By Ben Deatherage
LORENA, Texas (Oct. 22, 2026) — Cody Frank’s pursuit of a national rookie championship nearly ended before it began, but the 38-year-old Lorena, Texas, driver overcame a difficult start to capture the 2026 EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region Rookie of the Year award in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car division.
Frank became the 21st Texas driver to earn the Southern Region rookie honor since 2001 and the first since 2024, completing a comeback season that included two feature victories in 34 starts.
“The year started off we were going to try for the national rookie but our first seven races we had six DNFs so that put a hurtin’ on things and ended up tearing some stuff up and that put a halt on that,” Frank said. “We kept pushing at it and started reeling off some top fives and had a couple of wins here and there and string some good runs and finished on a high note.”
Frank finished the season with six podium finishes, 17 top fives, and 26 top-10 results. His two victories came on consecutive Saturdays in July, winning at Abilene Speedway on July 18 and Cotton Bowl Speedway on July 25.
The victories were particularly rewarding after the challenges he encountered earlier in the year, especially while competing against established Stock Car drivers throughout Texas.
“Getting that first win was such a highlight but to get two really got me excited,” Frank said. “We had several seconds and thirds and it seemed like we couldn’t catch a break sometimes but we were racing against Jason Batt, Cameron Starry, and Blake Clark pretty much every single night so it pleased me we were able to get the results we did.”
Frank’s racing background stretches back more than two decades. He began competing around 2004 in Southern SportMods and Stock Cars before stepping away from the sport for approximately 12 to 13 years.
His earlier accomplishments included back-to-back IMCA Hobby Stock track championships at Heart O’ Texas Speedway in 2012 and 2013.
Frank returned to racing in 2024, competing in a local division before deciding to move back into the Stock Car ranks for the 2026 season.
His interest in motorsports began much earlier through his father, Mark, who introduced him to go-kart racing.
“Before we went car racing I raced go karts quite a bit and had a lot of fun with that,” Frank recalled. “My dad got me into that. He used to race cars back in the day.”
The experience gained during his earlier racing career helped Frank adjust to the challenges of competing in the Stock Car division, although the difficult opening stretch required considerable work to keep his program moving forward.
Throughout the season, his wife, Deedra, played an important role in maintaining the car and supporting his racing efforts.
“I want to thank my wife she’s been pretty much my only part of my pit crew,” Frank said. “I have friends show up here and there but if no one shows up she’s the main person to help me.”
What began as a frustrating attempt to compete for national rookie honors ultimately became a successful return to the Stock Car division, with Frank earning regional recognition and finding victory lane twice along the way.
Feature Wins: 2
Total Top Fives: 17
Total Starts: 34
His Pit Crew: Wife Deedra
His Sponsors: Platinum Crafted Co, Rivera Custom Gates, David Guthrie Trucking, Sakuras Card Shop, Trimmers, Marks Repair and Service, Cadydid, Roof Co, Chapmans Bail Bonds, Phat Sew Interiors, The Cozy Sign Co, Brittany Hamilton Photos