Year: 2009

Formula DRIFT Round 5: Breaking Point Results

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For Immediate Release

August 10, 2009

Formula DRIFT Round 5: Breaking Point Results;
Chris Forsberg Takes the Victory and Maintains the Championship Points Lead

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Long Beach, Calif. – August 10, 2009 – Formula DRIFT returned to Evergreen Speedway for Round 5: Breaking Point in Monroe, WA. Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy / Maxxis Tires Nissan 350Z takes the victory and maintains the lead in the Formula DRIFT Championship Points race. Forsberg also maintains the lead for the Tires.com Triple Crown bonus prize.

“What an unbelievable finish to a great weekend,” said Chris Forsberg, winner of Round 5: Breaking Point and Formula DRIFT Championship Points leader. “We were leading the points chase for the series and the Tires.com Triple Crown and just wanted a strong finish. We could not have asked for a better turnout this weekend.”

The 2-day weekend event treated the fans to both Formula DRIFT Championship action and a Pro Am competition. The drivers came prepared for any weather conditions at Evergreen Speedway as this venue hosted the first rain event in Formula DRIFT history last season, but the event remained dry all weekend with cool weather. With only 3 events remaining in the season the pressure was on for the drivers to make their mark and didn’t fail to disappoint the excited crowd.

Vaughn Gittin in the Falken Tires Ford Racing Mustang GT and Eric O’Sullivan in the Hankook / Rockstar Subaru WRX put on an exciting match, which had O’Sullivan moving on to the Finals, but would fail to run due to damage from the previous round giving Forsberg the victory. Tyler McQuarrie in the Falken Tires Nissan 350Z and Gittin fought for 3rd place and after an intense battle McQuarrie would come out on top of his Falken Tires teammate. Entering the event with the points lead, Chris Forsberg was a marked man and battled through the tough competition meeting McQuarrie in semi-finals and proved to be one of the most entertaining match-ups of the evening with both drivers putting it all on the line with their fast entry and great angle along the banking of the course. Forsberg got the best of McQuarrie in the battle of the 350Z and took home his second victory of the season, which also was the 2nd event of the Tires.com Triple Crown in which he also won the 1st event at Road Atlanta.

“It’s hard to describe the Seattle event in words. I can only say that with all the excitement and drama that unfolds on track its hard to imagine the story we are seeing could even come out of Hollywood,” said Ryan Sage, vice president of marketing and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The championship is on and there are more than a few drivers that can still take the championship going into Round 6: Locked and Loaded at Infineon Raceway.”

Formula DRIFT returns to Infineon Raceway for Round 6: Locked and Loaded later this month on August 21-22. This is a special event with Formula DRIFT joining the IndyCar weekend. The best drifters in the world will share the track with the best drivers in the world including Helio Castroneves, Danica Patrick, and Scott Dixon. Ticket packages are available now.


Formula DRIFT Professional Championship 2009 Point Standings

1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z 410 Points
2. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1Pontiac Solstice 363 Points
3. McQuarrie, Tyler Falken Nissan 350Z 347 Points
4. Hubinette, Samuel NuFormz Dodge Viper 338 Points
5. Gittin, Vaughn Falken Tire Ford Racing Mustang GT 336.50 Points
6. McNamara, Darren Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky 316 Points
7. Nishida, Robbie Hankook Tires / Dynamic Autosports Nissan 350Z 314 Points
8. Foust, Tanner Rockstar / Hankook Scion Racing tC 303.50 Points
9. Pawlak, Justin Bergenholtz Racing / Nitto Mazda RX-8 298 Points
10. Brakohiapa, Tony Cooper Tire Ford Mustang 282 Points
11. Petty, Ross Garage Boso / Falken Nissan S15 280.75 Points
12. Maeng, Joon Maxxis / LS Auto Nissan S13.5 275.75 Points
13. Aono, Taka Technosquare Toyota AE86 Corolla 273 Points
14. Mordaunt, Patrick PM Racing Nissan S13 268.25 Points
15. Verdier, Stephan Cooper Tire / Crawford Performance Subaru STI 263 Points
16. Yoshihara, Daijiro Falken Tire / Discount Tire Lexus IS350 260 Points

