Tag: Falken Tire

Formula DRIFT Round 5: After Dark Results

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Formula DRIFT Round 5: After Dark Results;
Tyler McQuarrie Takes the Victory and Team Falken Tire Sweep the Podium

Long Beach, Calif. – August 22, 2010 – Formula DRIFT returned to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Round 5: After Dark. Tyler McQuarrie piloting the Falken Tire Nissan 350Z found the top of the podium alongside his Falken Tire teammates for their 2nd ever sweep.

The Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted the event to a sell out crowd under the stars and lights in the Nevada desert. Round 5: After Dark featured the Vegas Pro Am finals, Fatlace One of One Showcase car show, Monster truck demonstration, Drag Races, and was highlighted with the Formula DRIFT championship competition. The competition heats up with only two events remaining in the 2010 Championship season.

“This event in Las Vegas is challenging for everyone involved with Formula DRIFT including the staff, teams, and sponsors, but at the end of the day the event exceeded all expectations with a sell-out crowd, amazing competition, and a tightening chase for the Championship heading into Sonoma,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The level of competition is at an all-time high and teams are setting the bar for the sport of drifting worldwide.”

The action filled weekend came down to a battle of the V8’s. Making the Top 4 for his first time, Tony Brakohiapa in the Cooper Tire / BSP Tuskegee Airmen Mustang went against point leader, Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Monster Energy / Falken Tire Ford Mustang for third place. Gittin gained the victory and maintains the championship points lead. The final battle pitted Falken teammates Daijiro Yoshihara in the Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 against Tyler McQuarrie in the Falken Tire Nissan 350Z. Mechanical problems forced Yoshihara to forfeit from the competition giving McQuarrie his first ever victory and moves him up the rankings into 9th place overall.

“The Falken Tire Nissan 350Z was unreal in every practice and through qualifying. It was one of those events where I could just feel it,” said Tyler McQuarrie, winner of Round 5: After Dark. “To get my first career victory here in Las Vegas feels incredible and for the Falken Tire team to get the second ever sweep in history is a milestone for the team.”

McQuarrie will carry the momentum of the victory to the next stop of the Formula DRIFT championship at his hometown track for Round 6: Point of Impact on September 10-11. This is the last event before the Finals in October and the drivers will be sure to put it all on the line for a chance at the title. Tickets are available on-line.

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship 2010 Point Standings – Top 16
1. Gittin, Vaughn Monster Energy / Falken Tire Ford Mustang 439 Points
2. Yoshihara, Daijiro Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 417 Points
3. Foust, Tanner Rockstar Energy Scion TC 386 Points
4. Tuerck, Ryan Mobil 1 / Maxxis Tire / Gardella Racing Pontiac Solstice 361 Points
5. McNamara, Darren Falken Tire Saturn Sky 342 Points
6. Hubinette, Samuel SHR-Dodge / BF Goodrich Dodge Challenger 304 Points
7. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / CFR Nissan 350Z 296 Points
8. Millen, Rhys RMR / Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe 291.75 Points
9. McQuarrie, Tyler Falken Tire Nissan 350Z 275.50 Points
10. Pawlak, Justin Ford Racing / Falken Tire Ford Mustang 267.50 Points
11. Takatori, Michihiro BF Goodrich / Exedy Nissan S13 239.50 Points
12. Ng, Charles Charles Ng Racing Mazda RX-7 228.50 Points
13. Grunewald, Conrad Hankook Tire Chevy Camaro 213 Points
14. Gushi, Ken Scion Racing / RS*R Scion TC 203.50 Points
15. Maeng, Joon Full Tilt Poker / Nitto Tire Mazda RX-8 190.25 Points
16. Petty, Ross Falken Tire / Garage Boso Nissan S15 186 Points

Round 5: After Dark Event Results
1. McQuarrie, Tyler Falken Tire Nissan 350Z 1st Place
2. Yoshihara, Daijiro Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 2nd Place
3. Gittin, Vaughn Monster Energy / Falken Tire Ford Mustang 3rd Place

Tires.com Triple Crown – Event 2 of 3
1. Foust, Tanner Rockstar Energy Scion TC 169 Points
2. Tuerck, Ryan Mobil 1 / Maxxis Tire / Gardella Racing Pontiac Solstice 167 Points
3. Yoshihara, Daijiro Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 162 Points

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.

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.

FREDRIC AASBO & TEAM JAPAN PREPARING FOR FD

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After arriving in Los Angeles, California late September, Fredric Aasbo and his Team Japan Auto Crew has had two hectic weeks of preparation in the Los Angeles sun.

– The Japan Auto Supra has been transformed with an all new engine management, drivetrain and suspension geometry setup. At the same time, the Supra has received a cosmetic facelift involving both interior and exterior details. The whole process has been a demanding task for sure, but the guys have done an awesome job getting what was basically a new build up and running!

After focusing on North European events throughout the 09′ season, Fredric is happy to be back in Los Angeles soaking up the SoCal drift atmosphere.

– Through our preparations out here we have met a bunch of the players in this industry over the last two weeks, and we have received nothing but help and support everywhere we go. We have become even more fond of the Southern California drift scene and the people involved in it, and we start to feel we really want to be a part of this family!

The Japan Auto crew and Fredric is in the middle an intensive week culminating at the Formula Drift 2009 final at Irwindale on October 16th-17th.

– We will be testing the car at Willow Springs all of Tuesday. On Thursday we will be heading out to Irwindale for actual track testing. The event is called Judgment Day and that certainly fits the bill – we can’t wait to take on the upcoming weekend!

Fredric Aasbo is a Drift Driver sponsored by Japan Auto, BS Bildeler, PBC Auto, CRC, Meguiars and BlackBox Media. Follow Fredric Aasbo and Team Japan Auto and their ventures at Facebook, www.powerdrift.no and www.gatebil.no.

– ceso

The Race for the Tires.com Triple Crown

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This video features Chris Forsberg, Darren McNamara and Ryan Tuerck in their quest to win the Formula DRIFT Tires.com Triple Crown bonus and a check for $10,000.

Round 7: Judgment Day Ticket Package Details

Saturday (Main Event)
Reserved Seat Tickets
Click Here to Buy Tickets for this Package

2-Day Ticket Package
Friday General Admission Ticket + Saturday Reserved Ticket
Click Here to Buy Tickets for this Package

2-DAY VIP Ticket Package
Friday and Saturday track side VIP seating, lunch on Saturday, and all access pass
Click Here to Buy Tickets for this Package

– ceso