Frank Azure

Frank Azure Jr. is a American stock car driver currently competing full time in the ASCC and team owner. He has raced in multiple leagues throughout his career and endured many hardships to become the successful businessman he is today.

Childhood
Azure was born on December 15, 1960 in Cranston, Rhode Island. His father, Frank Azure Sr., was an up and coming race car driver at the time who was determined to be successful. So determined that this took his time away from his family. His mother, who believed that Frank Sr. cared more about his career than his family, grew annoyed and left both of them when Frank Jr. was 6 months old. His mother felt that if she left him in his father's care, that it would force him to change. However, Frank Sr. could not care him and maintain his racing career, so he sent Frank Jr. to his bother and his family in New York City. Frank Jr. went back with his father when he was eight. In that time, Frank Sr. managed to find success in the NSCRA(Natoinal Stock Car Racing Association) and stabilized his career. With his father racing every weekend, Frank would often be home alone. As he got older, this meant that he would get into trouble a lot.

Start
After his father retired in 1976, Frank then decided to go into racing himself. He raced on dirt tracks across the Northeast for the next three years before catching the attention of a NSCA team owner was offered a ride. He made his NSCRA debut in 1979 at age eighteen, one month before graduating high school. He finished 34th after engine problems took him out of the race, but the team was impressed with what he saw and offered him a full time ride.

NSCRA Career
Frank ran for Rookie of the Year in 1980. He had the skills to run up front, however he would get involved in unnecessary accidents and would get into heated arguments with other drivers. He ended up finishing 13th in points and barely lost Rookie of the Year. The next year was much of the same for Frank, finishing 12th in points. After the 1981 season the teams funding dried up and could not continue full time. He ran part time from 1982-1985, failing to win a race. During that time, Frank's motivation seemed to decline and his performance suffered. The team fired Frank after the 1985 season. After not having the success he hoped for, Frank abandoned racing to pursue other endeavors.

Downfall
After leaving racing, Frank's life went into a downward spiral. Legal issues and drug addiction turned his life into a mess. Frank attempted to return to racing in 1991, but NSCRA suspended him for failing a drug test. Frank's life seemed to be at a dead end. After hitting rock bottom, Frank's wife Kathryn pleaded that he get help. In 1993, after two months in rehab, Frank was clean and was ready to rebuild his life.

The Phoenix Rises
Now clean, Frank's was ready to return to the track. Frank decided to have a try at sports cars. After bouncing around for a few years, Frank landed a spot in the Atlantic Sports Car League (ASCL) in 1996 for his own team Frank Azure Motorsports. Frank showed speed for the get go, winning Rookie of the Year honors that season, but failed to make it to victory lane. In 1997, he was still winless, but finished seventh in points. 1998 was Frank's year when he earned his first career win at the Republic Airport Circuit and finished forth in points. Frank felt that he had finally earned his place in the racing world.

1999 was even better for Frank. Scoring two wins and placing 3rd in points. In 2000, Frank had a career season, winning two more races and coming just two points shy of the championship. In just five seasons, Frank established himself as one of the best drivers in the series. After coming from the worst point in his life to finally being successful in racing, he adopted the nickname, "Phoenix," after the bird in Greek mythology said to arise from its own ashes.

ASCC Career
Frank Azure was announced as the last-minute replacement for Louis Tellez in the #14 car for the newly reformed ASCC. Azure's age and relative inexperience was a topic of concern among some of his competitors. However, Azure gained an important vote of confidence from former TM Master Cup champion Tony Durbin, who did not believe Azure would be a problem, saying; "He's more mature than to drive over his head all the time like some of the other kids in racing... he'll be fine."

After four races, Azure found himself second in the championship, behind championship leader Joe Olenick.

Career Statistics
ASCC TM Master Cup Series ARLA Elite Series