Frankie Kowalski
Frankie Kowalski | |
Age | 24 |
Nationality | American |
STARS Lowe's Premier Series | |
---|---|
Car # | 14 |
Years Competed | 2024- |
Debut Season | 2026 |
Current Team | Macintosh Motorsports, Inc. |
Former Team(s) | SHO Autosports, Mayberry-Black Motorsports, Richler-Hadaway Racing, Satou Development Motorsports, MAC-ATK Motorsports, Vance Autosports, Nocturne Racing |
Championships | 0 |
Pole Positions | 4 |
Wins | 3 |
Top 5 Finishes | 19 |
Top 10 Finishes | 51 |
First Attempt | 2023 STARS Championship 200 (Las Vegas) |
First Start | 2024 DuPont 150 (Dover) |
First Win | 2026 Delta Force 200 (Indianapolis) |
Last Win | 2030 Meijer 200 (Michigan) |
Last Start | 2030 Spotify Wrapped Championship 200 (Kansas) |
Best Result | 8th (2030) |
STARS Lowe's Truck Series | |
Years Competed | 2024-2026 |
Debut Season | 2024 |
Former Team(s) | ATK Motorsports, Ichigaya-Satou Medical |
Championships | 0 |
Pole Positions | 5 |
Wins | 4 |
Top 5 Finishes | 16 |
Top 10 Finishes | 25 |
First Start | 2024 Spotify 100 (New York) |
First Win | 2025 Debirucoin 100 (Phoenix) |
Last Win | 2026 RTF Fencing 100 (Auto Club) |
Last Start | 2026 Lowe's Pro Championship 100 (Kansas) |
Best Result | 5th (2026) |
AAS Nationwide Series career | |
Car # | 27 |
Years Competed | 2025- |
Current Team | ATK Motorsports |
Championships | 0 |
Pole Positions | 0 |
Wins | 0 |
Top 5 Finishes | 0 |
Top 10 Finishes | 0 |
Best Finish | |
First Attempt | 2025 Roll The Dice 50 (777 Speedway) |
Miscellaneous | |
Kowalski8 | |
Created By | Ben |
STARS Driver |
Frances "Frankie" Lena Kowalski (born January 9th 2006) is an American STARS Lowe's Truck Series driver from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Early Career
Kowalski was born into a racing family with her father, Patrick, being a successful World of Outlaws Sprint Car champion. At the age of 8, Kowalski made her start driving Dirt Go-Karts. She took to the karts instantly, taking her first win within three starts. Kowalski strengthened her skills, moving up the ranks and winning titles until she moved up into Dirt Legend Cars at the age of 13. Kowalski instantly made an impact in her new surroundings again, winning the track championship at her local track Baton Rouge Raceway despite racing with more experienced and older drivers. Kowalski made the early jump to Dirt Midgets, entering the Chili Bowl the week of her 15th birthday, making her way to the C-Main on her first attempt. Kowalski went on to compete in a part-time World of Outlaws Sprint Car schedule, sharing the car with her father. While her father won three races in the car, Kowalski initially struggled for pace, scoring a best finish of 13th in her first few races. However, Kowalski stunned her competitors at her home track, taking her first career victory in a convincing performance, out-duelling her own father for the win.
Kowalski entered the Chili Bowl again in 2022, this time winning the Wednesday A-Main to advance into the main race. Kowalski started well and led laps early but eventually crashed out of the race, rolling the car over on the 35th lap. Kowalski competed a half-schedule in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car championship, again splitting the races with her father. Kowalski became the youngest driver to win the Knoxville Nationals as she took home 8 wins in her 36 starts. 2023 was Kowalski's breakout season, as she won the Chili Bowl in her third attempt, becoming the first female winner of the race since Dia Macintosh in 2019. Kowalski repeated her success at the Knoxville Nationals as she attempted a full-time World of Outlaws season. With 17 wins, including another big win at the Kings Royal at Eldora, Kowalski became the youngest World of Outlaws champion in the series history.
