Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Friday Night Results

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Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Friday Results;
Matt Field Takes His Second Consecutive Motegi Racing Super Drift Victory

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Long Beach, Calif. – April 7, 2017 – Formula DRIFT returned to Long Beach to host the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge as part of the 43rd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Matt Field in the Falken Tire / Vapetasia / ARK Performance Nissan 240 goes back to back at the Motegi Super Drift Challenge.

The Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge for the fifth consecutive year brought motorsports action under the lights during the annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach within Turns 9, 10, and 11 of the famous street course. Drivers competed on Friday night in front of a capacity crowd for a chance at the prize purse and bragging rights.

“For the first time we decided to hold a doubleheader Top 16 competition over the course of the Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend,” said Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “For our 11th consecutive year bringing drifting action on the Streets of Long Beach we wanted to showcase even more competitive action for the fans on both Friday and Saturday night.”

On night one of the doubleheader weekend drivers were placed at random into the Top 16 bracket. The Top 4 saw returning Motegi Racing Super Drift winner, Matt Field against Justin Pawlak in the Roush Performance Ford Mustang. Field outdrove his opponent to move into the Finals. Forrest Wang in the Get Nuts Lab Nissan 240 faced off against Alex Heilbrunn in the IMR / Nitto Tire BMW M3. Heilbrunn fresh off his second place finish last weekend at the Formula DRIFT season opener on the same track, kept his streak alive taking the win to move into the Finals. Forest Wang finishes in third place. The final battle was dramatic as Heilbrunn and Field collided on the first turn of the first run. Judges deemed fault to Heilbrunn giving Field the advantage. Field, after fixing the significant damage sustained from the run 1 collision kept a clean and safe follow run to take the first victory of the doubleheader.

“We went back to back!” said Matt Field, winner of the Motegi Super Drift Challenge. “There’s day two tomorrow and we’re going to try to win that too. This event was strong and it feels good to get back into a car that’s in working manner after struggling last weekend, but we’re back.”

The action continues on Saturday night for the second night of the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge during the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. For more information visit, www.formulad.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift, Twitter @FormulaDrift, and Snapchat – formula_drift. Tune into Formula DRIFT on CBS Sports and check your local listings for airtimes.

SuperDrift-Friday-Bracket

Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge – Friday Night Results

1. Field, Matt Falken Tire / Vapetasia / ARK Performance Nissan 240 Winner
2. Heilbrunn, Alex IMR / Nitto Tire BMW M3 2nd Place
3. Wang, Forrest Get Nuts Lab Nissan 240 3rd Place
4. Pawlak, Justin Roush Performance Ford Mustang 4th Place
5. Hamilton, Nate Team Enjuku, BC Racing, Hankook Tire S13.4
5th Place
6. Rintanen, Juha STR Racing / Nexen Tire Nissan 240 6th Place
7. Kearney, Dean Oracle Lighting Dodgle Viper 7th Place
8. Beechum, Trenton Beechum Racing Ford Mustang 8th Place
9. Castro, Jhonnattan Gerdau Metaldom/ Nexen / Toyota GT86
9th Place
10. Essa, Michael Achilles tire, Essa Autosport M3
10th Place
11. Litteral, Ryan NRG Innovation / Federal Tire Nissan 240 11th Place
12. Burkett, Dan RAD Industries, Nexen Tire, Toyota Supra
12th Place
13. Jones, Jeff DOC Nissan 240 13th Place
14. Mohan, Kyle Built 2 Apex / Mazdatrix / KMR 2016 MX-5
14th Place

Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Results

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Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Results;
Matt Field Takes the Victory

Long Beach, Calif. – April 17, 2016 – Formula DRIFT presented by BlackVue returned to Long Beach to host the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge as part of the 42nd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Matt Field in the Falken Tire / Drift Cave Nissan S14 takes the victory.

The Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge for the fourth consecutive year brought motorsports action under the lights during the annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach with a filled capacity within Turns 9, 10, and 11 of the famous street course. Select Formula DRIFT drivers competed for a $25,000 prize purse.

“This was a landmark year as the tenth consecutive year for us to bring drifting as part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach,” said Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “Since 2013, we have been the only Series to compete under the lights in the Grand Prix’s 42-year history and we are happy to make this an ongoing tradition.”

The Top 4 pitted Odi Bakchis, the number qualifier, against Michael Essa, in an exciting battle. Essa outdrove his opponent to move into the Finals. Matt Field then faced Dean Kearney and capitalized on his opponent making a mistake to meet Essa in the final battle. On his lead run Essa spun giving the advantage to Field and ultimately the event victory.

“First off thank you to my crew, they gave me an amazing car. My parents for always being there and for cheering louder than anyone back home,” said Matt Field, winner of the Motegi Super Drift Challenge. “And my sponsors, Casino M8trix, Lucas Oil, Drift Cave, and of course to Falken Tires for giving me the grip I need to stick it to the hard charging boys in this Formula DRIFT field.”

The 2016 Formula DRIFT Pro Championship will continue to Round 2: Road to the Championship on May 6-7 at Road Atlanta. For more information visit: www.formuladrift.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Tune into Formula DRIFT on CBS Sports and check your local listings for airtimes.

Motegi Super Drift Challenge Results

1. Field, Matt Falken Tire / Driftcave Motorsports Nissan S14 Winner
2. Essa, Michael Loudmouth Exhaust / Achilles Tire BMW M3 2nd Place
3. Bakchis, Aurimas Feal Suspension / ARK Performance / Falken Tire Hyundai Genesis 3rd Place
4. Kearney, Dean Oracle Lighting Dodge Viper 4th Place
5. Mohan, Kyle GT Radial / Mazdatrix Mazda MX5 5th Place
6. Jones, Jeff DOC Racing Nissan S14 6th Place
7. Litteral, Ryan Ryan Litteral Racing Nissan S14 7th Place
8. Aasbo, Fredric Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire SR by Toyota tC 8th Place
9. Pawlak, Justin Roush Performance Ford Mustang 9th Place
10. Beechum, Trenton Falken Tire / Joy Hollywood Ford Mustang 10th Place
11. Heilbrunn, Alex RTS Monster BMW 11th Place

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Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge Results;
Daigo Saito Takes the Victory

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Long Beach, Calif. – April 12, 2014 – Formula DRIFT hosted the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge during the 40th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Daigo Saito in the Achilles Radial Lexus SC430 takes the victory.

The Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge for the second consecutive year brought motorsports action under the lights during the annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach with a filled capacity within Turns 9, 10, and 11 of the famous street course. Sixteen of the top Formula DRIFT drivers competed for a $25,000 prize purse. Eight vehicle manufacturers and seven tire companies were represented in the competition.

“It is an honor to be able to bring drifting to the masses during the 40th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach,” stated Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “And to be able to showcase our sport for the second year in a row under the lights on the city streets is something special.”

The action under the lights along with ever changing track temperatures proved to be a test of driver skill. Number one qualifier, Forrest Wang in Get Nuts Lab / Hankook Tire Nissan S14 finishes in third place. Daigo Saito met teammate Kenny Moen in the Bridges Racing / Achilles Radial Nissan 240SX in the finals. Saito, the 2012 Formula DRIFT champion, was able to edge out Moen to take the victory. For the second consecutive weekend, Moen takes the second spot on the podium.

“Last weekend at Round 1 of Formula DRIFT was no good for me, but this week with a few modifications on the vehicle I was able to get the win,” said Daigo Saito, winner of the Motegi Super Drift Challenge. “I am happy with the win and look to continue the momentum into the next round.”