Nate Hamilton 144 part two from Corey Denomy on Vimeo.
Part two of the Nate Hamilton 144 documentary brings us to round 5 of XDC. This hometown event for Nate decides whether or not he qualifies to go to the finals in Arizona
Nate Hamilton 144 part two from Corey Denomy on Vimeo.
Part two of the Nate Hamilton 144 documentary brings us to round 5 of XDC. This hometown event for Nate decides whether or not he qualifies to go to the finals in Arizona
March 12, 2011 (Irwindale, CA) – Chelsea DeNofa, from Seabrook, Texas, defeated Aurimas ‘Odi’ Bachkis from Wrightwood, California, in the final round of tandem competition at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale to win the first Xtreme Drift Circuit event of 2011.
George Marstanovic, from Flagstaff, Arizona, finished third overall after winning the Consolation Round when Maui, Hawaii’s Joshua Steele, driving the NST / NOS Energy Drink / Neverslo Nissan S13.4, was unable to make the second run of the round.
For DeNofa, the 2010 XDC Champion and driver of the Nexen / Non Stop Tuning / Technica BMW E36, the road to the final round was not an easy one. After qualifying first for the event, he enjoyed a bye run in the first round when Robert Turnbow’s Toyota Cressida was unable to compete. DeNofa then survived the toughest battle of the day when he went two One More Time’s against Forrest Wang before advancing to the Final Four where he had yet another One More Time against Marstanovic before advancing into the Final.
Backhis, driving the Forged Racing Radiators / Godspeed Nissan S13 and winner of the XDC Las Vegas event in 2010, also had to survive a One More Time against Will Parsons in the Great Eight. He then defeated Steele to advance to the final against DeNofa.
“It feels great to get the win after winning last year’s championship,” said DeNofa after the podium presentation where he was awarded a check for $3000 for his victory. As top qualifier, DeNofa also took home an additional $500. “I can’t think of a better way to start the 2011 championship. The Nexen / Non Stop Tuning / Technica BMW E36 was working really well and I’m really looking forward to the next XDC event in Arizona.”
Bachkis’s chance at victory slipped away in the Final when he had a correction as he followed DeNofa into the inner bank of Toyota Speedway. He still put in a strong lead run but DeNofa didn’t put a wheel wrong while following to seal his victory.
“I got really close to Chelsea as we transitioned and I didn’t expect that,” said Backhis, who took home $2000 for his runner-up finish. “Chelsea was super fast which made it a really fun tandem round, it was too bad that I made the mistake on the first run.”
The drivers of XDC Irwindale earned $9000 in cash prizes, with $1000 paid to the top-three drivers in qualifying and the rest paid to the top eight drivers in tandem competition.
DeNofa’s quest for a second XDC championship will resume April 22-23 at the XDC West championship event at Firebird Raceway in Chandler, Arizona.
1. Dave Briggs Long Beach, CA Nissan 240SX
2. Joshua Chang Tracy, CA Nissan 240SX
3. Carlos Cano Estrella Sylmar, CA Nissan
4. George Marstanovic Flagstaff, AZ Mazda RX-7
5. Adam Knapik Westminster, CA Nissan 240SX
6. Ron Freitas Vallejo, CA Nissan 240SX
7. Vitaly Sopkin Phoenix, AZ Nissan 240SX
8. Mike Skudlarek Plymouth, MI Nissan 240SX
9. Dan Burkett Costa Mesa, CA Mazda RX-7
10. Chris Vallet Gilbert, AZ Nissan 240SX
11. Daniel Kuo Rowland Heights, CA Mazda RX-7
12. Kelvin Arreola North Hollywood, CA Mazda RX-7
13. Sam Yousif Mesa, AZ Nissan 350Z
14. Benjamin Kunk Tucson, AZ Nissan 240SX
15. Joe Dycus Beaumont, CA Nissan 350Z
16. Christopher Billedo Fontana, CA Nissan 240SX
17. Kris Kregorian Nissan 350Z
18. Nate Hamilton Garland, TX Nissan 240SX
19. Chelsea DeNofa Seabrook, TX BMW
20. Cyrus Martinez Murrieta, CA Nissan 240SX
21. Aurimas ‘Odi’ Backhis Wrightwood, CA Nissan 240SX
22. Jeff Abbot Winchester, CA Mazda Miata
23. Will Parsons Tulsa, OK Toyota Corolla
24. Sarah Burgess Los Angeles, CA Mazda RX-8
25. Jeff Jones Sunland, CA Nissan 240SX
26. Joshua Steele Maui, HI Nissan 240SX
27. Matthew Dale Las Vegas, NV Nissan 240SX
28. Robert Turnbow Victoria, TX Toyota Cressida
29. Ross Petty Gardena, CA Nissan S14
30. Justin Moore Temecula, CA Mazda RX-7
31. John Lee
32. Yoshie Shuyama
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.”