Alongside her already hectic dirt schedule, Kowalski tried her hand at Late Model Racing with financial support from Satou Medical with Kowalski's father listed as the owner and spotter for her. Kowalski's versatility continued to shine through, as she scored top 5's in her first three races, before a win in her sixth race, coming at Pikes Peak International Raceway. Kowalski's performances on the asphalt side was enough for Satou Medical to offer her a chance in STARS as well as financial support with her dirt racing.
Satou Medical: 2024
Kowalski signed for Satou Medical for a select number of STARS Lowe's International Series races and a full-time STARS Kobalt Tools Truck Series schedule in 2024. Kowalski made her first attempt at the 2023 STARS Championship 200 for Satou Evolution Motorsports in place of Cade Somerville, but missed the race after falling through the field in the qualifying race late. Kowalski initially failed to impress, missing a further 5 races on the LIS side, as well as patchy results in Trucks, but Kowalski made the LIS race at Dover to finally register her debut. The next week at Michigan, Kowalski put on an impressive performance, almost taking her first career victory. She was unable to make a late race move, however, and finished third behind winner Tom Wilson and Tyler Everett.
At the Truck race at Texas Motor Speedway, Kowalski was involved in an incident under caution with Scarlett Sanders and was called to the STARS hauler after the race. On social media, Kowalski was critical of STARS as Connor Gallagher has been involved in an incident in the race and went on to win. Kowalski implied that STARS would not look into Gallagher, instead focusing on punishing her. As a result of her behaviour, STARS suspended Kowalski from the next race at Denver Motorsports Park. Satou Medical were quick to pull both her and teammate Murasaki Ikoma from the LIS race the next day as it was initially thought that they would appeal the penalty. However, the next week at Denver, Satou Medical confirmed they had let Kowalski go from their team, citing behavioural issues and a lack of form.
ATK Motorsports: 2024-
Kowalski was offered a lifeline as ATK Motorsports were quick to approach the Louisiana native, having her replace Rayan Labeau for the rest of the season. Her personal sponsor, UPS, chose to stay with Kowalski with her move. ATK Motorsports team owner Ben Atkins said that Satou Medical did not deal with Kowalski well, as she just needed someone to support her and her behaviour issues were a result of her naturally outgoing and outspoken nature. With this, Evie Vance took the role of Kowalski's mentor, with their similar backgrounds being the source of a good chemistry between the two. Kowalski's performance was quick to improve as ATK had her focus solely on the Trucks. Kowalski impressed particularly on the bigger tracks, as she led laps and registered a good result at Daytona. Kowalski's best performance came at Road America, where she scored her first career pole and went on to finish second, being unable to pass John Jefferson in the closing stages.
Kowalski's season was nearly put on-hold following the death of her father in a Sprint Car accident at English Creek Speedway, just miles away from Knoxville where Kowalski was scheduled to race in Trucks that weekend. Evie Vance was set to take over the truck on short notice, but Kowalski returned to the track in time to race, with her team rallying around her in support. The next week at Indianapolis, Kowalski impressed with her aggressive but well-controlled driving, leading 7 laps and finishing 10th. Kowalski finished the season well with ATK, recovering to finish 28th in points despite a very poor start to the season. Her late season resurgence was enough for Kowalski to keep her ride with ATK Motorsports.
For 2025, Kowalski added some AAS Nationwide Series races to her schedule, with her first attempt coming at the season-opener at New York Autoring. Kowalski will split the car with her Trucks teammate Chizuru Takano and young rookie Kayla Forrest. Kowalski will again be full-time in Trucks, with a part-time schedule also in the Lowe's Premier Series. Kowalski's form improved into 2025, nearly winning the Lowe's Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway with a late race charge fading, seeing her finish 6th. Kowalski finished 2nd in the AAS race at Charlotte, barely losing out to Audrey Granger. Kowalski's first LTS top 5 of the year came at Atlanta, but her result was overshadowed by her intentionally wrecking Leah Kazuno, leading to a heated argument between Kowalski and her team owner Ben Atkins, and then a huge post-race fight between her and Kazuno. While the series did not penalise Kowalski, she was suspended by ATK Motorsports for two weeks, being replaced by Ray Cornette at Kentucky and Aria MacHale at Bristol. After her two week suspension, ATK Motorsports announced while she would be back in the truck for the rest of the season, the team were not sure yet if they were going to take the option to renew her contract.
