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    american  flat trackFORMULA DRIFT 

American FLAT TRACK

www.americanflattrack.com

Photos Courtesy of American FLAT TRACK

Progressive American Flat Track is the world's premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. Progressive American Flat Track is televised on FOX Sports and streams live via FloRacing. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track,

 

Bauman Storms to Fourth Straight Victory with Nashville Master Class

tim lester

  

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 6, 2026) – Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR Harley-Davidson XG750R) extended his run of dominance by claiming a fourth successive Mission AFT SuperTwins victory at the inaugural Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades, Round 7 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 

 

All day long in Hohenwald, Tennessee, the Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track provided a racy surface, allowing riders to select from a wide variety of lines while encouraging creative overtakes and close racing at that front. But that trend proved no match for Bauman’s outright superiority. 

 

The Rick Ware Racing ace slipped under Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) on the opening lap of the Main and then sprinted hard to stretch open a gap. Points leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) immediately moved into second and tried at least as hard to keep Bauman locked in his sights. 

 

Perhaps too hard, as it turned out. Kopp chattered and wheelied his way around in second while riding desperate to stop the bleeding. That allowed Bauman to gradually work his advantage up, and he built a lead of more than three seconds before easing his way to a 2.689-second margin of victory over Kopp in the end. 

 

It was a controlled, confident performance from Bauman throughout – at least until the final corner in which he suffered a real scare before taking the checkered flag.  

 

“I didn’t know how much of a gap I had on Kody,” Bauman said, explaining his last-lap mishap. “I looked back about halfway and saw we had a little bit of breathing room. But I’m like, ‘Man, he’s probably here… He always charges hard.’ I hit a hole and almost went over the bars! 

 

“But no matter what, this Rick Ware Racing/Super.com team… I just love it. We’re probably in the honeymoon stage right now, but we were seeing couples counseling after Daytona. We’re super proud. I can’t thank them enough. It’s just a team effort.” 

 

Third place went to Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07). The result comes as little surprise when considering the reigning Grand National Champion’s historical podium success rate.

 

However, it seemed highly unlikely early in the contest when he was buried in sixth and under threat from the pack behind him. 

 

Daniels maintained his composure and patiently picked his way forward, finally passing Bender for third with a minute remaining on the clock. 

 

Despite losing out on his shot at the box, the fourth was a major uptick in form for Bender, who had yet to finish better than 10th this season. Behind him, Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) made it three Harley-Davidson XG750R in the top five in fifth. 

 

Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) finished sixth while Cameron Smith (No. 34 Fredericktown Yamaha/Thee Kathy Gray Yamaha MT-07), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet), Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07), and Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) rounded out the top 10. 

 

Bauman’s hot streak combined with the race-by-race consistency of Kopp and Daniels has resulted in a titanic three-way Grand National Championship battle as the series approaches its midpoint. Kopp continues to lead with 136 points, however, Bauman (131) and Daniels (126) are both within easy striking distance with a doubleheader in Lima, Ohio, coming up next. 

 

KICKER AFT Singles 

 

Estenson Racing Yamaha’s Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) responded like the defending KICKER AFT Singles champion that he is, bouncing back from a season’s worst finish of fifth with his third victory of the season. 

 

Saturday’s victory came following a tense, defensive ride on the Australian’s part. Drane fought his way past second-ranked Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) on the opening lap and then spent the bulk of the race doing everything possible to keep Tadman at bay despite the Honda pilot having the edge in pace. 

 

Their showdown became a three-way tilt at half-distance when Tadman’s teammate, Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), joined the party. Like Tadman, Porter had the high line working and appeared capable of hauling into the lead at any moment.  

 

But a significant mistake on Porter’s part removed him from victory contention while breaking Tadman’s concentration. That allowed Drane the space he needed to settle in and power to the checkered flag.”

 

Drane said, “We’ve been fast all day. I knew the bike was good enough, I just needed to get a good start. I put my head down, but Kage was giving me a lot of hell behind me there. He was pushing me real hard, but I just had to keep focused and do the best I could. I can’t thank my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team enough. I couldn’t have done this without them.” 

 

Porter made an equally significant save to stay upright. When back at speed, he found himself alongside polesitter Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), title hopeful Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and rookie ace Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) in a fight for the final spot on the podium. 

