Check out the video of Ryan Tuerck and team owner Gary Gardella talking about how important it is to have a solid team to be successful in the sport of drifting.
Gardella Racing Promo from Death Machines on Vimeo.
Tag: Ryan Tuerck
Tuerck Doesn’t Win the Birthday Prize, But Does Finish Fifth in Long Beach
~Debut of Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice promises many good things to come~
HOWELL, NJ(April 15, 2010) – On his 26th birthday Ryan Tuerck was hoping to earn the best birthday present, a win, while competing at Formula Drift’s Round 1: Streets of Long Beach on Saturday. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, but he did leave with a fifth place finish as he debuted the Gardella Racing Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice.
Tuerck nearly took out the eventual event winner Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Great Eight round. He had a nearly flawless first run while being the chase car where he mirrored every move of Gittin Jr.’s and almost outdid him with what everyone
thought was perfection. In the second run against Gittin, Tuerck knew that he just needed a good run to move on to the Final Four. He came around the first turn smoothly, but as he was moving the car into position for the first clipping point he kissed the wall with the right rear Maxxis tire. While the damage to the car was minimal, the damage in the judges’ eyes was overwhelming. The team thought they would earn a ruling of “One More Round,” but it was unanimous for Gittin Jr.
“It was great out there this weekend,” said Tuerck. “I was feeling so good on that first run. I went up in the bar too high and knew that the line was close (to the wall), but I didn’t think it was that close.”
Tuerck’s run to the Great Eight was quite simple.
To start the weekend he qualified sixth. It wasn’t the position he hoped for, but there were some issues with the transmission that the Gardella Racing team had to overcome. Plus, for whatever reason Tuerck always has a way of holding back on qualifying day.
The Round of 32 was simple enough for Tuerck. His opponent, Jeff Abbott spun out as Tuerck was the following car. He professionally continued the run smoothly. On the second run, Abbott was right on Tuerck’s tail but it was too little too late, and Tuerck continued on.
Ryugi Mikki was Tuerck’s next victim in the Round of 16. With Tuerck leading in the first run Miki followed closely, but Tuerck ran a beautiful line around the course. On the second run Tuerck was the follower. He had a little too much of
a gap which he closed as Mikki had problems towards the end of the run. The judges ruled that it should be decided with ruling of “One More Run.” On the third run Tuerck was the leader and Mkki hit the wall coming into the infamous exclamation turn in at the end of the Long Beach course. That sealed his fate. Tuerck chased Miki in the fourth run and held on to advance to face Gittin in Great 8.
While he didn’t get the win, Tuerck did leave Long Beach enroute to Round 2: Road to Championship at Road Atlanta in fifth place in the Formula Drift driver standings.
“We are going to work hard getting ready for Road Atlanta,” Tuerck said. “I love that course. It is my favorite track. I have finished third there the past two years.”
This was the initial appearance of Mobil 1 as title sponsor on the Solstice. Mobil 1 had a tremendous presence at the race. They were passing out many fine freebies to fans. The overwhelming favorite was giant Mobil 1 foam fingers. Fans everywhere were wearing them. And they came in handy when the fans wanted to let the Formula Drift judges that they wanted the drivers to run “One More Time!”
Stay tuned for upcoming information as Tuerck, Gardella Racing and the Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice prepare to go to Road Atlanta, May 7-8.
This Saturday, April 18th the team will be headed to New Jersey Motorsports Park with their road race Solstice to run some licensing laps with the NASA series. Tuerck will be looking to get his competition license to compete as Gardella Racing is looking to get more involved with road racing in the SCCA and possibly in the Grand Am series this season.
Gardella Racing’s Ryan Tuerck Signed to Red Bull Athlete Program
Gardella Racing’s Ryan Tuerck has reached the pinnacle of sports sponsorship by signing as a Red Bull athlete for the 2010 Formula Drift season. Tuerck finished second in the overall Formula Drift standings in 2009.
Tuerck was introduced to the Red Bull family at a special gathering on March 20th at the grand opening of the Red Bull Arena, home to the New York Red Bulls soccer team. He met other Red Bull athletes including Super Bowl champion Reggie Bush, Olympic downhill skiing champion Lindsey Vonn and BMX biker Kevin Robinson.
“To be involved with the best energy drink and coolest brand in the world is something I never dreamed of happening,” said an excited Tuerck. “When Red Bull gets together it’s like a big family, and I am really excited to be a part of it.”
