Long Beach Press Telegram Coverage of the Finals

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Pawlak gets powered up

MOTORSPORTS: Long Beach local grabs top qualifier spot for Formula Drift finale at Irwindale.

By Tim Haddock, Correspondent

Posted: 10/16/2009 11:32:42 PM PDT

IRWINDALE – One driver from Long Beach took his first step to ending his Formula Drift season on a high note. For three other drivers from Long Beach, it’s been a bit of a rough year.

Justin Pawlak, a 30-year-old from Long Beach, was the top qualifier for the Formula Drift season finale at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale on Friday night. Pawlak is in 10th place in the Formula Drift standings.

“It was definitely not easy,” Pawlak said. “I just really focused I what I wanted to do. I did a lot of mental preparation. I want to win tomorrow and this was the first step in doing that.”

Long Beach’s Kyle Mohan, Cody Parkhouse and Michael Essa enter tonight’s finale without a chance for a championship. With nearly 40 cars attempting to qualify for 32 starting spots, making the field would be an accomplishment for the three drivers.

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