Month: April 2015
2015 KMC Wheels Super Drift Challenge – Results
KMC Super Drift Challenge Results;
Conrad Grunewald Takes the Victory
Long Beach, Calif. – April 19, 2015 – Formula DRIFT hosted the KMC Super Drift Challenge during the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Conrad Grunewald in the Always Evolving / Replay Camera Chevrolet Camaro takes the victory.
The KMC Super Drift Challenge for the third consecutive year brought motorsports action under the lights during the annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach with a filled capacity within Turns 9, 10, and 11 of the famous street course. Sixteen of the top Formula DRIFT drivers competed for a $25,000 prize purse.
“We were excited to be able to showcase competition drifting under the lights on the streets of Long Beach,” stated Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Then to see a capacity turn out for the fierce competition capped off an eventful Saturday at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.”
The action under the lights along created a unique and competitive environment for the drivers. Number one qualifier, Forrest Wang in Get Nuts Lab / Hankook Tire Nissan S14 finishes in third place for the second consecutive year. Conrad Grunewald met Robbie Nishida in the Achilles Motorsport / Bridges Racing Lexus SC300 in the finals. Grunewald outmatched Nishida to take the event victory.
“I’d like to start off by thanking my partners because without them I wouldn’t be here. I couldn’t be happier with wining tonight,” said Conrad Grunewald, winner of the KMC Super Drift Challenge. “It’s almost surreal to be running at night in Long Beach. It’s an honor to walk away with a win amongst such great competitors.”
Formula DRIFT continues to Round 2: Road to the Championship at Road Atlanta on May 8-9, 2015. Tickets are available and can be purchased via www.formuladrift.com.
2015 KMC Wheels Super Drift Challenge – Top 16 Qualifying Drivers
Scion Racing Ken Gushi & Fredric Aasbo During Off-Season [S7, Ep 1] – Driven 2 Drift 2015
Geoff Stoneback – The Future of Formula Drift
Geoff Stoneback’s S14 is one of my favorite cars in Formula Drift. It really screams the spirit of drifting. Which has us pumped to be working with Geoff this Formula Drift season.
Geoff built this car himself with the help of R/T Tuning, who also provided tuning and alignment. Based on his Top 16 finish this past weekend at Formula Drift, they did a damn good job.
Of course it’s performance that matters most, but a classic Japanese inspired livery always helps to seal the deal. Graphics where done by D-Magic.
Geoff switched over to Enkei for wheels this season. These are the Enkei Tenjin Tuning Series MAT wheels. Unfortunately, they are not offered in white. I was a bit worried they would not match the look of the car but they turned out pretty amazing. Fronts are 17×9 and rears are 18×9.5 wrapped with Achilles Radial Atr Sport 2s and 123s. According to Geoff, these providing amazing traction on the field.
The chassis fabrication was done by Nate Dog Creations out of PA and sits on BC Racing NA ER type coilers with Powered By Max limit break front angle kit, rear arms and knuckles.
Let’s pop the hood shall we?
It has a RHS LSX block with All Pro LS7 heads, putting out 650WHP NA, it was built by Lon M. At Compeition Engine Services in North Carolina. It is paired up with a G-force four speed dog box and a Winters Quick Change differential from MA motorsports. 650WHP is under the norm in professional drifting these days but with Geoff’s aggressive driving style, it was enough to take out FD veteran Ken Gushi and landing him in top 16 after a one more time battle.
Stoneback was last season’s Rookie of The Year and also finished 2nd in Pro2 (only missing 1st by 6 points).
At last year’s round 3 in Miami, when Geoff finished in the Great 8, Bryan (FD’s Co-Founder) called him the future of Formula Drift.
We believed it then, and after a great 1st round in the streets of Long Beach, we believe it now. Best of luck this season man!
Geoff Stoneback and his team have dedicated this season to his good friend Mark Lenardon and his family. To donate, please visit Mark Lenardon’s Family Fund on GoFundMe. – Alex
