Ultimate Drifting Pre-race Spectacular at Texas Motor Speedway

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Formula DRIFT Brings ‘No Limits’ Style of Driving to Texas Motor Speedway for Firestone Twin 275s Pre-Race Show

Long Beach, Calif. – May 10, 2011 – Formula DRIFT has announced a non-championship point competition at the Texas Motor Speedway, “Ultimate Drifting,” presented by Scion and Motegi Racing. The drifting competition will proceed the high-speed action of the historic Firestone Twin 275s on Saturday, June 11, that also includes the IZOD IndyCar Series race.

Texas Motor Speedway’s pit lane and frontstretch will transform into a winding course for eight Formula DRIFT drivers as they race in a non-points competition spectacle free to Firestone Twin 275s ticket holders. The drivers include: Fredric Aasbo, the 2010 Formula DRIFT Rookie of the Year, Michael Essa, Kyle Mohan, Joon Maeng, Tony Brakohiapa, Patrick Mordaunt, Jeff Abbott, and a final driver to be named for a competition in the traditional bracket elimination format. The competition will begin at 6 p.m. CT.

“No pre-race show defines ‘No Limits’ better than our Ultimate Drifting presented by Scion and Motegi Racing,” Texas Motor Speedway Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Events Kenton Nelson said. “These are some of the most skilled drivers pushing their car to the limit to provide some intense racing, which sets the perfect stage for the excitement that will unfold during INDYCAR’s first twin races at Texas Motor Speedway.”

Ultimate Drifting sponsors Scion and Motegi Racing have continued to play a major role in Formula DRIFT and one of Texas’ largest single-day sporting events provided the ideal avenue to continue the growth of the sport.

“The opportunity to sponsor the Ultimate Drifting pre-race show was a natural fit for Scion,” Scion Marketing Manager for Gulf States Toyota Frank Bianchi said. “We are entering our third year as the title sponsor of Scion Drag-n-Brag at Texas Motor Speedway and have been a long-time sponsor in Formula DRIFT. Our current stable of drivers in Formula DRIFT includes Ken Gushi and reigning Rookie of the Year, Fredric Aasbo. This event gives us the unique opportunity to cross-promote those programs to a new fan base at one event.”

“Motegi Racing Wheels is excited to be part of another historic night at Texas Motor Speedway,” Motegi Racing Wheels President Jody Groce said. “The Firestone Twin 275s and Formula DRIFT on the same night is another example of the fresh and unique events that Eddie Gossage and his team continue to give the fans. The opportunity to leverage relationships with Fredric Aasbo of Formula DRIFT and Paul Tracy in IndyCar in front of 100,000 fans is huge for the Motegi Racing Wheels brand and our customers.”

Coupled with Ultimate Drifting presented by Scion and Motegi Racing, TRAFFIK, one of the largest touring car shows in the world, will provide a wide array of unique rides during its car show that will be held from 1-6 p.m. outside Gates 1 through 3.

Tickets, which begin as low as $31, for the historic Firestone Twin 275s and Ultimate Drifting, presented by Scion and Motegi Racing are available by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com, or by calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500.

Click here to get 2 tickets for $49 or call Texas Motor Speedway’s Ticket Office at (817) 215-8500 to see the historic Firestone Twin 275s and Ultimate Drifting presented by Scion and Motegi Racing.

Formula DRIFT Brings “No Limits” Style of Driving to Texas Motor Speedway for Firestone Twin 275s Pre-Race Show

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For Immediate Release

May 10, 2011

Formula DRIFT Brings ‘No Limits’ Style of Driving to Texas Motor Speedway for Firestone Twin 275s Pre-Race Show

Long Beach, Calif. – May 10, 2011 – Formula DRIFT has announced a non-championship point competition at the Texas Motor Speedway, “Ultimate Drifting,” presented by Scion and Motegi Racing. The drifting competition will proceed the high-speed action of the historic Firestone Twin 275s on Saturday, June 11, that also includes the IZOD IndyCar Series race.

Texas Motor Speedway’s pit lane and frontstretch will transform into a winding course for eight Formula DRIFT drivers as they race in a non-points competition spectacle free to Firestone Twin 275s ticket holders. The drivers include: Fredric Aasbo, the 2010 Formula DRIFT Rookie of the Year, Michael Essa, Kyle Mohan, Joon Maeng, Tony Brakohiapa, Patrick Mordaunt, Jeff Abbott, and a final driver to be named for a competition in the traditional bracket elimination format. The competition will begin at 6 p.m. CT.