Round 5: Breaking Point Event Results
1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z
2. Eric O’Sullivan Hankook / Rockstar Subaru WRX
3. Tyler McQuarrie Falken Tires Nissan 350Z

Tires.com Triple Crown Point Standings after 2 of 3 events
1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z 205 Points
2. McNamara, Darren Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky 150 Points
3. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice 149 Points

Round 5: Breaking Point Final Four LIVE

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Round 1: Vaughn Gittin vs. Eric O’Sullivan. Vaughn leads and rides the wall. Eric stays on him. Eric surged on and looks like he mis-shifted and goes a bit shallow and off-track. Run 2. Eric leads and there is a major crash on the bank with the 2 cars. Eric’s car is stuck on the bank, while Vaughn drives off. Judges deliberate the cause of the crash…Eric O’Sullivan advances (but his car may not be able to continue).

Note the winner of the next round with Chris Forsberg and Tyler McQuarrie will determine the winner of the event if Eric O’Sullivan can not continue.

It’s official this next battle is for 1st place.

Round 2: Chris Forsberg vs. Tyler McQuarrie. Tyler pulls away from Chris. Good run by both, but Tyler had a gap lead. Run 2. Chris leads and Tyler sticks to Chris. Tyler stalls at the transition off the bank and Chris continues with the run. Chris Forsberg wins the round adn the event!

Consolation Round for Third Place. Vaughn Gittin vs. Tyler McQuarrie. Tyler leads and rides the wall and Vaughn stays behind. Tyler with great angle and Vaughn comes up close. Run 2. Gittin leads both ride the wall. Tyler on Vaughn’s door. Great run! Tyler gets the win and third place.

Round 5: Breaking Point Great 8 LIVE

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We continue to the Great 8 competition.

Run 1: Ryan Tuerck vs. Vaughn Gittin. Tuerck leads ands Vaughn shadows him through the course. Great run by both. Run 2. Vaughn leads with a very early initiation, but Tuerck sticks to his door through the rest of the run. Amazing. Vaughn Gittin moves on.

Round 2: Eric O’Sullivan vs. Tony Brakiohiapa. Tony B leads and Eric goes aggressive and taps Tony on the bank and spins out. Tony finishes. Run 2. Eric leads and Tony very low on the bank. Sloppy run by both. One More Time.

Run 1 in OMT. Tony leads stays high on the bank. Eric stays tight. Tony goes wide and Eric slides past him. Run 2 in OMT. Eric leads creates a gap. Tony slides wide in the power alley. Eric moves on.

Round 3: Ross Petty vs. Chris Forsberg. Ross leads and lays down a lot of smoke and angle. Chris goes door to door with Ross. Great run! Run 2. Chris leads and rides the wall super fast. Ross tries to catch up but goes off line a bit. Chris Forsberg advances to Final 4.

Round 4: Samuel Hubinette vs. Tyler McQuarrie. Sam pulls away and sticks to the wall on the bank. Tyler plays catch up entire run. Run 2. Tyler leads and rides the wall with Sam going a bit shallow and now Sam plays catch up. Tyler McQuarrie advances.

Final 4 in next blog post.

Round 5: Breaking Point Top 16 LIVE

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We are LIVE at Evergreen Speedway and ready for Round 5: Breaking Point Top 16 competition.

The crowd is ready for some action
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Round 1: Ryan Tuerck vs. Robbie Nishida. Tuerck leads and scrapes the wall with a good line. Nishida plays catch-up. Great run by both. Run 2. Nishida leads and both cars stick to the wall, Tuerck on Nishida’s bumper through the course. Tuerck advances.