January 6, 2011 (Tustin, Calif.) – After a successful inaugural season, XDC Events, Inc. is proud to announce its schedule of events for the 2011 season featuring the eight event XDC National Tour that will cross the United States, the nationwide REMIX Car Show which will have eleven scheduled events, and XDC’s first international event. In addition, new partnerships with CyclePath, Autodrome St. Eustache in Montreal, and Extreme Autofest, will be integral to the XDC in 2011.
One year after XDC and REMIX were introduced and staged events from coast-to-coast has set the stage for an expanded XDC and REMIX schedule – satisfying the need for an outlet for the rising drift stars of North America and by the overwhelming spectator and corporate response. In its first eight months, XDC’s fan page topped 20,000 fans.
Beginning its 2011 schedule at Irwindale Speedway (March 11-12), the Xtreme Drift Circuit will then return to the site of XDC’s 2010 finale at Firebird Raceway in Chandler, Arizona (April 22-23). XDC will then bring drifting back to Florida at the Central Florida Racing Complex in Orlando, Florida (May 14-15). Round four will be held as part of Hyperfest in Summit Point, West Virginia (June 17-18), before the series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina (July 2-3) for the first time. Heading west, XDC will go to another new venue, the Pacific Grand Prix in Seattle, Washington (August 5-6). XDC will then travel past these borders by hosting an event at the birthplace of Canadian Drift, the Autodrome St. Eustache in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (September 4-5). Finally, the series will wrap up its season at Texas Motor Speedway in Forth Worth, Texas (September 23-24).
With this program, XDC will offer Five Ways to Win to drivers – with individual event wins, the XDC Canada title, XDC West (Irwindale, Firebird, Seattle), XDC East (Orlando, Summit Point, Charlotte), and National Tour champion.
Produced by the original founders of Hot Import Nights, the REMIX Car Show expansion plan includes standalone events in Del Mar, California (February 19), VIRginia International Raceway (October 8), Firebird Raceway (October 15), and Honolulu, Hawaii (December 10).
As part of the REMIX Car Show, XDC Events will partner with CyclePath Magazine to produce the Ultimate 2-Wheeled Nation Tour at each stop on the XDC and REMIX calendar. While the REMIX Car Show will continue to showcase the best show cars in the country, the Ultimate 2 Wheeled Nation Tour will showcase the country’s best custom street bikes, choppers, and motorcycles.
“We are really excited with how things have shaped up, leading to our second year of the XDC and REMIX Car Show,” said Mike Munar, President of XDC Events. “And with the addition of the Ultimate 2-Wheeled Nation Tour and our Canadian partnership with the Autodrome, we have a true nationwide motorsports festival with drifting as a showcase. We are looking forward to another great season and seeing XDC drifters go through the rungs of becoming the next North American Drift star!”
2011 XDC Events Schedule
February 19 | REMIX | Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar, CA
March 11-12 | XDC West/REMIX | Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, CA
April 22-23 | XDC West/ REMIX | Firebird Raceway, Chandler, AZ
May 14-15 | XDC East/REMIX | Central Florida Racing Complex, Orlando, FL
June 17-18 | XDC East/REMIX | Summit Point Raceway, Summit Point, WV
July 2-3 | XDC East/REMIX | Charlotte Motor Speedway, Charlotte, NC
August 5-6 | XDCWest/REMIX | Pacific Grand Prix, Seattle, WA
September 4-5 | XDC International | Saint Eustache Autodrome, Montreal, QC
September 23-24 | XDC Finale/REMIX | Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX
October 8 | REMIX | VIRginia International Racway, Alton, VA
October 15 | REMIX | Firebird Raceway, Chandler, AZ
December 10 | REMIX | Blaisdell Expo Center, Honolulu, HI