Month: April 2010

Monster Energy, Vaughn Gittin Jr, and Falken Tire form an epic partnership

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Monster Energy, Vaughn Gittin Jr, and Falken Tire form an epic partnership

MOORESVILLE, NC (April 8, 2010) – Professional Drifter Vaughn Gittin Jr. announced
today a multi-year partnership with Monster Energy to serve as co-primary sponsor on
Gittin’s 2011 Monster Energy/Falken Tire Ford Mustang that competes on the Formula
Drift series. Gittin, a former world champion, is entering his seventh season on the
popular Formula Drift series.

“Monster Energy is a leading supporter of motorsports across the globe, so to bring
them into Drifting in a big way is huge for the sport,” said Gittin, Jr., 29, of
Joppa, Md. “It is an honor to join the long list of elite athletes that represent
Monster Energy. Between Monster Energy, Team Falken Tire, and our Ford Racing 5.0L
2011 Mustang, we have everything we need be a competitive force in the Formula Drift
Championship this season.”

Gittin Jr., known as “JR” in the sport, has become one of drifting’s most iconic
figures and his machine, the 680HP Ford Mustang GT, one of the sport’s most
identifiable cars. Gittin is known best by his aggressive, foot-to-the-floor,
big-smoke driving style. Being such a fierce competitor, Gittin is known as the only
American to beat the Japanese at their own game in winning a D1 Grand Prix
competition, not once – but twice. In 2005, Gittin stunned the world when he won the
D1GP USA vs. Japan event. In 2007, he brought America home the gold once more by
winning the D1GP World Championship. Gittin has earned five career podiums in the
Formula Drift series, which has cemented itself as the premier Drifting series in
the world.

“Vaughn’s talent, passion, and drive make him one of the most unique and charismatic
personalities in all of Drifting,” said Mike Vicente, Monster Energy’s Motorsports
Marketing Director. “For these reasons, Vaughn is a perfect ambassador to help
Monster Energy make an immediate impact on the sport. Vaughn goes above and beyond
by pushing the limits of traditional sponsorship by creating unique concepts and
programs, yet still retaining his grassroots connection to the sport.”

The Formula Drift series kicks off the 2010 season with Round One on the streets of
Long Beach, Calif. on April 9-10 and continues with six more rounds in Road Atlanta
(Braselton, Ga.), Wall Speedway (Wall, NJ), Evergreen Speedway (Monroe, Wash.), Las
Vegas Motor Speedway (Las Vegas, NV), Infineon Raceway (Sonoma, Calif.), and Toyota
Speedway at Irwindale (Irwindale, Calif.). TV coverage is provided by Versus. For
more information, visit www.FormulaD.com.

The partnership was secured and is managed by Gittin’s management firm, Motorsports
Management International, located in Mooresville, NC.

Formula DRIFT Releases Codes and Applications for This Weekend’s Live Stream

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Formula DRIFT Releases Codes and Applications for This Weekend’s Live Stream

Long Beach, Calif. – April 7, 2010 – Formula DRIFT has released the codes and applications for the YoParts live stream that will go live this weekend at Round 1: Streets of Long Beach on April 9-10.

Last month Formula DRIFT announced a ground breaking relationship with YoParts to live stream the Formula DRIFT events in entirety from the first driver to qualify to the last tandem battle on Saturday. The first round of Formula DRIFT takes place this weekend April 9-10 on the historic Long Beach Grand Prix Street Course. Formula DRIFT and YoParts have invested in cutting-edge technology, different avenues, and social applications to view the live stream. The following are different ways fans, media, webmasters, teams and just about everyone can view the live stream.

1. Live on the Formula DRIFT Website home page and on the landing page www.formulad.com/live

2. Facebook Application

3. Mobile Application– Just load the URL into your applicable mobile phone’s browser or Text “yo” to 53000

4. Direct landing page on Live Stream host website: Live Stream Website

Any webmasters that are interested in the Direct Iframe Embed and custom sizing for their particular website can contact [email protected]

Coverage commences on Friday, April 9th at 12pm for the first session of qualifying during Round 1: Streets of Long Beach on April 9-10 on www.formuladrift.com.

Media Day

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Each year Formula DRIFT participates in the annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach media day. Formula DRIFT drivers get a chance to test out the street course before the season begins as well as give a select few media members a chance for a once in a life ride along. The day is spent alongside the Toyota Pro Celebrity race practice as well. This year celebrities such as Christian Slater, Adrian Brody, Brian Austin Green, Patrick Wharburton, Adam Carolla, and Tony Hawk will be driving against the “pro” drivers that include Formula DRIFT’s own Tanner Foust, Steve Millen, and Keanu Reeves (since he won the race last year).

Here are some images from the day that includes the debut of Matt Powers Nissan S14 with new graphics, Ken Gushi’s new DTA x Scion Racing wrap, and more. Round 1: Streets of Long Beach is this weekend April 9-10 for more info visit www.formulad.com

Daijiro Yoshihara Goes Back to His Roots

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Signing another year with Team Falken Tire/Discount Tire for the 2010 Formula Drift
season, Dai Yoshihara will be back to his driving roots and will be piloting a
Nissan 240SX S13. Having come off a struggling 2009 season, Dai has put last
year’s hic-ups in the past and is now ready to take vengeance and fight for
the championship for 2010.

Car builder and manager, Scott Dodgion of SPD Metal Works, was brought back to
rebuild the S13 that Dai competed in during the last two events of the 2009 season.
Having gone under the knife, the S13 has gotten a complete make over and will now
sport a new fresh aero package from Rocket Bunny with Volk Racing RE-30 wheels. The
new aero kit will also now be complemented with fresh new vinyl graphics, which were
all laid out by Race Designs. Under the hood will lay a massive 6.0-liter, LS-2 V8
motor that will be producing over 650hp.

“I am very excited for this year,” explains Dai. “The Lexus was a
good car, but it was unfamiliar to drive. I’ve driven a S13 before and have
won events in one, so this year, I expect to be on the podium many times.” In
2009, Dai gained enough points to finish in 11th in the championship standings with
a good amount of points coming from the last two events in which he drove a S13.

The first Formula D event of the season will be in Long Beach, CA on April 10th.
Long Beach has been the season opener for the past 5 years as the drift course is a
series of turns that will be in place for the Long Beach Grand Prix in the IRL
series.