Round 2: Tanner Foust vs. Vaughn Gittin. Tanner leads and creates a smoke screen on the bank through the course and Vaughn is right there behind him. Run 2. Vaughn leads Tanner and Tanner sucks up to Vaughn’s door and both scrape the wall on the bank. Tanner sticks to Vaughn’s door through the entire course! Judges call a ONE MORE TIME.

Run 1 of OMT. Tanner leads creating a gap on the bank. Great angle by Tanner through the course, while Vaughn catches up taking a shallow line. Run 2. Vaughn leads Tanner and scrapes the wall, but Tanner sticks to his door through the rest of the course. Vaughn Gittin moves on the Great 8.

Round 3: Jodin LeJeune vs. Eric O’Sullivan. Eric leads and creates a gap but Jodin takes a good line and catches up to Eric towards the end of the course. Run 2. Jodin leads and Eric goes aggressive in the power alley. Eric O’ Sullivan advances.

Round 4: Ryuji Miki vs. Tony Brakiohiapa. Tony leads and gives a good line staying tight on the wall on the bank. Ryuji catches up in the power alley. Run 2. Ryuji leads and scrapes the wall losing part of his bumper along the way. Tony B keeps a clean run. Tony B advances.

Round 5: Ross Petty vs. Michihiro Takatori. Ross keeps a great line along the bank and creates a gap from Michihiro through the course. Run 2. Michihiro leads and has a high line, but Ross is right behind stays close through the power alley to the end of the run. One More Time.

Run 1 in OMT. Ross leads and gives a lot of smoke on the bank. Michihiro with a correction coming off the bank. Run 2. Michihiro leads and Ross takes a lower line, but with more angle. Ross sticks to the door of Michihiro towards the end of the run. One More Time.

Run 1 in OMT2. Ross leads and Michihiro with a correction on the bank. Run 2. Michihiro with a long lead on the bank. Ross catches up in the carousel. Ross Petty gets the win and moves on.

Round 6: Chris Forsberg vs. Darren McNamara. Chris leads and Darren is on his door through the entire course. Darren hits Chris and stalls his car, Chris drove through and finishes the run. Run 2. Darren leads and pulls away slightly on the bank. Chris keeps a solid run. Chris Forsberg moves on the Great 8.

Round 7: Ken Gushi vs. Samuel Hubinette. Sam leads and creates a huge gap. Ken straighten out…seems his car is broken. Sam finishes the run. Ken broke his drive shaft and will not be able to continue. Sam continues on.

Round 8: Tyler McQuarrie vs. Yasu Kondo. Tyler leads and rides the wall. Yasu Kondo hits the wall and straightens out. Run 2. Yasu leads and his hatch flys off without contact. Tyler swings a little wide but maintains his run. Tyler advances to Great 8.

Great 8 LIVE in next blog post. Stay Tuned!

Round 5: Breaking Point Top 32 Competition LIVE

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Round 5: Breaking Point at Evergreen Speedway is about to begin. Stay tuned for round by round LIVE updates here on the Formula DRIFT blog.

Packed stands and paddock
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Round 1: Ryan Tuerck receives a bye run

Round 2: Robbie Nishida vs. Joon Maeng. Robbie leads Joon on the first run. Robbie stays high on the bank and Joon chases. 2nd run both drivers run high on the bank and Nishida stays close behind on the bank. Into the power alley both drivers are good but into the 2nd the last clipping point Joon goes wide and Robbie passes him. Robbie Nishida moves on to the Top 16.

Round 3: Tanner Foust vs. Tommy Suell. Tanner leads and Tommy gives chase and gives Tanner a battle sticking to him on the bank. Great run. Tommy to lead and both high on the bank..Tommy clips the wall and drags his bumper. Going into the power alley…Tommy goes wide and almost spins and Tanner crashes into him. Both hit the k-rail. Tanner loses his front bumper. Tommy needs a tow. Tanner heads back to the paddock. Tanner moves on to Top 16.