Kowalski returned at Gateway, scoring a top 5 finish. Kowalski scored her second career pole on the dirt at Springfield, but was involved in a crash on just lap 4. Kowalski was part of the giant crash at Daytona which saw Eden Collier fly high into the air. At Texas, Kowalski was involved in a fight with Sophia Brandt, but unlike at Atlanta, Kowalski was not reprimanded by the team and the team found that Brandt was the instigator of the fight. Kowalski did not find form until the series rolled around to Phoenix, where she qualified in third, starting behind her teammate Emily Labeau. Kowalski took the lead early on and battled for the entire race with Chizuru Shiraki, but she managed to better her teammate and take her first career win in dominating fashion. After her win, ATK Motorsports announced that the option on Kowalski's contract would be taken and that she would remain with the team for a third year.
Kowalski started out 2026 strong, scoring the pole at the season opening Albany race, but she quickly faded back through the field and failed to make an impact during the race. Kowalski looked to be out of form for the first few races of the season, but she quickly picked up her form with a top 5 finish at Dover. On the LPS side, Frankie Kowalski was suspended after an intentional crash with Rin Hoshizora at New Hampshire, but she rebounded in her next attempt, scoring a sensational second place finish at Knoxville, which at the time was her best ever finish. After Amy Prowell lost her competitors license at Kansas, Kowalski was drafted in to drive the #91 Toyota for Richler-Hadaway Racing after impressing in her select LPS starts.
Kowalski picked up her form in LPTS as well, as she won with a bump-and-run pass on her teammate Aria MacHale at Kansas and then finished second to MacHale at Iowa the very next week. Kowalski started to climb up the points with great results, but had her fair share of nasty accidents, as she ended up on her roof in the LPS race at Memphis, and was injured a crash in the LPTS race at Daytona, meaning she had to sit out the LPS race. The very next week, Kowalski won the LPTS race at Homestead, despite being on older tires than much of the field on the last run of the race. Kowalski continued to impress on the LPS side of things as well, but the biggest accomplishment of her season would come at Indianapolis, as she took her first career Lowe's Premier Series victory at the iconic track.
Personal Life
Kowalski is one of the shortest drivers in the field, only measuring in at 4"11'. Kowalski is the only child of the late dirt racing legend Patrick Kowalski and mother Alicia. Kowalski is currently single.
Kowalski has had a string of temper issues dating back to her dirt racing days. After an incident in a Legend Car race, Kowalski confronted Jon Beaufort despite being nearly 40 years younger than him, only being 13 years old at the time. Kowalski had a run-in with Scarlett Sanders in the Trucks at Texas, and also had a meltdown on the radio at Richmond, before Ben Atkins calmed her down on the radio. After joining ATK Motorsports, Kowalski's temper has improved considerably.
Kowalski is one of the most outgoing and outspoken drivers in the field, but also has an incredibly upbeat nature. She is known for her exceptional sense of humour and tendency to say what is on her mind. Kowalski is also noted for her naturally good nature, and is known for her kindness. As a result of her personality, she is one of the most popular drivers among her peers in the STARS garage and is also a fan favourite.
Kowalski admitted she almost quit racing following her father's death in 2023, but was talked out of quitting by Riko Vance, who also lost her father in a Sprint Car crash. Kowalski also fell back in love with racing watching her hero Grant Macintosh win a thrilling race at Knoxville.
Kowalski is an avid video game fanatic and also a skilled sim racer, where she has had stints in the Pro Dirt Oval leagues and has made a charge at the Pro eSTARS Racing League in the last couple of years. In 2029, Kowalski was a contestant on the TV show Dancing With The Stars, where she won the competition.