Amber Denton is still letting it sink in. The 23-year-old second-generation racer made history at the PDRA Northern Nationals in Michigan, capturing her first career Pro Nitrous victory in a storybook final round against her father, three-time world champion Tommy Franklin. For Amber, it wasn’t just the win light or the trophy that made the moment unforgettable – it was the culmination of years spent growing up around the sport, dreaming about the possibility of one day lining up against her dad on the big stage, and finally seeing that vision come to life in front of a packed house.
“Super surreal” was how she described it. For years she and her family joked about whether each race would finally deliver that long-anticipated father-versus-daughter showdown. It didn’t happen until US 131 Motorsports Park, and when it did, the circumstances were pure drag racing chaos. Both Franklins battled mechanical carnage throughout the weekend. Amber’s semifinal win came at the cost of a wounded engine, leaving her team thrashing in the pits, piecing together whatever they could with the help of fellow racers and friends. Her father advanced to the final when an opponent broke on the starting line. In the midst of the scramble, it was hard to fully grasp what was happening.
“I don’t think it really sunk in until we were up in the staging lanes,” Amber said. “That was the first time we’d ever had this moment, and I just had to stop and remind myself to soak it in.”
The race itself was an oddity. With both cars hurt, neither could apply nitrous. They idled down the track, essentially running naturally aspirated combinations. It was far from the blazing 3.60-second blasts Pro Nitrous is known for, but it was real competition nonetheless – and for Amber, it was a victory over her father by just two-thousandths of a second. “We wanted a heads-up race, and we got it,” she said. “I didn’t want to go up there without him, and he didn’t want to go up there without me. We just wanted to race for that win, and that’s what happened.”
In the winner’s circle, Amber was quick to credit the sportsmanship and camaraderie that helped her team get to the line. Racers like Buddy Perkinson, Brian Trout, and Evan Salemi pitched in during the frantic repairs, embodying what Amber calls the “professionally controlled chaos” that often defines their pit. It was a reminder that drag racing, for all its intensity and pressure, is still a family-driven sport where competitors rally around each other when it counts.
Amber’s breakout victory is the latest chapter in what has already been a landmark season. She started the year by making her Pro Nitrous debut, qualified for the invitation-only World Series of Pro Mod, and appeared on the cover of Drag Illustrated’s Women of Power issue alongside Callie Mills. Now, with a win under her belt, she’s proven she can contend with the very best in one of drag racing’s toughest classes. “This year in Pro Nitrous has been a dogfight,” she said. “Going into Michigan, first through seventh in points were within a round. You cannot slack a single round. Doing what we did there definitely helped, and hopefully we can continue the momentum.”
Momentum will be crucial with the season entering its stretch run. The next stop is Bristol Dragway’s Thunder Valley Throwdown, a race that has quickly become a highlight of the PDRA calendar. Amber knows the challenge ahead will be steep, with names like Billy Albert, Marcus Butner, Buddy Perkinson, and her own father still firmly in the championship hunt. But she also knows her team is working tirelessly to ensure she arrives in Bristol with a car capable of running at its full potential. Engines are already at Pat Musi Racing Engines, and the car itself is at Robert Hayes Motorsports in North Carolina undergoing repairs.
“I can’t thank my guys enough,” she said. “They put the work in and we wouldn’t have gotten the win without them. Whatever issue we were fighting in Michigan was out of the normal for us, and they’re working hard to make sure it’s resolved before Bristol. I’m grateful for all the hard work they put in, and I know we’ll be ready.”
Bristol holds a special place in Amber’s heart. As a junior dragster racer, she watched others compete there in the Eastern Conference Finals, and last year she finally had the chance to experience the iconic Thunder Valley for herself. The history of the venue, the scenic mountain setting, and the passionate fanbase make it one of her favorite stops. “I absolutely love Bristol,” she said. “It’s beautiful, it’s different, and it means a lot to race there. For a lot of PDRA racers, getting to compete at a track like Bristol is a big deal, and I know everyone looks forward to it.”
That fan connection is something Amber takes seriously. At US 131, fans packed the stands and crowded around her pit, even returning pieces of bodywork after her father’s car suffered damage. It reminded her that drag racing is about more than just what happens on the track. “Part of the reason we wanted to make sure we made the final round was because we wanted to give the fans a show,” she said. “It’s an atmosphere unlike any other. Racing in front of that many people, it just makes the work feel worth it.”
As the PDRA Pro Nitrous season heads into its decisive final stretch, Amber Denton sits atop the points standings with a target on her back – and the confidence of a racer who knows she belongs. Her win in Michigan was a validation, but it’s also motivation. The championship fight is tight, the competition relentless, and the margin for error slim. But Amber wouldn’t have it any other way.
“This has been such a competitive year, and I love it,” she said. “It makes you better. We’re just going to take it race by race and round by round, and give it our best each time. Bristol is next, and I’m excited to see what we can do.”
For Amber Denton, the first win is already behind her. The next goal is clear: keep the momentum alive in Thunder Valley, and chase down a PDRA Pro Nitrous championship.
This story was originally published on August 19, 2025. 
The post Amber Denton Reflects on First PDRA Pro Nitrous Win, Sets Sights on Thunder Valley Throwdown in Bristol first appeared on Drag Illustrated.