Round 4: Vaughn Gittin vs. Alex Pfeiffer. Vaughn leads Alex and stays high on the bank. Alex is a little lower and Vaughn stays good on the run, while Alex makes a small correction in the power alley into the 2nd to last clipping point. 2nd run Alex leads and rides the wall while Vaughn gives chase. Alex spins into the 2nd to last clipping run and Vaughn slides close to clipping the corvette. Vaughn moves on.

Round 5: Justin Pawlak vs. Jodin LeJeune. Justin stays high and fast through the bank while Jodin chases. Jodin makes slight correction at last clipping point. 2nd run. Jodin leads goes high and scrapes the wall on the bank. Justin takes a tighter line and follows Jodin, but makes a mistake coming off the bank. Jodin LeJeune moves on to the Top 16.

Round 6: Eric O’Sullivan vs. Kenji Yamanaka. Eric leads and gives a big lead on the bank staying high, while Kenji gives chase and goes a bit sloppy. 2nd run. Kenji leads but Eric stays with him and forces Kenji to take an inside line through the power alley. Tight battle. Eric O’Sullivan moves on.

Round 7: Dai Yoshihara vs. Ryuji Miki. Dai crashed during practice and fails to make it to the line. Miki takes a “bye” run and moves on to Top 16.

Round 8: Tony Brakiohiapa vs. Kyle Mohan. Tony B leads and has good angle while Kyle tries to stick with him through the course. 2nd run. Kyle leads and he stays high on the bank and they both stay close on the transition to the power alley. Kyle had a better line. Tony B moves on.

Round 9: Ross Petty receives a bye into the next round.

Round 10: Stephan Verdier vs. Michihiro Takatori. Verdier leads and stays nice and high on the bank while Takatori takes a lower line. Verdier takes a great line through the course. 2nd run. Takatori leads and Verdier chases and has a shallow angle in the power alley, but Verdier makes a big correction into the 2nd to last clipping point. It’s going to a One More Time.

1st run of the OMT. Verdier takes a huge lead on Takatori and makes a great run. Takatori is far behind through the course. 2nd run of OMT. Takatori leads and Verdier runs close but straightens out and then spins out. Takatori moves on to Top 16.

Round 11: Chris Forsberg vs. Calvin Wan. Chris leads and stays high on the bank, Calvin spins on the transition off the bank. Calvin leads and Chris gives chase closely, but Calvin straightens out and exits the course. Chris advances.

Round 12: Darren McNamara vs. Michael Essa. Darren leads and stays really high on the bank and Essa catches up. Great run. 2nd run. Essa stays high and has small correction on the bank and Darren stays close throughout the course. Darren McNamara moves on.

Round 13: Samuel Hubinette vs. Pat Mordaunt. Sam takes a huge lead into the bank and Pat gets close to catching up and gives a good fight. 2nd run. Pat leads and Sam stays very close on the bank and sticks tight on Pat and there is contact. Sam loses his bumper. Sam moves on.

Round 14: Ken Gushi vs Rhys Millen. Gushi leads and stays high on the bank and Rhys gives chase close, while Ken makes a small correction in the power alley. 2nd run. Rhys leads and pulls away but Ken gives a lot of angle and catches up to Rhys. Ken Gushi moves on to the Top 16.

Round 15: Tyler McQuarrie vs. Ron Ewerth. Tyler leads and creates a huge gap. Tyler swings a bit wide on the clipping zone, but finishes way ahead of Ewerth. 2nd run. Ron leads and Tyler takes a high line and gets close to Ron and swings back on the clip keeping it close. Tyler McQuarrie advances.

Round 16: Taka Aono vs. Yasu Kondo. Battle of the Corollas. Great run by both as they stick close throughout the run. 2nd run. Yasu leads and Taka rides the wall catching up. Yasu Kondo moves on after a great battle.

We are heading into halftime break. The action continues at 5:30 PM. Keep checking the FD Blog for more LIVE Updates