 

That battle wasn’t decided until the final lap, when Saathoff charged his way up into third. Santero secured fourth, while Porter narrowly missed out on his maiden top three yet again in fifth. 

 

Brucks finished a close sixth, while Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F), Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), and Dylan Cunningham (No. 252 Scott Stump/Joel Laub KTM SX-F) completed the top ten. 

 

Drane now leads Tadman by 20 points (134-114). Saathoff is third at 110. 

 

AFT ProSport 450 

 

Estenson Racing prodigy Sam Drane (No. 7 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) returned to AFT ProSport 450 action after missing the previous three rounds and picked up right where he left off.

 

Drane, who was victorious in the new class’ first two Main Events, made his way back to the top of the podium but only following a spirited scrap with Silver Dollar ST winner Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R). 

 

After Drane successfully got the holeshot from pole, there were justifiable fears that he’d run away with it as he’d done in Friday’s AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase race and Saturday afternoon’s Heat Race.  

 

However, Costan-Wood had other plans. He stepped up his game significantly in the Main Event thanks to a high line that allowed him to sling around the circuit at remarkable speed. 

 

On lap 8 of 12, Costan-Wood used that strategy to overhaul Drane, and the two subsequently executed a series of crisscrossing passes on one another, with Drane countering by throwing it down underneath and Costan-Wood squaring him back up in return. 

 

The Australian finally ended that back-and-forth by placing himself in Costan-Wood’s preferred path, stalling his challenger’s momentum ever so slightly. That allowed Drane to reclaim a firm grasp on the lead, which he then held to the checkered flag. 

 

Third went to Dillon Durelle (No. 58 Durelle Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and was earned by overtaking ThrottleFest winner Bayne Nantz (No. 313 Nantz Bros Racing KTM 450 SX-F) for the position. 

 

Brody Hanson (No. 99 Hanson Racing KTM 450 SX-F) scooped up his third top-five result of the season in fifth. 

 

Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR) 

 

Madicela Rodriguez (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) picked up her first victory of the 2026 Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR) season in convincing fashion. 

 

Rodriguez, who’d taken two thirds and a fourth in the year’s three prior races, finally found her race-winning form of a year ago in the season’s penultimate round. She executed an impressive outside pass on early leader Julia Heess (No. 13 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) and then powered off into the distance. 

 

Despite seeing her season-long win streak come to an end, points leader Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) minimized the damage by working around Heess to come home second.  

 

Heess notched up her fourth podium in four races by locking down third.  

 

Next Up 

 

Progressive American Flat Track returns to action later this month with the highly anticipated Super.com Lima Half-Mile I & II at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio, on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27. 

 

To purchase your tickets visit: 

Lima HM I: https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/day-1-lima-2026-165645 

Lima HM II: https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/day-2-lima-2026-165651 

 

Or save $20 by purchasing a two-day package here: 

https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/lima-2026-2-day-event-package-165644  

 

How to Watch 

 

FloRacing 

 

For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast. 

 

FOX 

FOX Sports coverage of the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FOX on Saturday, June 13, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. 

 

Tim Lester

 

 

10 Minutes + 2 Laps with Jared Mees

Kristen Lassen

 

Hunter Scott

 

10 Minutes + 2 Laps with Jennifer Lewis

Kristen Lassen

 

Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT and Short Track Tickets Now Available

tim lester

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 17, 2026) - Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, announced today that tickets are now available for the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT and Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track, two premier rounds of the 2026 Progressive AFT season set for Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in Sturgis, South Dakota.

 

Scheduled during the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT will take place on Saturday, August 8, 2026, followed by the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track on Monday, August 10, 2026. With Rally Week bringing riders and race fans from across the country to Sturgis, fans are encouraged to secure tickets early for the best available options.

 

The Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT will serve as Round 12 of the 2026 Progressive AFT season, combining the speed and intensity of flat track with the added technical challenge of jumps and right-hand turns. The Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track will host Round 13 two days later, delivering the tight, bar-to-bar racing that makes short track competition one of the most exciting disciplines in the sport.

 

Fans can build their Rally Week experience around one or both events, with ticket options available individually for each race. For both the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT and the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track, Grandstand Seating is available for $45, Reserved Grandstand Seating is available for $55, and the H-D VIP Experience is available for $135.

 

Tickets for the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT are available at https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-jackpine-gypsies-super-tt-191302.

 

Tickets for the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track are available at https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-jackpine-gypsies-short-track-194954.

