BALTIMORE, Md. (June 6, 2011) – Team Need for Speed slid into Palm Beach International Raceway for Formula Drift Round 3 “Invasion”, prepped and ready for a fun weekend on and off the track. Team NFS drivers Matt Powers and Fredric Aasbo were excited to hit the high-speed course at PBIR, a new venue added to the Formula Drift tour this season. Qualifying positions would force the pair to face each other early on in competition, making for an all-out Team Need for Speed battle with Matt as the advancer, and he would continue on to fight his way all the way to a top eight finish.
Off the track, the Need for Speed Electro Lounge was packed throughout the weekend. Formula Drift fans able to meet the drivers and Need for Speed girls, jump in the D-Box racing seat to put down their best lap time in Need for Speed SHIFT 2 UNLEASHED, and snap a picture with the Need for Speed RTR-X on display, as well as drive it in-game afterwards. On the track, Fredric qualified in an impressive 6th place in the Need for Speed Scion Racing tC, and would be paired with Matt in the top 32, who qualified in the 27th position out of over 40 hopeful drivers.
During their top 32 battle, Fredric would lead first, while Matt gave chase in the Need for Speed Nitto Tire S14. Fredric initiated early and with deep angle, but unfortunately dropped a tire off-course, but proceeded to blast through the rest of the course with great speed, while Matt applied the pressure following him. Matt would lead next with a great entry, coming inches from the first clipping point, and keeping his car on the correct line throughout the course. Fredric stayed on Matt, mimicking his line and angle. The two close runs from Team Need for Speed made for quite an exciting battle, and after the tire smoke had settled, the judges awarded Matt the win and the advancement to the Sweet Sixteen. Watch the VIDEO.
“Qualifying sixth we started off good, but unfortunately dropping a tire against Matt in top thirty-two didn’t provide for the battle we were shooting for,” says Fredric Aasbo. “I still consider it a great weekend for us as we identified what to focus on moving forward. After all it’s a learning experience and the challenges are truly what I love about this sport. We’ll be giving it all we’ve got in the next round!”
Matt Powers met Ryan Kado in his battle of the top sixteen. Matt would give chase first, following Kado closely after initiation into the first clipping point, and throughout the course, mimicking his competitors line and throwing down some serious angle through the sweeper. Matt led next with a great run, while Kado tried to hang with the Need for Speed S14, but made an error going into the last clipping point. Matt took the win and would move on into the Great Eight. Watch the VIDEO.
In the top 8, Matt met Justin Pawlak, whom he had faced at Round 1 in Long Beach earlier in the season. Matt gave chase first, and pushed hard to follow his competitor’s line, using him as a moving clipping point. When it was Matt’s turn to lead, he threw his S14 in super hard upon initiation, entering into the first clipping point with insane angle, and maintaining it throughout the course. Watch the VIDEO.
It was a solid two runs for this Team Need for Speed driver, but Matt would not be deemed the winner this time around, and would finish his day in the top eight, still quite a success. “It felt good to make it all the way to the top eight and put it together on the main day after having a weaker performance on qualifying day,” says Matt. “Stoked for the next round in New Jersey.”
Matt Powers is currently 5th place in points in the Formula Drift Championship standings, and Fredric Aasbo resides in 12th place overall. Next up on the schedule, Team Need for Speed slides into Wall Stadium June 17-18 for FD Round Two: The Gauntlet. For more information on Team NFS visit TeamNeedforSpeed.com, become a fan at Facebook.com/NeedForSpeed, or follow NFS on Twitter @NeedforSpeed.