		DET
9 		DET
10 		RDA
10 		MDO
11 		IOW
8 		NSH
11 		GTW
9 		POR
8 		LAG
11 		LAG
13 		10th 299
2023 HMD Motorsports with Force Indy STP
6 		ALA
8 		IMS1
 DET
3 		DET
7 		RDA
12 		MDO
13 		IOW
8 		NSH
18 		IMS2
14 		GTW
8 		POR
7 		LAG
7 		LAG
8 		9th 300

* Season still in progress

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Furst, Dave (January 27, 2022). "African American-led Force Indy rises to Indy Lights with Francis". IndyCar.com. Brickyard Trademarks, Inc. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  2. ^ "Ernie Francis Jr. set for NASCAR Xfinity Series debut". Speedsport.com. August 24, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  3. ^ "Trans-Am champ Ernie Francis Jr. set for NASCAR K&N race". June 12, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  4. ^ Spencer, Reid (November 7, 2017). "Unveil of 2018 NASCAR Drive for Diversity class marks emphasis on seat time". Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  5. ^ Segal, Davey (August 3, 2018). "Late-race heroics earn Brett Moffitt Watkins Glen NASCAR K&N East victory". Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  6. ^ "NASCAR announces Drive for Diversity program's Class of 2019". December 6, 2018. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  7. ^ James, Richard (February 27, 2019). "Storylines building ahead of 2019 Trans Am curtain-raiser". Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  8. ^ "Ernie Francis, Jr. – 2017 NASCAR Xfinity Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  9. ^ "Ernie Francis, Jr. – 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ernie Francis, Jr..
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Ernie_Francis_Jr.&oldid=1234496714"