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Ready to Drift: Scion Racing Prepares For Season’s Final Formula DRIFT Showdowns

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Ready to Drift: Scion Racing Prepares For Season’s Final Formula DRIFT Showdowns

Last High-Powered Events in Fort Worth, Texas, and Irwindale, California, to Bring Out Thousands of Fans

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Long Beach, Calif. – September 9, 2014 – With the Formula DRIFT podium in reach for Scion Racing, drivers Fredric Aasbo and Ken Gushi are revving up their engines for the final two rounds. Round 6 will take place Sept. 12-13 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, and Round 7 on Oct. 10-11 at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California.

In the highly competitive Formula DRIFT field, 2014 Hankook tC driver Aasbo emerged as a fierce competitor this year, currently holding second place. In addition, 2014 GReddy FR-S driver Gushi ranks in 14th place, after both drivers fought to overcome challenges on the track throughout the season.

“With a little luck, a very competitive tC vehicle and a lot of hard work from the team, it’s been a really successful ride this season,” Aasbo said. “For the final event at Irwindale Speedway, we will increase the power and really push the limits to end the season strong. Hopefully with a win!”

The Irwindale Speedway holds the title “House of Drift” for its role popularizing the racing style. The event is expected to draw more than 15,000 fans from around the region. Both in Texas and California, drivers will face demanding tracks and hot temperatures that require vehicle adjustments.

“There’s nothing quite like the challenge and adrenaline of these final two races, and I’m looking forward to giving fans a show,” Gushi said. “Every race this season has put our team to the test, and I can’t wait to take the FR-S out to finish it right.” Fans attending the final Formula DRIFT rounds can anticipate Scion Racing on-site. The limited edition FR-S Release Series 1.0 vehicle will be at Irwindale Speedway to showcase its unique racing-inspired features, including a custom-designed aero kit with a rear spoiler.

“These final two Formula DRIFT rounds will challenge Frederic Aasbo and Ken Gushi while capping off an extremely successful Scion Racing season,” said Landy Joe, Scion auto shows and special events manager. “Anyone who wants to witness the capabilities of the Scion tC and FR-S in a new light should be in the crowd at Texas Motor Speedway or Irwindale Speedway.”

For more details about Scion Racing, visit www.ScionRacing.com for blog entries, photos and video content.

Formula DRIFT Speeds into Texas with Ford Mustang Teams in Contention for 2014 Championship

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Formula DRIFT Speeds into Texas with Ford Mustang Teams in Contention for 2014 Championship

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•Ford competing for its first Formula DRIFT manufacturer’s cup

Former DRIFT champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. and past winner Justin Pawlak competing in Ford Mustangs for the driver’s championship

Ford continues sweepstakes for custom EcoBoost®-powered Fiesta ST in final two 2014 Formula DRIFT events

Long Beach, Calif. – September 4, 2014 – With just two races left in the 2014 Formula DRIFT season, Ford Motor Company heads to Texas Motor Speedway looking to regain the lead in the Formula DRIFT manufacturer’s cup standings. Vaughn Gittin Jr. in third place and Justin Pawlak, sixth will compete in customized Ford Mustangs in Fort Worth, Texas, Sept. 12-13, in round six of the seven-event series.

Ford has supported drivers in Formula DRIFT since 2005, when the sport triggered a successful Ford Racing Performance Parts engine development program for a supercharged 4.6-liter V8 crate engine.

“This has been an exciting season for Ford in Formula DRIFT,” said Mickey Matus, Ford Racing marketing communications manager. “Vaughn and Justin have performed consistently well to put Ford in the hunt for the 2014 manufacturer’s cup and driver’s championship .We’re confident Vaughn and Justin will continue to show the Formula DRIFT world that Ford and Mustang are winners in all form of motorsports.”

Amidst the excitement of North America’s foremost professional drifting championship, Ford is giving fans the opportunity to enter to win an EcoBoost®- powered Fiesta ST. The sweepstakes winner will receive personal drift lessons from DRIFT champion, Gittin Jr., a trip to Ford’s ST Octane Academy, and a visit to Hoonigan Racing headquarters. Anyone can enter the contest online while watching the hot action each weekend at www.formulad.com.

