January 21, 2011 (Tustin, Calif.) – Entering its second season of competition, the Xtreme Drift Circuit is proud to announce the payouts for its 2011 season which will feature local, regional, national, and international prize purses.
With a total payout of $92,400, XDC will be able to expand its support of the country’s grassroots and aspiring professional drifters with its Five Ways to Win – individual events, XDC Canada, XDC East, XDC West, and the XDC National Championship. Thanks to expanded support after a successful first season, the XDC is able to invest in driver development with increased prizing in an effort to grow the sport.
The 2011 XDC National Championship will take points from four events – three divisional events (XDC East or XDC West) and the finale at Texas Motor Speedway. Drivers may compete in both divisions, but will only carry their highest divisional point total to the XDC Finale. The XDC National Championship will offer a $10,000 purse to the top three drivers.
Drivers will qualify for the XDC Finale by entering at least one XDC East or XDC West event. Each divisional championship will feature a total purse of $3,000 divided amongst the top three in the championship. Each individual event will offer $9,000 paid out from first to eighth, as well as the top three in qualifying.
The XDC Montreal event will be XDC’s first International event and will not award points to the XDC East or West divisions, but will hand out $13,500 to the top-16.
“I am truly excited about the way the Xtreme Drift Circuit is shaping up for the drivers and fans in 2011,” said Brian Eggert, Competition Director of the XDC. “With two divisions this season, the XDC is taking the right steps in creating a format that will make the sport more accessible for both new and seasoned drivers by eliminating the need to travel across the nation so they can concentrate more on being competitive. In addition, the prize packages have been increased greatly, making this season even more rewarding for the drivers and all their hard work.”
“This is a series for dudes to grow and get their feet wet, so to speak, in honest competition,” said Matt Petty, XDC judge. “XDC in my mind is for fun first, with good payouts for drivers who don’t have the money to burn on a full cross country jaunt for drifting.”
The second season of the Xtreme Drift Circuit will see many drivers familiar to fans of the XDC’s inaugural season. Chelsea DeNofa will be returning to defend his 2010 title, while event winners Doug Van Den Brink, Matt Waldin, Miro Ovcharik, and Dave Briggs have stated their intent to compete in XDC in the new year. Also scheduled to compete in the series will be Canadian Pat Cyr, Texas crowd favorite Nate Hamilton, and Australian Sarah Burgess, who will move from the role of team owner to driver of the BMI Mazda RX-8.
“Our emphasis, the same as it was last year, is on the grassroots and aspiring professional drifters of North America,” said Mike Munar, president of XDC Events. “This year we are able to put more back into the hands of our drivers to help them continue to compete in XDC or move on to further their professional careers. Either way, our goal is to continue to support them and put on a great show for the spectators that attend our events from coast-to-coast.”