“No pre-race show defines ‘No Limits’ better than our Ultimate Drifting presented by Scion and Motegi Racing,” Texas Motor Speedway Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Events Kenton Nelson said. “These are some of the most skilled drivers pushing their car to the limit to provide some intense racing, which sets the perfect stage for the excitement that will unfold during INDYCAR’s first twin races at Texas Motor Speedway.”

Ultimate Drifting sponsors Scion and Motegi Racing have continued to play a major role in Formula DRIFT and one of Texas’ largest single-day sporting events provided the ideal avenue to continue the growth of the sport.

“The opportunity to sponsor the Ultimate Drifting pre-race show was a natural fit for Scion,” Scion Marketing Manager for Gulf States Toyota Frank Bianchi said. “We are entering our third year as the title sponsor of Scion Drag-n-Brag at Texas Motor Speedway and have been a long-time sponsor in Formula DRIFT. Our current stable of drivers in Formula DRIFT includes Ken Gushi and reigning Rookie of the Year, Fredric Aasbo. This event gives us the unique opportunity to cross-promote those programs to a new fan base at one event.”

“Motegi Racing Wheels is excited to be part of another historic night at Texas Motor Speedway,” Motegi Racing Wheels President Jody Groce said. “The Firestone Twin 275s and Formula DRIFT on the same night is another example of the fresh and unique events that Eddie Gossage and his team continue to give the fans. The opportunity to leverage relationships with Fredric Aasbo of Formula DRIFT and Paul Tracy in IndyCar in front of 100,000 fans is huge for the Motegi Racing Wheels brand and our customers.”

Coupled with Ultimate Drifting presented by Scion and Motegi Racing, TRAFFIK, one of the largest touring car shows in the world, will provide a wide array of unique rides during its car show that will be held from 1-6 p.m. outside Gates 1 through 3.

Tickets, which begin as low as $31, for the historic Firestone Twin 275s and Ultimate Drifting, presented by Scion and Motegi Racing are available by visiting www.texasmotorspeedway.com, or by calling the Texas Motor Speedway ticket office at (817) 215-8500.

For more information visit: www.formulad.com.

For media inquiries about Formula DRIFT: John Pangilinan
The ID Agency
213.802.0863
[email protected]

Kyle Mohan and Nexen Tire Partner for 2010 Formula Drift Season

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March 8, 2010 (Signal Hill, Calif.) — Kyle Mohan is proud to announce that his team will have a new identity and a new look for the 2010 season. Mohan will partner with Formula Drift’s newest tire sponsor, Nexen Tire, and will compete in the No.99 Nexen Tire / Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8 in the Formula Drift Pro Championship.

Mohan, also known for the rotary engines that he builds at Mazdatrix that power drift, race, and street cars around the country, has emerged as a leading Mazda driver in Formula Drift since he first competed in a Mazda RX-7 FC3S in 2006.

Coming off of a breakout 2008 season, where he finished a career-best fourth at the Streets of Long Beach and qualified 10th at the Red Bull Drifting World Championship, Mohan debuted a brand-new Mazda RX-8 at the beginning of the 2009 season. After a full season of development, that RX-8 has been developed extensively in the off season, and will be arriving at the Streets of Long Beach with more power, more noise – and a new tires, courtesy of Nexen Tire USA.

“This is really great news for my team, and for all of the sponsors and partners that have supported us over the past four seasons,” said Mohan. “Adding Nexen Tire as our title sponsor will help us elevate our program and give us what we need to continue to compete in Formula Drift. We have already tested their tires and were very impressed with the grip and wear that we got out of them, so I am really looking forward to getting back on track this season.”

Nexen Tire is new to Formula Drift, but has competed in Ireland’s ProDrift championship, and have become large supporters of grassroots drifting in the United States.

“We are very excited to become a part of Kyle’s Formula Drift program,” said Michael Meeiem, Motorsports Marketing Rep. for Nexen Tire USA. “We have had our eye on becoming involved in Formula Drift for a while, and as long as we’ve been talking about it we have had our eye on Kyle. His performances at the end of 2010, and the fact that he and his small team have competed in their RX-8 at such a high level led us to select KMR to be our flagship team.”

The new-look Nexen Tire / Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8 will debut at round 1 at the Streets of Long Beach on April 8-9.