Category: FD News

Formula DRIFT 2009 Champion Crowned

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Formula DRIFT 2009 Champion Crowned and Round 7: Judgment Day Results;
Ryan Tuerck takes the event victory and Chris Forsberg wins the championship title

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Long Beach, Calif. – October 17, 2009 – Formula DRIFT entered the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale for the final event of the season. Ryan Tuerck takes the Round 7: Judgment Day victory, while Chris Forsberg takes the overall championship and the Tires.com Triple Crown bonus prize.

The Toyota Speedway at Irwindale hosted the final event of the 6th season of Formula DRIFT. The sold out crowd was not disappointed as the drivers provided non-stop action throughout the event weekend. The event also provided plenty of additional entertainment for the fans including the Jtuned Auto Gallery, Famous Stars and Straps stunt bike demo, and a performance by the “Far East Movement.”

“Given the state of the current economy, Formula DRIFT and the sport of drifting have continued to make strides forward,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “This has been made evident tonight and a great way to cap the season to a sold out venue.”

The final event of the season lived up to all the high expectations with the drivers putting it all on the line to win the coveted championship. 2-time Formula DRIFT champion Tanner Foust met rookie and privateer Matt Powers with his Nissan 240 in the consolation round for third place. Foust outmatched the rookie and secured his third place finish. The finals came down to and Ryan Tuerck in the Gardella Racing / Mobil 1Pontiac Solstice and Tyler McQuarrie in the Falken Tire Nissan 350Z. McQuarrie tapped the wall and spun on the 2nd run giving Tuerck the victory and 2nd place overall in the final championship standings. McQuarrie finished the season overall in 3rd place for the highest finish of his career.

“It feels amazing,” said Ryan Tuerck, winner of Round 7: Judgment Day. “To be able to relish in this win for the next 6th months is truly awesome.”

Heading into the final event, Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy / Maxxis Tire Nissan 350Z maintained a healthy lead in the championship standings, but not a guaranteed title. Forsberg clinched the 2009 Formula DRIFT championship by beating Doug Van Den Brink in the Top 32 portion of the event giving him enough points overall to be crowned for the first time as champion. Forsberg also won for his second time in his career the Tires.com Triple Crown bonus prize and was awarded a check for $10,000 and a custom wheel trophy and also became the first driver to win both in the same season. This marks the first time that the champion has come from a purely drifting background whereas previous champions had other motorsport experience.

“We’ve been chasing the championship for the past 6 years since Formula DRIFT first started and everyone is out here to do the same thing. We just run as hard as everyone else and did the best we could,” said Chris Forsberg, 2009 Formula DRIFT champion and Tires.com Triple Crown bonus prize winner. “Coming into this last round I saw that Tuerck was just crushing it in practice and I knew that if we didn’t get enough points we would lose the championship and Tuerck would take the event and the title, so I’m proud of him doing that and I’m totally psyched for what my team was able to accomplish to win the championship.”

For more information and details visit the Formula DRIFT website at: www.formuladrift.com

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship 2009 Point Standings

1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z 527 Points
2. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice 521 Points
3. McQuarrie, Tyler Falken Nissan 350Z 485 Points
4. Hubinette, Samuel NuFormz Dodge Viper 462.25 Points
5. Gittin, Vaughn Falken Tire Ford Racing Mustang GT 451.50 Points
6. Foust, Tanner Rockstar / Hankook Scion Racing tC 447.50 Points
7. McNamara, Darren Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky 426.50 Points
8. Nishida, Robbie Hankook Tires / Dynamic Autosports Nissan 350Z 425.25 Points
9. Pawlak, Justin Bergenholtz Racing / Nitto Mazda RX-8 416 Points
10. Gushi, Ken RS*R Scion Racing TC 388.50 Points
11. Yoshihara, Daijiro Discount Tire / America’s Tire / Falken Nissan 240 381 Points
12. Brakohiapa, Tony Cooper Tire Ford Mustang 379.25 Points
13. Petty, Ross Garage Boso / Falken Nissan S15 377.25 Points
14. Aono, Taka Technosquare Toyota AE86 Corolla 369.75 Points
15. Verdier, Stephan Cooper Tire / Crawford Performance Subaru STI 364 Points
16. Miki, Ryuji APEXi / Hankook Mazda RX-7 341.75 Points