In addition to the Formula D series, Tuerck and Gardella Racing will receive additional exposure through various programs implemented by Red Bull, including a demo tour at military bases, colleges and festivals throughout the North East. A schedule of appearances is coming soon.
Gardella Racing has been associated with Red Bull for more than six years. The partnership began when team owner Gary Gardella was racing in NHRA and NOPI sport compact drag racing. Gardella captured a drag racing championship during this partnership.
Be sure to watch for Tuerck, Red Bull and Gardella Racing at the first round of the Formula Drift’s Streets of Long Beach competition in Long Beach, Calif. April 9-10. Tuerck is shooting for his second consecutive win in Long Beach.
Gardella Racing has joined forces with the automotive industry’s first true wholesale club, YoParts.com
Gardella Racing has joined forces with the automotive industry’s first true wholesale club, YoParts.com.
In 2010, GR and YoParts.com will be joining forces on the quest for a Formula Drift championship. The partnership will have YoParts.com providing parts from their extensive warehouse and GR will provide name exposure on the Pontiac Solstice.
“All of us here at YoParts are stoked about being part of the big things that Gardella Racing will be up to in 2010,” said Tom Masiero of YoParts.com. “Our relationship with Gardella Racing goes back to our drag racing roots. We have seen what type of team and organization Gardella Racing is and we think they are on the brink of HUGE success in 2010. The ability for YoParts to provide some key parts for the Solstice and to give Ryan everything he needs to compete makes this relationship a great one!”
For GR this partnership means they will have greater and quicker access to parts for Ryan Tuerck and Steve Angerman to compete in 2010. Without this access the downtime waiting for parts would hinder the team in competing for the Formula drift championship.
“I am glad to have great partnerships like this, because companies like www.YoParts.com are very energetic and hungry,” team owner Gary Gardella said. “I have seen www.YoParts.com grow so much through the years and now it seems like everyone is a member. Be sure to check out the www.YoParts.com site and see how you can become a member so you can save on parts for your drift or drag cars.”
For the GR and Formula Drift fan that cannot make it to an event, Yoparts.com has announced that they have partnered with Formula Drift to provide the first ever comprehensive interactive live stream broadcast called DriftStream!. If you are too far from an event, too busy or just don’t have the money to pay for tickets, this means that you can watch the Formula Drift action where ever you are or whatever your excuse. To get more information on this cutting edge technology click here.
This is great news because with this live stream broadcast GR will have a camera in the pit area that will allow our fans to see the team work all weekend long. Watch for more information about this soon.
Make sure to come out and see YoParts.com and GR in Long Beach, Calif., April 9-10 for Round 1, The Streets of Long Beach, of the 2010 Formula Drift season.
Ryan Tuerck Re-signs with Gardella Racing for 2010
HOWELL, NJ (March 2, 2010) – Gardella Racing is excited to announce that Ryan Tuerck has re-signed with the team to drive the Pontiac Solstice in the race for the 2010 Formula Drift Championship.
Tuerck, 25, had an extremely successful 2009 campaign when he finished second overall in points. At the season ending event, FD Judgment Day, in Irwindale, CA, Tuerck raced to the win. Unfortunately, he was not able to overcome Chris Forsberg’s lead, falling just six points short of his first championship.
“I am stoked to be a part of the Gardella racing team again for the 2010 season,” said Tuerck. “I feel that Gardella racing is the most professional team in the Formula D series and we are going to have another great run at the championship.”
Tuerck began racing motocross at the age of 10. After his motocross career came to end, Tuerck began drifting his personal car by sliding sideways in empty parking lots late at night. In 2003, Tuerck learned that he could race professionally in drifting and entered his first drifting event at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ. In ’04 and ’05 Tuerck competed part time in Formula Drift events. In ’06 he competed at all Formula Drift events. Then in ’08, Tuerck signed with Gardella Racing, finished sixth in the final Formula Drift standings and the successful partnership was established.
Despite the GR camp being quiet this off-season, things have been busy. As we are getting cars, drivers and equipment ready for Round 1 Long Beach, we will be making additional announcements regarding new projects and partners for 2010.
“We are looking forward to announcing our title sponsor and other partners,” stated team owner, Gary Gardella. “This is something that we have been missing out on over the past two seasons. We thank everyone for their support; 2010 should be a great year for us. We look forward seeing everyone in Long Beach.”
Gardella Racing is coming out big this season as we prepare to take the Formula Drift championship.
