Forsberg takes Formula Drift win at Evergreen Speedway

For immediate release from Formula Drift

Formula DRIFT returned to Evergreen Speedway for Round 5: Breaking Point in Monroe, WA. Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy / Maxxis Tires Nissan 350Z takes the victory and maintains the lead in the Formula DRIFT Championship Points race. Forsberg also maintains the lead for the Tires.com Triple Crown bonus prize.

“What an unbelievable finish to a great weekend,” said Chris Forsberg, winner of Round 5: Breaking Point and Formula DRIFT Championship Points leader. “We were leading the points chase for the series and the Tires.com Triple Crown and just wanted a strong finish. We could not have asked for a better turnout this weekend.”

The 2-day weekend event treated the fans to both Formula DRIFT Championship action and a Pro Am competition. The drivers came prepared for any weather conditions at Evergreen Speedway as this venue hosted the first rain event in Formula DRIFT history last season, but the event remained dry all weekend with cool weather. With only 3 events remaining in the season the pressure was on for the drivers to make their mark and didn’t fail to disappoint the excited crowd.

Vaughn Gittin in the Falken Tires Ford Racing Mustang GT and Eric O’Sullivan in the Hankook / Rockstar Subaru WRX put on an exciting match, which had O’Sullivan moving on to the Finals, but would fail to run due to damage from the previous round giving Forsberg the victory. Tyler McQuarrie in the Falken Tires Nissan 350Z and Gittin fought for 3rd place and after an intense battle McQuarrie would come out on top of his Falken Tires teammate. Entering the event with the points lead, Chris Forsberg was a marked man and battled through the tough competition meeting McQuarrie in semi-finals and proved to be one of the most entertaining match-ups of the evening with both drivers putting it all on the line with their fast entry and great angle along the banking of the course. Forsberg got the best of McQuarrie in the battle of the 350Z and took home his second victory of the season, which also was the 2nd event of the Tires.com Triple Crown in which he also won the 1st event at Road Atlanta.

“It’s hard to describe the Seattle event in words. I can only say that with all the excitement and drama that unfolds on track its hard to imagine the story we are seeing could even come out of Hollywood,” said Ryan Sage, vice president of marketing and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “The championship is on and there are more than a few drivers that can still take the championship going into Round 6: Locked and Loaded at Infineon Raceway.”

Formula DRIFT returns to Infineon Raceway for Round 6: Locked and Loaded later this month on August 21-22. This is a special event with Formula DRIFT joining the IndyCar weekend. The best drifters in the world will share the track with the best drivers in the world including Helio Castroneves, Danica Patrick, and Scott Dixon. Ticket packages are available now.

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship 2009 Point Standings

1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z 410 Points

2. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1Pontiac Solstice 363 Points

3. McQuarrie, Tyler Falken Nissan 350Z 347 Points

4. Hubinette, Samuel NuFormz Dodge Viper 338 Points

5. Gittin, Vaughn Falken Tire Ford Racing Mustang GT 336.50 Points

6. McNamara, Darren Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky 316 Points

7. Nishida, Robbie Hankook Tires / Dynamic Autosports Nissan 350Z 314 Points

8. Foust, Tanner Rockstar / Hankook Scion Racing tC 303.50 Points

9. Pawlak, Justin Bergenholtz Racing / Nitto Mazda RX-8 298 Points

10. Brakohiapa, Tony Cooper Tire Ford Mustang 282 Points

11. Petty, Ross Garage Boso / Falken Nissan S15 280.75 Points

12. Maeng, Joon Maxxis / LS Auto Nissan S13.5 275.75 Points

13. Aono, Taka Technosquare Toyota AE86 Corolla 273 Points

14. Mordaunt, Patrick PM Racing Nissan S13 268.25 Points

15. Verdier, Stephan Cooper Tire / Crawford Performance Subaru STI 263 Points

16. Yoshihara, Daijiro Falken Tire / Discount Tire Lexus IS350 260 Points

Round 5: Breaking Point Event Results

1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z

2. Eric O’Sullivan Hankook / Rockstar Subaru WRX

3. Tyler McQuarrie Falken Tires Nissan 350Z

Tires.com Triple Crown Point Standings after 2 of 3 events

1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z 205 Points

2. McNamara, Darren Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky 150 Points

3. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Pontiac Solstice 149 Points

Full official standings available on: www.formuladrift.com