NEWS & PRESS

FOUST PILOTS ROCKSTAR/SCION TC TO TOP OF PODIUM IN VEGAS!

Foust’s Win Pushes Team 10 Spots Up in Overall Standings for Series Championship

Hawthorne CA, July 12th, 2009—Formula D visited Las Vegas for the second time in Series history July 11th and 12th. According to event officials, the crowd in Las Vegas grew for the event at Sin City’s Motor Speedway, despite searing sun and triple digit temperatures. And the fans weren’t disappointed. In addition to being treated to some of the most competitive drift competition to date, fans also enjoyed the Jtuned car show, Bikini Jam and Wicked HP drag racing competition. For the Rockstar / SCION Drift Team, Round 4 was a weekend of redemption, culminating in a much needed win after failing to qualify for eliminations in Round 3 due to steering issues.

The team immediately went to work on the car after returning from Wall Speedway in NJ last month. Owner and Crew Chief Stephan Papadakis, Shawn Hillier (2008 FD Mechanic of the Year), Rob Miller and Carlos Rivas fixed every issue Tanner could identify with the car and the team left early for Las Vegas to log additional test time. According to Tanner, it took him half of the weekend to become really confident that all of the changes the team made were working: “I was still holding back, and as we were leaving the hotel on Saturday Steph jokingly suggested that I bring my manhood to the track with me and to be aggressive in the car! It was said in fun but I got his point. I couldn’t hold back and expect to win, and I needed to push the car to prove the issues were resolved and regain my confidence driving it.”

The theme of the Vegas race was “All In” and it was taken literally by the course designers. A new track configuration with more turns than any course in FD history was constructed, with a wicked first turn that positioned the racers head on with a concrete wall as they transitioned through it at terminal entry speeds. Tanner logged the fastest entry speed of the weekend with an 88.4 MPH blast through the hairy first bend, noting that ‘from the driver’s seat, it was a fairly scary event.’ Tanner defeated Eric O’Sullivan in the first elimination round, series rookie Joon Maeng in the Great 8 round, Kazu Hayashida in the Final 4 round and took out series veteran Tyler McQuarrie in the final round to secure the top spot on the podium.

“I do not think I have ever had a win as sweet as this one!” exclaimed Tanner. “For the first time this year I could throw the Rockstar/SCION tC around as hard as possible and match it up with any car on the track…I can’t thank the team enough for all of their hard work. Steph, Shawn, Rob and Carlos worked their tails off and literally tended to every issue I had with the car.” Tanner continued, “I also want to mention a special thanks to Hankook Tires. I can’t imagine a more brutal test for tires than strapping them onto a 650 HP SCION in Las Vegas in July. They held up incredibly well with no heat issues at all. Very impressive!”

Team owner Stephan Papadakis said, "With only 4 events under our belt in the new 2009 Rockstar/SCION tC, we are still working out all the kinks...the same as you would with any new racecar. We are trailblazing with this new car and are creating unique vehicle set-ups that are drifting specific—not only with our Tokico suspension but with gear ratios, weight balance and steering geometry.” Stephan continued, “One of the reasons we have had early success is because Tanner is always good about communicating any of the car’s competitive shortcomings, and we are quick to change anything needed. I don’t think there is a better example of good communication and teamwork than our team’s efforts between Rounds 3 and 4. But despite anything we do to improve the car, it's really hard to win a Formula D event and Tanner really stepped it up in Vegas. He was awesome!"

Round 4: All In Event Results
1. Foust, Tanner Rockstar / Hankook Scion Racing tC
2. Miki, Ryuji APEXi / Hankook Mazda RX-7
3. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z

Next Event: Formula D – August 7th & 8th, Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, WA: www.formulad.com
2009 FormulaD Championship Points Standings:

1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z 307 Points
2. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1Pontiac Solstice 294 Points
3. Hubinette, Samuel NuFormz Dodge Viper 271 Points
4. Gittin, Vaughn Falken Tire Ford Racing Mustang GT 265.50 Points
5. McQuarrie, Tyler Falken Nissan 350Z 265 Points
6. McNamara, Darren Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky 260 Points
7. Nishida, Robbie Hankook Tires / Dynamic Autosports Nissan 350Z 259 Points
8. Foust, Tanner Rockstar / Hankook Scion Racing tC 246.50 Points
9. Pawlak, Justin Bergenholtz Racing / Nitto Mazda RX-8 245 Points
10. Maeng, Joon Maxxis / LS Auto Nissan S13.5 227.25 Points
11. Aono, Taka Technosquare Toyota AE86 Corolla 223 Points
12. Mordaunt, Patrick PM Racing Nissan S13 220 Points
13. Brakohiapa, Tony Cooper Tire Ford Mustang 219 Points
14. Verdier, Stephan Cooper Tire / Crawford Performance Subaru STI 214 Points
15. Petty, Ross Garage Boso / Falken Nissan S15 212.75 Points
16. Yoshihara, Daijiro Falken Tire / Discount Tire Lexus IS350 208 Points

ARCHIVES

7.26.09

Foust Pilots Rockstar/Scion TC to Top of The Podium in Vegas