 

Located in the heart of Sturgis, Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club remains one of the most iconic venues in American motorcycle competition. With two distinct Progressive AFT race formats on the schedule, fans will have two exciting opportunities to experience world-class motorcycle racing during the Rally.

 

For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

 

 

 

scott hunter

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 4, 2026) – A newly energized KICKER AFT Singles title fight arrives for the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades, as Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, makes its first-ever visit to Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track in Hohenwald, Tennessee, on Saturday, June 6.

 

Title Fight Reignited

 

Defending KICKER AFT Singles champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) comes in fresh off his worst result in nearly two seasons. Of course, the Australian’s worst result was a fifth, a finish that would represent a genuine accomplishment for any number of skilled riders.

 

Despite that relative dip in form, Drane entered ThrottleFest with a 16-point advantage and left leading by the exact same margin. 

 

How? While the difference remained the same, the names under it have changed.

 

Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F) came away even worse than Drane by placing eighth, dropping him down from second to fourth, now 19 points in arrears.

 

Meanwhile, archnemesis Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) stayed in third but cut his deficit from 20 points to 17 by finishing third at Budds Creek.

 

The big mover, of course, was race winner Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who leapt up from fourth to second, slashing his gap down from 26 to 16.

 

Drane’s consistent excellence has established him as a dominant figure in the class, and his championship style is akin to an Australian scrub python steadily tightening its grip. However, his uncharacteristically quiet fifth in Maryland provides a ray of hope for his rivals, all of whom will be looking to pounce this weekend. 

 

Talent Travels

 

Tadman scored a couple of landmark achievements at ThrottleFest. He joined Drane as the only other two-race winner this season, while claiming both his first win away from his home state and his first at a Half-Mile.

 

(Incidentally, his career record of one HM victory puts him on par with fellow title hopefuls Saathoff and Brunner).

 

Despite its novelty, the win didn’t come as a major upset. The sort of magic Tadman previously showcased in Ventura and Chico was no fluke, rather merely indicative of what he's capable of when feeling at home and comfortable.

 

The fact that he was able to do the same at Budds Creek is clear evidence that he’s starting to feel at home and comfortable with Turner Racing and aboard the Honda CRF450R.

 

The possibility that may begin to tap into the full extent of his talent with greater regularity is a scary prospect for his competition, and one that could make Drane’s ongoing title defense a bit more harrowing.

 

As Good as a Win? 

 

Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) currently holds the unofficial title of the most decorated KICKER AFT Singles pilot without a Main Event victory. That’s a semi-dubious distinction that is to simultaneously be worn with pride and shed as quickly as possible. 

 

However, it seems unlikely that a straightforward front-row-to-checkered-flag victory could have done as much good for Santero’s reputation as his crash-to-back-row-to-runner-up result at Budds Creek.

 

The Californian somehow made short work of the world’s elite 450cc riders despite wielding a damaged bike on a one-lined circuit. And one or two more laps might have been all he needed to put Tadman on the victim’s list as well.

 

It was an unquestioned win in terms of his standing among fans and rivals. An actual victory has to be soon in the offing, doesn’t it?

 

The same could be said of a maiden professional podium for Tadman’s teammate, Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R).

 

The second-year pilot is slowly but surely becoming a fixture at the front. Back-to-back fourths have him on the doorstep and a top three would likely already be his by now with a little better run of fortune.

 

Restart

 

The three-week layoff between ThrottleFest and the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track provides Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F) and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Eisenhard Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F) an opportunity to reset mentally and come in prepared to put once-promising seasons back on track.

 

Both riders came out swinging in ‘26. Eisenhard was one of the heroes of the DAYTONA opener, where he threw down the fastest lap in qualifying, won his heat, and scored a top-five result in Thursday’s Main. Pfanders took his turn in the spotlight the following day, breaking through to claim his maiden Progressive AFT victory.

 

But both come into Tennessee hoping to rediscover that early-season form. It’s been a rough run of late for the two, with Pfanders coming off consecutive finishes of 16th, 16th, and DNS, while Eisenhard hasn’t returned to the top ten since the opener.

 

The speed is there. The results should follow. A chance to go to work at a track that’s new to everyone might just prove the key.

