From the Top 32 to the very final runs. Check out the action shots from this past weekends ever remembering event. 3 Former Champions not in the big show. 1 retired, 1 with motor issues and 1 just barely missing qualifying. Click the header pic or click here for the shots…
Tag Archives: formula drift
TANDEM OF DIE | Formula Drift Long Beach | Teaser (Video)
TANDEM OF DIE | Formula Drift Long Beach | Teaser from TANDEM OF DIE! on Vimeo.
Shot by some of my favorite guys on the scene! Justin Shreeve, Joe Ayala & Will Roegge! Check out this sick teaser of FD:LBC
Team Need For Speed Takes a First-Ever Podium Finish at Formula Drift Round 1
BALTIMORE, Md. (April 11, 2011) –. The Formula Drift season kicked in Long Beach, California over the weekend, and Team Need for Speed was in full-effect and ready to battle in out with the world’s best competitors at Round One. The team’s newest addition, Fredric Aasbo, was set to compete in the Need for Speed 2011 Scion tC built by Papadakis Racing. Wild child Matt Powers was back rockin’ and rollin’ in his Need for Speed Nitto Tire S14, after having made some beneficial modifications to the vehicle in the off-season. Both drivers were looking to come out to Round 1 in hopes of a strong start to the season, and they did just that when Matt Powers fought his way to 2nd place and Fredric Aasbo finished in 9th place overall.
The grandstands were packed with fans eager to see their favorite drivers blasting through the Streets of Long Beach at the sold-out show on Saturday’s main event day. The Need for Speed Electro Lounge was packed all day long while DJ Miki Taka kept the music bumping and Formula Drift fans got a chance to test their skills at driving like the pros using the D-Box racing seat to play Need for Speed SHIFT 2 UNLEASHED.
The lucky winner of the Need for Speed/Alpinestars/Tilly’s VIP contest spent the day hanging out with the Voice of Formula Drift, Jarod DeAnda, after having an amazing experience going for a ride-along in the Need for Speed S14. On the track, Fredric Aasbo was able to take out John Russakoff in the top 32, and Matt Powers defeated Jeff Jones after qualifying in a very impressive 4th place. Watch the VIDEO of the opening ceremonies.
Falken Tire Continues Winning Ways at Long Beach Formula Drift Opener
FONTANA, CA – Team Falken started the 2011 Formula Drift season the way it finished last year, with one of its factory drivers on top of the podium. Justin Pawlak, in just his second year with the tire manufacturer, took his inaugural first place at the Long Beach opening round, with Team Falken teammate Daijiro (“Dai”) Yoshihara in third.
Before a capacity crowd, Pawlak took the victory on board his 2011 Ford Mustang with a new engine built by Ford Racing and Roush-Yates and ran on Falken’s Azenis RT615K, as did all other Falken team members. Pawlak qualified 11th, while Yoshihara was second among the top 32, alerting the other competitors he was the driver to beat on the streets of Long Beach. While Defending Formula D Champion Vaughn Gittin, Jr., struggled in qualifying, he was an important part of the weekend, meeting and greeting his fans as well as supporting the rest of the Falken team in the main event. Among the Falken “inter-team competition,” Pawlak beat Darren McNamara in the top 16 round, and Justin went on to best Dai in the Top 4, completing a “One More Time.” Justin beat Matt Powers in the final, while Dai defeated 2009 Formula D Champion Chris Forsberg to earn third.
“Justin earned this win through timing and endurance,” declared Jonathan Bradford, Team Falken’s Formula Drift manager. “He has grown rapidly over the past 12 months, and it is fitting that he would take his first podium as a Falken team member at one of our home tracks.”
Falken continues to excel in activating its marketing efforts in association with Formula Drift and the strong crowds of drift fans in Southern California. With a new team of Falken Spokesmodels in the paddock next to the company’s multiple support trailers, Falken hosted 350 representatives and guests from both Monster Energy Drink and Ford Racing in their hospitality region.
Falken continues to excel in activating its marketing efforts in association with Formula Drift and the strong crowds of drift fans in Southern California. With a new team of Falken Spokesmodels in the paddock next to the company’s multiple support trailers, Falken hosted 350 representatives and guests from both Monster Energy Drink and Ford Racing in their hospitality region.
“This is an important victory for us because the race is in our backyard and we had a lot of fans, customers and Falken Tire enthusiasts in the stands and the paddock,” said Nick Fousekis, Falken’s Director of Motorsports Marketing and Events. “We’ve proven all the work the team and each individual driver have done during the off-season successfully moved Falken up another level, and we’ll keep climbing all season long. We also appreciate the tremendous support from car builders Autosport Dynamics and SPD.”
After the first round, Pawlak is at the top of the Championship standings, Yoshihara third, while McNamara is in 10th. Final Falken teammate Tyler McQuarrie finished in 11th. Ross Petty, a long-time independent competitor running Falkens, placed 14th.
Round two will be held May 6-7, at Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA.
After the first round, Pawlak is at the top of the Championship standings, Yoshihara third, while McNamara is in 10th. Final Falken teammate Tyler McQuarrie finished in 11th. Ross Petty, a long-time independent competitor running Falkens, placed 14th.
Round two will be held May 6-7, at Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA.
To learn more about the new Motor Sports Team visit www.wegetyougoing.com
2011 Formula Drift: Round 1 – Qualifying Gallery:Part 1
First off we would like to congratulate Conrad Gruenwald on his Qualifying run scoring a 93!! Above is a shot from that run.
It’s the start of the Formula Drift 2011 season and there’s many a change already. Tanner Foust is not running this season as he is out perusing his rally career and filming Top Gear USA. Last year’s champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. did not qualify for the first round and is now out for tomorrow’s competition. This followed by Samuel Hubinette (who is a prior champion as well) having major pressure problems and not being able to run the car as it is going to need a full tear down or replacement motor to get it up and running for round 2. We wish all 3 of these drivers a good 2nd round and know they can still push it to get into high placement in the series. Can Vaughn or Sam retake another championship? What do you think?
Also we would like to say congrats to the rookies who moved into Top 32 for today’s competition. We wish them all luck, and knowing a couple personally we have an eye on them. As I have always said “SUPPORT GRASSROOTS!!”
Formula Drift 2011: Round 1 – Top 32
Qualifying Drivers – Top 32
Driver: Car #: Score:
1. C. Grunewald #79. 93
2. D. Yoshihara #9. 92.9
3. K. Mohan #99. 92.2
4. M. Powers #665. 87.6
5. R. Millen #6. 86.5
6. D. McNamara #8. 85.7
7. W. Wilkerson #95. 84.8
8. T. McQuarrie #17. 84.3
9. J. Russakoff #85. 82.5
10. R. Tuerck #44. 81.8
11. J. Pawlak #13. 81
12. M. Field #777. 80.9
13. M. Waldin #23. 80.5
14. J. Abbott #518. 80.3
15. R. Petty #808. 79.5
16. C. Forsberg #64. 79.2
17. M. Essa #101. 78:7
18. K. Gushi # 78.6
19. D. Mertzanis #323. 76
20. C. Ng #84. 72.5
21. A. Pfeiffer #88. 72.3
22. C. Martinez #951. 71
23. J. Maeng #51. 70.7
24. F. Aasbo #151. 70.4
25. T. Aono #86. 69.1
26. O. Graven #113. 68.4
27. M. Feiock #222. 63.6
28. D. Kearney #43. 61.8
29. J. Jones #29. 61.4
30. P. Mordaunt #90. 58.9
31. O. Bachis #723. 54.3
32. T. Yoshioka #21. 47.7