“The Fiesta ST featuring the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine is a huge hit, especially among Formula DRIFT fans,” Said Steve Ling, Ford car marketing manager. “We collaborated with Formula DRIFT to create an innovative way to give one to a lucky fan. We added Lowering springs, an exhaust from Ford Racing Performance Parts, Rotiform 18-inch VCE wheels, Nitto NT555 ultra high performance tires, and a K&N intake system to make this a true, one-of-one car. We displayed this hot new Fiesta ST at the season opener in Long Beach and will have it at the series finale in California in October.”

“With only two events remaining in the 2014 season, Ford trails Scion by just 34 points in the fight to win its first manufacturer’s cup,” said Ryan Sage, Formula DRIFT vice president and cofounder. “Formula DRIFT fans can get in on the action by entering to win a custom Ford Fiesta ST during the final two events this season.”

The first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting enthusiasts from all walks of life. Highly-skilled drivers maneuver high-powered cars into controlled slides at high speeds through a marked course. Judged on speed, execution and style rather than fastest time, drifting is a crowd pleaser that’s often compared to the freestyle nature of skateboarding and motocross.

The 2014 Formula DRIFT season will continue with Round 6: Showdown at Texas Motor Speedway on September 12-13. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift and Twitter @FormulaDrift

For more information contact: 

John Pangilinan
213.802.0863
[email protected]

ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT

In its eleventh season, Formula DRIFT is recognized as the North American professional drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges each driver’s driving ability and vehicle control. Formula DRIFT provides a forum for professional drifters to compete nationwide for the coveted Formula DRIFT Championship crown. As the first official series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life and establishes itself as the world-wide leader for the Sport. For a competition schedule and ticket information, visit: www.formuladrift.com.

ABOUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 183,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

Scion presents Formula Drift Canada presented by Falken Results

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Scion presents Formula Drift Canada presented by Falken Results;
Daigo Saito Wins Inaugural Competition FD-Canada-Podium-600w

Long Beach, Calif. – September 3, 2014 – Scion presents Formula DRIFT Canada presented by Falken entered Autodrome St. Eustache for the first time to a record-breaking drift crowd. Daigo Saito in the Bridges Racing / Achilles Radial Lexus SC430 takes the inaugural competition victory.

Formula DRIFT continued global expansion into Canada holding the first ever Scion presents Formula DRIFT Canada presented by Falken event at Autodrome St. Eustache this past weekend.

The competition had twenty-one entries. The Top 16 was composed of 8 FD Pros from USA, Japan, Norway, Hong Kong and Ireland and 8 Canadian regulars.

“The enthusiasm for drifting in Canada has always been strong and we had looked at Canada for sometime but without the right combination of key partners such as Autodrome St. Eustache we could not have felt confident to crossing the border,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “We have all been blown away by the level of driving and energy that the fans brought the entire weekend. This was one of, if not the biggest drifting competition ever held in Canada.”

Formula DRIFT Canada Results:

Winner = Daigo Saito – Bridges Racing / Achilles Radial Lexus SC430
2nd Place = Dean Kearney – Bridges Racing / Achilles Radial SRT Viper
3rd Place = Kenny Moen – Bridges Racing / Achilles Radial Nissan 240SX

“I had a great time at Formula Drift Canada. The fans were amazing and they made us feel right at home,” said Daigo Saito, winner of Scion presents Formula DRIFT Canada presented by Falken. “I was excited to win the event, and to stand on the podium with my Achilles teammates, Dean Kearney and Kenny Moen!”

Formula DRIFT Insider Premiere’s This Sunday, August 3

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Long Beach, Calif. – July 30, 2014 – Formula DRIFT’s popular web-based program, “Formula DRIFT Insider,” returns this Sunday, August 3 at 10:30 AM (PST) / 1:30 PM (EST). The years show will provide a behind the scenes companion to the live-to-tape NBC Sports Network program. Formula DRIFT Insider will travel with the drivers to their homes, on the road and give an exclusive look from the driver’s point of view of what goes on during the live competition.