 

Brothers Gotta Hug

 

ThrottleFest delivered a very cool moment involving identical twins Dylan Cunningham (No. 252 Scott Stump/Joel Laub KTM 450 SX-F) and Tyler Cunningham (No. 225 Scott Stump/Joel Laub KTM 450 SX-F).

 

Both Cunninghams have been fighting hard to qualify for a KICKER AFT Singles Main Event since the beginning of the ‘25 season. And following a number of near-misses, Dylan managed to do exactly that with a second-place run in the LCQ at the Budds Creek Half-Mile.

 

No one was more thrilled to see it happen than Tyler, who finished fifth in the LCQ – one spot short of qualifying for the Main himself. 

 

Tyler raced up next to Dylan and pumped his fist in excitement, brushing off whatever disappointment he may have felt to celebrate the accomplishment of his brother. 

 

Dylan made the most of it too – racing his way to a top-ten finish in his first-career KICKER AFT Singles Main Event.

 

And you have to think that only fueled Tyler’s fire that much more.

 

Step Right Up

 

The 1st Impressions Husqvarna pro squad is now three strong with Jett Katarzy (No. 117 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) stepping up to KICKER AFT Singles duty alongside Saathoff and Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450).

 

Katarzy certainly looked like he already belonged in just his first event as a professional. He registered impressive times throughout the day and won the LCQ to qualify for a KICKER AFT Singles Main in his very first attempt.

 

At the same time, Katarzy’s immediate success provides some additional motivation for his now-former AFT ProSport 450 rivals, many of whom will look to graduate up to the pro ranks themselves in the not-too-distant future.

 

That list includes Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R) who beat Katarzy to win at Silver Dollar Speedway, along with Bayne Nantz (No. 313 Nantz Bros Racing KTM 450 SX-F) who finished second to him at Ventura Raceway before winning over Costan-Wood at ThrottleFest.

 

The fact that AFT ProSport 450 is already turning a number of promising amateurs into familiar names for Progressive AFT fans and springboarding them into KICKER AFT Singles competition serves as clear evidence that the new category is doing exactly what it was designed to do.

 

The AFT ProSport 450 competitors will have another chance to impress this weekend as the class is set to contest its penultimate round of the ’26 season at the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track.

 

BTR is Back

 

The Caterpillar Nashville Short Track also represents the penultimate round of the 2026 Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR) program, now deep into its seventh season of highlighting, celebrating, and encouraging the involvement of women in flat track racing.

 

Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) will look to extend her perfect season following three straight wins to open the year.

 

Despite her unblemished record, however, the victories haven’t all come easily. Triple runner-up Julia Heess (No. 13 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) gave Gottsch all she could handle last time out.

 

Meanwhile, Madicela Rodriguez (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) and Hanna Brewer (No. 39 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) have their own fight for third raging as the series prepares to contest the fourth of five 2026 events.

 

Life In the Fast Lane

 

The Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades is a unique collaboration between Progressive AFT and Billy Lane’s Sons of Speed racing series, a vintage flat track competition inspired by the board track racing era of the 1910s and ‘20s.

 

Lane, who will serve as the event’s Grand Marshal, is renowned for his innovative and evocative designs at Choppers Inc, his iconic appearances on “Biker Build Off” and “Monster Garage,” and his passion for pushing the limits of speed and style.

 

With four decades of custom bike building experience behind him, Lane founded Sons of Speed to pay tribute to the daring early years of American motorcycle racing when Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, and Pope went bar-to-bar on massive wooden board tracks all across the nation.

 

Sons of Speed has exploded in popularity since its 2017 debut, and Progressive American Flat Track fans will have a perfect opportunity to find out why for themselves.

 

The weekend will feature a full slate of Sons of Speed competition featuring the raw power and style of vintage 1000cc V-twins and 750cc American flatheads. The vintage heats are scheduled for Thursday, with the Sons of Speed finals and CTR Mission Showcase event set for Friday to lead into Saturday’s Progressive AFT show.

 

Fans can watch Friday’s CTR races live on FansChoice.tv beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET.

 

Ticket Options Galore

 

Standing Room Only tickets are available for just $37 including fees ($18 for kids 12 and under), while General Admission tickets are $49 ($22.50 for kids), with Reserved Grandstand and Premium Reserved Grandstand seating available for $59 ($26 for kids) and $70 ($31 for kids), respectively.

 

Military/First Responders and Students can purchase tickets for just $30 at the door with valid ID.