Round 7: Judgment Day Event Results

1. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice Winner
2. McQuarrie, Tyler Falken Nissan 350Z 2nd Place
3. Foust, Tanner Rockstar / Hankook Scion Racing tC 3rd Place

Tires.com Triple Crown Bonus Point Final Standings

1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z 262 Points
2. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice 256 Points
3. McQuarrie, Tyler Falken Nissan 350Z

Formula DRIFT Wheel “FD-05” by Enkei

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Formula DRIFT Wheel “FD-05” by Enkei

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Enkei Wheels and Discount Tire have teamed to introduce a new wheel that captures the excitement of drifting. Named the FD-05, this is the official wheel of Formula DRIFT. Good looks, the right sizes and the high quality associated with the ENKEI brand will make this wheel a winner with enthusiasts and every-day drivers alike. Available in three colors, gunmetal with bright-machined accents, gloss black with bright-machined accents and matte black finish.

Contact info: www.tires.com, www.discounttiredirect.com, www.enkei.com

RD 7 to Host the Need for Speed Time Attack Challenge

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Formula DRIFT Round 7: Judgment Day to Host the Royal Purple – Need for Speed Time Attack Challenge;
Drivers to compete on Oct. 17 at the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale for $5000

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Long Beach, Calif. – October 12, 2009 – Formula DRIFT will be hosting, during the Round 7: Judgment Day season finale, a live video game competition between the top drivers of the series in the Royal Purple – Need for Speed Time Attack Challenge. The drivers will compete using the newly released Need for Speed SHIFT game and the winner will receive a check for $5000 courtesy of Royal Purple.

Invites have been sent out to the top Formula DRIFT drivers to compete in this challenge. The drivers will need to qualify on Thursday, October 15 to make it to the live competition during the Round 7: Judgment Day event. The top 3 qualifiers will then compete during half time between the Top 32 and Top 16 Pro Competition at the Need for Speed SHIFT booth. Only one driver will be crowned the winner and will receive a $5000 check during the podium ceremony from Royal Purple.

‘Need for Speed SHIFT is the game for true enthusiasts,’ says Royal Purple VP of Sales & Marketing Mark McFann. “It’s the closest thing my racing brethren and I have seen to the real thing. We know Formula D drifters bring it on the track — now we want to see if they can bring it on the (gaming) console.”

The final competition will see the top 3 qualifiers battling on an XBOX 360 console in a hot lap challenge, with the fastest driver being awarded with the win. The drivers will be piloting a Maserati MC12 on the Nurburgring Nordeschleife track in Time Attack mode.

“I’ve seen some of the Formula D drifters race Need for Speed SHIFT previously and, believe me, some of them are amazing gamers.,” Rod Chong, creative director of Speedhunters. ““So we wanted to up the ante. This time, they’ll be competing in-game for the same prize money they’d win at the actual Toyota Speedway at Irwindale Formula DRIFT event.”

Tickets for Round 7: Judgment Day on October 16-17 are available now. Online tickets can be purchased on the Formula DRIFT website. For more information, visit: www.formuladrift.com.

Rest in Peace Shaun Carlson

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The Formula DRIFT family is saddened to learn of the loss of Shaun Carlson. Shaun was a innovator, a record breaker and a great friend. His support of Formula DRIFT since day one is only a small sign of his loyalty and the type of person he was. Though we will miss Shaun, we are thankful of the moments we shared with him and we will celebrate the life he lead. And on behalf of the entire Formula DRIFT team, I would also like to give our deepest condolences to Shaun’s loved ones.

-Jim Liaw
President and Co-Founder Formula DRIFT