Dai Does It!- Formula Drift Round 7 at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA

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So, here we are at the most exciting, spectacular finish to a great season. Daijiro Yoshihara and the SPD Metalworks Crew are your 2011 Formula Drift Champions. Along with that, qualifying in this round also gave Daijiro Yoshihara the Tires.com Triple Crown for 2011 as well! While Mike Kojima would like to give it to Scott Dodgion, he did win the Crew Member of the Year Award for 2011.

You couldn't cap off a better season and I am glad I was a small part of it this year. I got to do some things I never thought I would be doing, so I have to give a thank you to everyone here at MotoIQ, who include Mike Kojima, Jeff Naeyaert, David Karey, and June Masermsin. A thank you to the members of Formula Drift, who include Jarod Deanda, Jim Liaw, Ryan Sage, John Pangilinan, Tom Masiero, Andy Yen, Andy Luk, Tony Angelo, Ryan Lanteigne, and the staff who help keep those guys heads on straight. Finally, I would like to thank you guys, the readers who keep this website going by choosing to read my stories. In my short career, I have gotten to know quickly what readers mean to a journalist, and with out any of you, I'd be stuck at home wishing I was doing this, so you guys deserve the biggest thank you of all because you all keep me going.

It's been a fun year and 2012 is just around the bend! If I don't see any of you at SEMA, I'll see you at Long Beach, or Atlanta, or Irwindale, or where ever the 2012 season will take me, because I will be there to cover Formula Drift in 2012 as well!

Rumor has it that Eric O'Sullivan will be looking for a new ride in 2012.

Kyle Mohan fought handling problems all weekend in the Mazdatrix RX-8.  Kyle normally owns Irwindale with his precise on the line driving style.

Pro Am keeping it real and fun!

For a moment it looked like Walker Wilkerson was going to pull off an upset and send DMac packing.  A little too hot and his hopes for rookie of the year were crushed against the wall.  On Irwindale's unyielding inner bank, 3″ is the difference between being a hero and wrecking.

The bank claimed the Nissan 350Z of Norwegian champ Kenneth Moen.

Dean Kearney and Conrad Grunewald.