Francis Racing's 2001 season was one for the record books as Fresno-based driver Jeff Francis took hard-fought
Championship's in both "B" and "E" San
Francisco Region Improved Touring
classes.

Francis' dual championship season
wasn't without its ups and downs
however; and a one-week stretch in
July tested Francis Racing to the limits.

The Sears Point event on July 7th provided more excitement then driver Jeff Francis bargained for as his Sherwin-Williams sponsored BMW racer just set the fastest lap of the weekend before it was destroyed in an accident that could have cost Jeff the shot at the season ending championships. Instead, the resourceful Francis bought a rival BMW 2002 to race at the critical double regional event at Laguna Seca the next weekend. Following a busy week of acquiring and prepping the new BMW racer, Francis Racing pulled into Laguna Seca still in the thick of the championship hunt. During Saturday afternoon's practice run, Francis' championship hopes were dealt another setback when the motor in his new racer expired in dramatic fashion. The true grit of Francis Racing's crew was displayed when the team packed up the wounded BMW racer, drove back to their shop in Fresno California, replaced the blown engine and drove back to Laguna Seca in the small hours of Saturday night. Jeff started mid-pack in the race due to his practice misfortunes and took the green flag knowing he had to have a good finish in order to stay in the championship battle. Through sheer determination and skillful car control, Francis maneuvered his Sherwin Williams sponsored BMW through the tough field and to take a deserving second place in one of his most satisfying races ever.

The Pacific Coast Road Race of Champions on October 27th at Thunderhill Raceway Park gave Francis Racing it's greatest victory to date as scheduling circumstances dictated that driver Jeff Francis miss qualifications and therefore had to start at the back of the full field. After a great start, Francis masterfully sliced his way through the impressive field with carefully timed passes and all-out four-wheel-drift charges through Thunderhill's challenging course. With just a handful of laps left, Francis mounted a charge at the leader's BMW and made the critical pass with room to spare and then dodged a bullet when the second place car made a failed last ditch tank-slapping pass attempt. Francis then steadily pulled out a slight lead and went on to take the checkered flag to win the Pacific Road Race of Champions of 2001 to end the 2001 season in an impressive fashion.