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The first battle of the Great 8 was Chris Forsberg and Robbie Nishida. With Robbie leading first, Chris put on the consistency clinic he's known for and was able to keep pressure on Robbie. Robbie, however, put on a great lead run, but 2012 has been about following as well or better than your lead runs. It also doesn't help if you spin out, which Robbie did easily handing the win to Chris Forsberg! Next was the “Drift Alliance” and Team Red Bull battle of Rhys Millen in the Genesis and Ryan Tuerck in the Camaro. Rhys and Tuerck put on a show, but Rhys was not only on his bumper on Tuerck's lead run, but they finished side by side! It was an incredible run, but only to be out done with Rhys Millen pulling a huge gap against the V8 powered Camaro and allowing Millen to be a part of the Final Four!
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| A great run by Tuerck was not enough against Rhys Millen! |
Championship points were on the line for these two drivers, as Justin Pawlak and Darren McNamara faced each other for the final time this year. If JTP moved on, he would claim the 2011 Championship, if D-Mac moved on, he would need to win the event! Both Falken drivers lined up and prepared to face each other, JTP would gap Darren by just a half of a car length. This small edge gave JTP the cushion he needed to ride into the Final Four, but again, that competitive edge meant that JTP would push hard! Too hard, as entering the inner oval he slid into the wall and, despite not stopping, gave Darren McNamara the win and his chance at becoming the 2011 Champion. JTP, while down and out for this year, has a strong start to build on for 2012!
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| JTP takes himself out! A wall tap on the inner bank ended up sucking him into the wall and ending his championship quest. |
The last fight of the Great 8 was Tyler McQuarrie and Ken Gushi. Both drivers were looking for a win so that they could bring something to the table for 2012! Tyler on his lead run was driving like a man possessed, or just very mad, as he was constantly standing on the throttle, committed to his speed and lines. Ken could only watch as Tyler's car was far faster than his. Tyler continued his speed and was able to keep within a car length or less in his follow run. With his speed commitment and hard driving, Tyler was able to move on to the Final Four! Ken Gushi, who put on a great show up to this point, was knocked out and left looking towards SEMA to start putting together a 2012 plan of attack.
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| Man on a tear! Tyler McQuarrie on a mission! Someone hire the man stat! |
JTP was doing flawless and spectacular wall rides on the inner bank all weekend long, probably better than anyone else. Unfortunately he pushed it just a bit too hard and paid the price watching his championship hopes crunch against the unyielding concrete. |
Sam Hubinette is back! Sam has looked back in form in the last two events of the season. |
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The smoke created by the new Irwindale long configuration was some of the worst in Formula D.
