Business entrepreneur, lifelong car enthusiast, and drag racing fan and devoted financial supporter Frank Tiegs passed away on February 8 Harborview Medical Center in Seattle at the age of 66.
Tiegs was born into farming, and throughout his life built a business empire centered on agriculture. Tiegs owned Oregon Potato, Flav-R-Pac, Montana Brands, the Lewis and Clark Ranch, and a dozen other companies. He also owned half of the land in West Richland (Washington), and owned a world-class collection of muscle cars.
In the spring of 2014, Tiegs was left paralyzed after a car accident, but didn’t let it slow him down as he continued to build his business empire. Frank was known to keep a low profile, but his vast land holdings and business acumen made him one of the most influential people in Washington’s Tri-City area.
In 1972 Tiegs bought his first muscle car, a 1968 GTX, and raced it at Firebird Raceway in Idaho. Later in life, he aligned with John Force Racing and served as a key supporter of the multi-car NHRA team’s program, including primary backing of Austin Prock’s Top Fuel Dragster, and part-time primary support of Brittany Force’s dragster, along with associate branding on the team’s Chevrolet Funny Cars. Tiegs’ Flav-R-Pac brand also served as the presenting sponsor of the Northwest Nationals at his hometown Pacific Raceways from 2021 through 2023.
“Frank Tiegs joined our organization during a period of growth. Like so many of our loyal partners, he evolved into more than a friend to us; he became a part of the family,” said Force. “As history unfolds, his businesses will be celebrated for their success, but also their success on the race track. We will never forget Frank or his love for the NHRA.”
Photo courtesy NHRA/National Dragster
“We are sorry to hear of the passing of Frank Tiegs, owner of Flav-R-Pac, Oregon Potato, and Montana Brand. Frank was a successful entrepreneur from the Tri-Cities who loved drag racing and car collecting. Frank’s companies not only supported John Force Racing, but he was the event title sponsor of the NHRA Northwest Nationals. Our thoughts go out to Frank’s family,” said the Pacific Raceways staff in a prepared statement.
Tiegs’ incredible collection of cars included an original, surviving Daytona Yellow 1969 Chevrolet Yenko COPO Camaro, Mickey Thompson’s original 1964 Ford Thunderbolt with a unqique Ford HEMI V8, a 1967 Shelby GT500, a…
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