“Fans will be excited to see the premier episode,” said Ryan Sage, vice-president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “As it covers the drama and unfinished business between 2013 champion, Michael Essa and the current points leader, Chris Forsberg.”

The Formula DRIFT Insider shows will be released coincident with the NBC Sports Network shows to give fans a chance to watch the live action and then head to Dailymotion for the behind the scenes look at what they just watched on NBCSN.

Formula DRIFT Round 5: Throwdown Results

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Formula DRIFT Round 5: Throwdown Results;
Darren McNamara Takes the Victory

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Long Beach, Calif. – July 19, 2014 – Formula DRIFT returned to Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA for Round 5: Throwdown. Darren McNamara in the Falken Tire Nissan S14 takes his first victory of the season.

Round 5: Throwdown held at Evergreen Speedway showcased intense competition throughout the weekend. The weather held up for the capacity crowd as they were entertained by the action on track, the open paddock and Offset Kings car show.

“The competition has tightened up with only two events remaining this season,” says Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “We can expect the final two rounds of the season to be as intense as ever. The drivers will be battling for every point possible.”

Number one qualifier, Darren McNamara faced fellow Irishman, Dean Kearney in the Oracle Lighting SRT Viper, in the finals. After a close battle, McNamara was able to take the win for his first victory of the season. This also marks the first podium in Kearney’s career. Rounding out the podium in third place was current point leader, Chris Forsberg, in the Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z, for his fifth consecutive podium of the season.

“It’s nice to be back. It’s been a rough year,” said Darren McNamara, winner of Round 5: Throwdown. “We’ve had a few things to overcome, but we’re here. It’s been a flawless weekend and it’s hard to believe. I’m so happy, especially for the team.”

The 2014 Formula DRIFT Championship season continues to Round 6: Showdown at Texas Motor Speedway on September 12-13. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift and Twitter @FormulaD.

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship Presented by GoPro 2014 Standings After Five Rounds
1. Forsberg, Chris Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z 421.50 Points
2. Aasbo, Fredric Hankook Tire Scion Racing tC 362.50 Points
3. Gittin Jr., Vaughn Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR 308.50 Points
4. Moen, Kenneth Bridges Racing Nissan 240SX 275.50 Points
5. McNamara, Darren Falken Tire Nissan S14 263.00 Points
6. Bakchis, Aurimas Feal Suspension / Nitto Tire Nissan 240SX 243.50 Points
7. Pawlak, Justin Falken Tire Ford Mustang 226.00 Points
8. Kearney, Dean Oracle Lighting Dodge Viper SRT 215.50 Points
9. Nishida, Robbie Achilles Radial / Bridges Racing Lexus SC300 191.00 Points
10. Wang, Forrest Get Nuts Lab / Hankook Tire / STR Racing Nissan S14 183.50 Points
11. Grunewald, Conrad Megan Racing / Top 1 Oil / BRE Chevrolet Camaro 176.50 Points
12. Essa, Michael Essa Autosport / Yokohama BMW M3 164.50 Points
13. Tuerck, Ryan Retaks Maxxis Tires Air Force PSI Scion FR-S 162.00 Points
14. Gushi, Ken GReddy Performance X Scion Racing Drift FR-S 156.00 Points
15. McQuarrie, Tyler GoPro Mobil 1Chevrolet Camaro 153.50 Points
16. Field, Matt CX Racing / Nitto Tire Nissan 240SX 153.00 Points

Round 5: Throwdown Event Results
1. McNamara, Darren Falken Tire Nissan S14 Winner
2. Kearney, Dean Oracle Lighting Dodge Viper SRT 2nd Place
3. Forsberg, Chris Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z 3rd Place

Manufacturers Championship Standings After Five Rounds
1. Scion 569.50 Points
2. Ford 534.50 Points
3. Nissan 529.50 Points
4. Chevy 330.00 Points
5. BMW 299.00 Points

Tire Championship Standings After Five Rounds
1. Hankook 784.00 Points
2. Nitto 613.00 Points
3. Achilles 574.00 Points
4. Falken 508.00 Points
5. Maxxis 246.50 Points