 

The Harley-Davidson VIP Experience includes GA seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line – photo ops included – a meet-and-greet with the Harley-Davidson riders, and exclusive swag. The H-D VIP Experience is available for $150 ($64 for kids), along with the option to be purchased as a $95 add-on to upgraded seating options.

 

And no matter what ticket option you select, pit access is included, providing fans an opportunity to get an up-close look at the racebikes and meet the riders and their teams.

 

To purchase tickets for the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/nashville-short-track-186630.

 

Gates will open for fans at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

 

How to Watch

 

FloRacing

 

For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.

 

The Nash

 

FS1

 

FOX Sports coverage of the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FOX on Saturday, June 13, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.

 

 

scott hunter

  

 Formula DRIFT

www.formulad.com

Photos Courtesy of  Formula DRIFT

Formula DRIFT (also known as Formula D or FD) is a United States-based motorsport drifting series. Formula DRIFT was co-founded by Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage in 2003 as a sister company to Slipstream Global Marketing, the same partnership that introduced D1 Grand Prix to the United States. The new entity would solely own, operate and launch the first official drifting series in North America. Formula DRIFT is not associated with the FIA series of formula racing championships

DEANE WINS ROUND 4 OF FORMULA DRIFT PRO CHAMPIONSHIP IN CONNECTICUT, BRUTSKIY WINS PROSPEC

 

Sunday June 21st-Deane and the Shanahan brothers occupied an all-Irish podium in PRO, while Brutskiy was flanked by teenagers on the PROSPEC podium

The 2026 Formula DRIFT season has seen some of the biggest changes in its 23-year history, with three new tracks added to the calendar, reaching new fans and providing a daunting challenge to teams and drivers as they rush to find the perfect car setup. Throw in a heavy downpour before the PRO Championship Qualifying session and spectators watched the cream rise to the top as new records were set and Champions flexed their muscles.

 

PRO QUALIFYING

Once again, the new UDSM (Universal Drift Scoring Method) technology from Race Data Labs came to the rescue as heavy rainfall prior to Qualifying left a waterlogged track and made visibility tricky for the judges. Fortunately, the telemetry and data system has automated the objective aspects of scoring individual qualifying runs by tracking the car’s precise position, even when water plumes conceal it from the human eye. This meant UDSM was able to provide accurate scoring for the driver’s Drift Line and Car Angle, which constituted 80% of their score. The remaining 20% for Driving Style was awarded by the panel of three Formula DRIFT judges. 

Although sections of the track dried throughout the session, large puddles presented drivers with evolving conditions, which made the second run by Dylan Hughes (USA) in the Royal Purple Synthetic Oil / GT Radial / 2JZ-powered BMW so remarkable. Widely regarded as a rain master. Hughes topped the standings with a score of 84.13 points thanks to his precision in the challenging conditions. He was also awarded four Championship points for his qualifying efforts. 

In second place was Branden Sorensen (USA) who scored 83.6 points in the Sorensen Motorsports / Quad Lock BMW. The Las Vegas native is enjoying the best season of his FD career and clearly intended to remain a major threat in the title race.

Somewhat more predictable was Conor Shanahan (Ireland) who placed third in the Red Bull / GT Radial / JYR Toyota GT86 with 82.33 points. Undoubtedly, his familiarity with wet conditions was a major advantage. Although that wasn’t the case for countryman and five-time FD PRO Champion James Deane (Ireland) who spun the O'Reilly / Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD on his second run. He placed 12th overall.

Championship leader Aurimas Bakchis (Lithuania) qualified sixth in the Feal Suspension / GT Radial / Subimods Subaru BRZ, hoping to build on his momentum.

With 30 drivers competing for one of the Top 32 Competition places, they only had to complete one run to qualify. Unfortunately, two failed the mission and were eliminated. They included Trenton Beechum (USA) who hit the wall hard on his first run and didn’t re-appear. Rookie Cole Richards (USA) had also hit the wall hard in practice and struggled with the car in Qualifying. His failure ended an incredible run that saw him podium at Round 1 and lead the Rookie of the Year chase. Their exclusion meant the top four qualifiers would receive bye runs into the Top 16 heats on Saturday.

