New Jersey – Frank Aragona Jr. NHRA D1 Champion and World Champion sadly passed away Friday morning, February 10, 2023, from a long health battle. Frank was a racers racer, He and his dad innovated, built, and conquered whatever class they decided to run and they ran multiple classes. Auto Imagery released the following statement on Friday announcing the death of the true champion;
Sad, sad news coming out of D1 this morning. Even if you are new to drag racing the Aragona name is one of greatness. Frank Aragona Jr. passed away this morning from a long health battle. Frank was a racers racer, He and his dad innovated, built, conquered whatever class they decided to run and they ran multiple classes. Generally showing up with 2 cars, Frank had every intention of leaving on Sunday with 2 Wally’s. Frank was gentleman, eager to help others. He was a friend to all. Infectious smile. I will deeply miss him. R.I.P. Frank Aragona Jr.
Who was Frank Aragona Jr.?
Frank Aragona Jr. is a resident of Freehold Township, New Jersey, won the 2019 NHRA Competition Eliminator for the second straight year.
Back-to-back champion Frank Aragona Jr. was happy to add another world championship title to his collection. Especially after winning last year and claiming the title again in 2019. Aragona Jr. started racing when he was 16 years old and always dreamed of winning a world championship.
Beginning in 1994, Aragona Jr. started dipping his feet into the Competition Eliminator world and it didn’t take long to realize that was the class for him. In 2007, he claimed his first NHRA national championship.
With a total of 718 points, Aragona Jr. shook the world winning a plethora of races including the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the JEGS Allstars, and the NHRA Carolina Nationals. He took over the points standings after winning the U.S. Nationals, passing Craig Bourgeois and never looking back. Bourgeois finished 138 points behind in second place.
Aragona Jr. began the 2019 season with his brand new ’32 Bantam Altered built by Ken Keir Race Cars. Running in J/AA, the new car carried him to most of his wins this year.
The engine is an inline 6-cylinder 298 CID engine based on a Chevrolet cylinder head by Slawko Racing Heads. It is electronically fuel injected with a turbo 350 automatic transmission and converter from Coan Transmissions and Converters. The little roadster runs 7.30’s at 180-mph in the 1/4-mile.
A Season of Domination
On top of winning the world championship this year, Aragona Jr. also claimed the LODRS Division 1 championship in Competition Eliminator. He swept the divisional series also, finishing the year with five divisional wins and one divisional runner-up. Frank finished with 455 points on the divisional side, 95 points ahead of second place.
After winning his third world championship, Aragona Jr. joined a special group of racers who have won three Competition Eliminator world championships. Aragona Jr. joins David Rampy and Bill Maropulos as the only racers who have accomplished that feat.
Tributes
Richard Shute a Facebook user and a former photographer at O.C.I.R Raceway wrote on Facebook, “Sad, sad news coming out of D1 this morning. Even if you are new to drag racing the Aragona name is one of greatness. Frank Aragona Jr. passed away this morning from a long health battle. Frank was a racers racer, He and his dad innovated, built, conquered whatever class they decided to run and they ran multiple classes.
He added, “Generally showing up with 2 cars, Frank had every intention of leaving on Sunday with 2 Wally’s. Frank was gentleman, eager to help others. He was a friend to all. Infectious smile. I will deeply miss him. R.I.P. Frank Aragona Jr.”
Funeral Arrangements are pending.
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