Formula Drift: The Road to the Championship – Round 2 Road Atlanta

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 Formula Drift: The Road to the Championship- Round 2 Road Atlanta
Perhaps the decisive moment of the battle was when Dai sped away from DMac exiting the keyhole.

With D-Mac leading, the battle was close and only a mistake by either driver would decide it, which happened. As he was exiting the horseshoe, Yoshioka miss-shifted and the Retaks 240LS stopped. Darren continued on and took the advantage. With Yoshioka at the disadvantage, he would need a miracle. However, that miracle never happened and Darren McNamara would go on to face Daijiro Yoshihara in the final!

 Formula Drift: The Road to the Championship- Round 2 Road Atlanta
 The S13 quickly opened up a large gap on the Sky.

Before the winner could be decided, third place had to be contested. Yoshioka drove back to the starting line where a waiting John Russakoff was there. While some would say John’s night went from great to bad in an instant, you really have to look at it through his point of view. He still had a chance for a podium, the first for Nexen Tire, the first for Megan Racing, and the first for himself.

 Formula Drift: The Road to the Championship- Round 2 Road Atlanta
Dai’s following run was not as strong as his lead run but he was the obvious decisive winner.

Yoshioka has won a Formula Drift event in 2007 in Las Vegas driving the Toyota Sprinter Trueno, so this wasn’t his first try at a podium and has had success compared to Russakoff. As they both sprinted down the hill, Yoshioka would lead first and just as he had done all night, John closed the gap from 10b to the horseshoe and the gap only slightly increased by the time they got back to 10a. John’s lead run was good, but small mistakes costehim third place as Toshiki Yoshioka was awarded a podium finish.

 Formula Drift: The Road to the Championship- Round 2 Road Atlanta
The S13 appeared to have greater forward bite under drift.

Now, we come to the part of the night that would determine if Daijiro Yoshihara would repeat his performance last year, or would he suffer the same fate as Vaughn and be stuck with a loss for the night? Would Darren McNamara bring down his Falken Tire team mate? Would he get his second career win? Dai would lead first with D-Mac following close behind him. McNamara would hold his gap until the return to 10b, where Dai began to gap him and by the finish it was more than a car length, it was about two!

 Formula Drift: The Road to the Championship- Round 2 Road Atlanta
After the winner was declared the car was immediately impounded and checked for weight and tire size to weight.

Now D-Mac would lead, could he over come the advantage that Dai had? Dai entered 10a with a slight bobble, but kept his drift and gap consistent, even began to close it at 10b! Through the horseshoe and back to 10b, Dai slowly reeled Darren in and by the finish, it was less than a car length. Daijiro Yoshihara had done it; he was able to repeat at Road Atlanta! With that, his Points lead was now 30 ahead of Justin Pawlak and 131 points ahead of last year’s Champion, Vaughn Gittin, Jr.

 Formula Drift: The Road to the Championship- Round 2 Road Atlanta
Dai thanks the enthusiastic crowd.  The fans at Road Atlanta really get into the event and make the drivers feel appreciated.  Many stayed for hours after the end at the victory circle.

With Round Two done, the Road to the Championship now leads to new territory. Daijiro Yoshihara is in a better points position than he was last year. Justin Pawlak can still make up for his finish at Road Atlanta. Matt Powers isn’t out yet and the party is just getting started, for we invade party city, Palm Beach, Florida and the Palm Beach International Raceway. No one has driven this course, so all teams and drivers are on a fresh slate for this Undiscovered Country in Formula Drift.

 Formula Drift: The Road to the Championship- Round 2 Road Atlanta
Dai Yoshihara first, Darren McNamara second and Toshiki Yoshioka third.  Two podiums in two events for Yoshihara puts him in a strong command of first place in the championship points.

See Y’all at Round 3!

 Formula Drift: The Road to the Championship- Round 2 Road Atlanta
Dai’s team from left, Mike Kojima-Team Engineer, Scott Dodgion-Crew Chief, Dai Yoshihara, Shay Alexander-Tire Changer, Riley Cahill-Team Falken Car Manager, Chris Marion-KW Damper Engineer

Formula Drift: The Road to the Championship- Round 2 Road Atlanta

 

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship 2011 Point Standings after 1 Round
1. Yoshihara, Daijiro     Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13     194 Points
2. Pawlak, Justin     Falken Tire Ford Mustang     164 Points
2. Powers, Matt     Need for Speed Nissan S14     151 Points
4. McNamara, Darren     Falken Tire Saturn Sky     148 Points
5. Forsberg, Chris     NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z     134 Points
6. Tuerck, Ryan     Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Chevrolet Camaro     127 Points
7. Aasbo, Fredric     Need for Speed / Hankook Scion TC     116.50 Points
8. McQuarrie, Tyler     Falken Tire Nissan 350Z     115 Points
9. Wilkerson, Walker     Fatlace / Intec Racing Nissan 240     111.25 Points
10. Waldin, Matt     Helix Energy Drink Nissan 350Z     110 Points
11. Yoshioka, Toshiki     Retaks Nissan S13     103.25 Points
12. Grunewald, Conrad     Hankook Tire Chevy Camaro     102 Points
13. Russakoff, John     Megan Racing / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla     95.25 Points
14. Mohan, Kyle     Nexen Tire / Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8     95 Points
15. Mordaunt, Patrick     PM Racing Nissan 350Z     85.75 Points
16. Gushi, Ken     RS*R / Scion Racing / Hankook Scion TC     82.50 Points

Round 2: Road to the Championship Event Results
1. Yoshihara, Daijiro     Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13     Winner
2. McNamara, Darren     Falken Tire Saturn Sky     Second
3. Yoshioka, Toshiki     Retaks Nissan S13     Third

Tires.com Triple Crown (after 1 of 3 events)
1. Yoshihara, Daijiro       Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13     106 Points
2. McNamara, Darren     Falken Tire Saturn Sky                                     90 Points
3. Yoshioka, Toshiki       Retaks Nissan S13                                          79 Points

Check out our Atlanta photo gallery!

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