 

PRO COMPETITION

When arriving at a new venue, there will always be concern for its success but Round 4 of the FD PRO Championship at Stafford Motor Speedway survived its baptism of fire and tire smoke, producing one of the closest, most entertaining battles of the season in front of a sell-out crowd. And while the wet qualifying session had muddied the waters, the dry track for Top 32 Competition allowed the stars to shine. 

The brightest star over Connecticut was five-time and reigning FD PRO Champion James Deane. He vowed to make amends after the spin on his second Qualifying run dropped him down the starting order. And did so in emphatic style. At the wheel of the O'Reilly / Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD, Deane vanquished Jhonnattan Castro (Dominican Republic) in the Top 32 followed by Andy Hateley (USA), then Ryan Tuerck (USA) in an intense Top 8 battle, before knocking out RTR teammate Ben Hobson (USA) in the Final 4 heats.

In the Final, Deane completed two flawless runs against fierce competition from Jack Shanahan (Ireland). Sadly, spectators were robbed of a full-blooded contest when Shanahan suffered steering issues on the second run in the Pulsar Turbos E82 BMW, which put him off-track and out of contention.

Following his premature demise in Round 1, Deane placed second in both Round 2 and 3 before claiming his first win of the season at the new Connecticut venue. His 50-point reward allowed him to leapfrog Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis (Lithuania) into first place in the 2026 FD PRO Championship standings with a respectable 22-point margin.

“There's so many emotions after our first win of the season,” Deane confirmed with his hands on the winner’s trophy. “We had a crazy battle with Ryan Tuerck, then I was so happy to battle teammate Ben Hobson in the Top 4. He gave me an awesome run before I met my Irish neighbor, Jack Shanahan in the Final. And it was great to be part of the first ever all-Irish international podium but I’ve got a couple of events in Europe before we return to Indianapolis to another new track. But we’re leading the Championship and will stay focused, push hard and see what happens!”

To finish second, Jack Shanahan had to defeat his brother Conor Shanahan (Ireland) in the Final 4. Unfortunately, a technical issue meant Conor was unable to complete the second run in his Red Bull / GT Radial / JYR Toyota GT86, so Jack performed celebratory donuts around the stricken car in an awesome display of sibling rivalry.

Jack’s second place thrust him to fourth in the 2026 FD PRO standings, while Conor’s third place allowed him to remain fifth. The two brothers live in the same Irish village as James Deane, making the shared podium even more special.

Fourth place Ben Hobson (USA) had one of his best events in the Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD since being promoted from the PROSPEC Championship in 2024. The result rocketed him from 22nd to 12th overall.

Fifth place fell to top Qualifier Dylan Hughes (USA) who lost to Hobson in the Great 8 but boosted his Championship aspirations to sixth in the standings.

Just behind Dylan was Branden Sorensen (USA) who maintained his 2026 momentum and placed sixth in the Sorensen Motorsports / Quad Lock BMW. While he missed the podium this time, he was able to remain third in the Championship standings.

Bakchis, whose Feal Suspension / GT Radial / Subimods Subaru BRZ was beaten by Conor in the Great 8 heats, placed eighth on the night, sliding to second overall.

A broken axle in the Top 16 heats curtailed the progress of Fredric Aasbo (Norway) in the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra. He dropped to seventh in the title race but it’s surely just a matter of time before the three-time PRO Champion returns to his winning ways, which will greatly impact the rest of the season.

And in the absence of Cole Richards (USA) who failed to Qualify for Round 4, Cody Buchanan (USA) was the leading Rookie in Round 4. He placed 12th in the Life Wide Open / Reboot Energy 350Z. Sitting in 21st position he still trails tenth-place Richards in the Championship standings.

“This was one of our best events in recent memory,” said Ryan Sage, President of Formula DRIFT. “We want to thank the incredible staff and family ownership of Stafford Motor Speedway who were extremely helpful, made us feel so welcome, and enabled us to put on such a great event despite getting off to a rough start with the rain. The consequences were a smaller field for the PRO Top 32 but the all-Irish podium, Deane’s rise to the top of the table, Odi’s continued presence and the rise of Branden Sorensen meant the action never stopped. And it was great to see the smiling faces of fans who perhaps had never experienced a Formula DRIFT event before. We’re delighted with how this new venue worked out and can’t wait to try it all again at Round 5 at Indianapolis Raceway Park when we introduce another new track to the series.”

Thanks largely to Deane and Hobson, Ford maintained its lead in the 2026 Formula DRIFT Auto Cup, while GT Radial continues to lead the FD Tire Cup.

 

PROSPEC QUALIFYING

Drivers in the Formula DRIFT Link ECU PROSPEC Championship had voted to retain the competitive tandem Seeding Bracket Qualifying format, largely because it provided lower ranked drivers with additional competitive track time to increase their experience level. With 24 of the places in Top 32 Competition determined by the Championship standings from Round 1, the remaining eight places would be filled from among the 13 drivers competing in the Seeding Bracket. And fortunately, they were spared the rain, ensuring consistent conditions throughout the session. 

The top three finishers were all Rookies, with Ayden Copham (USA) claiming first place in the Copham Racing Nissan Z after a hard fought Final against Levi Wait (USA) driving the Drift Doctor BMW. Twenty year-old Copham from Brainerd, MN took the victory and was rewarded with a place in Top 32 Competition and 12 Championship points (three for each heat win) to help his 2026 aspirations. Wait’s second place was more remarkable considering he suffered a hand injury in a traffic collision on his way to the track but he certainly earned his nine Championship points.

Third place went to Sean Booth (USA) in the Feal Suspension Nissan S14.9 who had lost to Wait in the Final 4 heats.

With only eight Competition places available, five drivers were eliminated. They included Christian Cotrone, Kelsey Rowlings, Luis Lanz, Dustin Miles and Kabott Cardoso who would watch Friday Competition from the sidelines.

 

PROSPEC COMPETITION

The headlines suggest it was business as usual for Round 2 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship: two-time Champion Dmitriy Brutskiy claimed the victory and established a healthy 17-point margin at the top to the 2026 standings. But that was only part of the story…

Flanking the 40 year old Brutskiy on the podium were teenagers whose combined age was still 11 years less than his. Just as teenager Hiroya Minowa (Japan) grabbed the headlines when he climbed his first PRO Championship podium at 14 years of age, so the same is happening in PROSPEC. And we can thank a combination of extreme dedication, determination, parental support and hours on the sim rig for the phenomenon.  

Brutskiy’s path to the podium began with success against Carsen Ruger (USA) in the Top 32 heats, followed by Chris Leonard (USA), Rookie Sean Booth (USA) in the Top 8 and Rookie Tyler Mayer in the Final 4. Brutskiy fought his way to the Final where his Never Settle BMW met 15 year-old Rookie Braden Lons (USA) driving the Lons Motorsports Nissan S13.

Lons had forged his own path to the Final, notably defeating Championship leader and Round 1 winner, Cory Talaska (USA) driving the Fuelab / Yellow Speed Racing 2JZ E36 BMW in the Top 16. Talaska’s early dismissal dropped him to fourth in the standings but more remarkable was Lons achieved the victory while nursing a separated shoulder.

In the Final 4, the 15 year-old Lons met 14 year-old Camren Sorensen (USA) who was at the wheel of his 1100hp Optima Battery / Sorensen Motorsports BMW. It was a fast, frenetic performance with mistakes by both drivers but Lons received the judges’ decision. 

The loss meant Sorensen, one of three siblings competing at Stafford Motor Speedway this weekend, would finish third overall, equaling Minowa's record as the youngest driver to stand on a Formula DRIFT podium. The points haul elevated Camren from ninth to sixth overall.

In the Final, Lons was determined to pressure the experienced Brutskiy but applied a little too much of his Nissan’s 850hp and the two cars collided before Outside Zone 3. The impact pushed Brutskiy’s BMW into a spin and the damage was done. After checking his car, Brutskiy just had to keep out of trouble to win yet another Round. 

Lons’ second place bumped him from eighth to third in the PROSPEC standings and second in the Rookie title race behind Jason Webb (USA).

Webb, who placed second in Round 1 driving the NonStopTuning / Webb 45 Racing Ford Mustang, was knocked out of the Top 8 in Connecticut but placed fifth. It allowed him to retain second place in the PROSPEC standings but by a single point from Lons.

“Stafford Springs is my home track and I had the best crowd and my family to support me,” said a jubilant Brutskiy after the podium ceremony. “From the first run it felt like home. I had a good flow and it worked out well. I tried to approach the event one battle at a time and despite a few technical problems we got it done. It wasn’t easy but it’s nice to get a win after a couple of years of podiums but no victories. I couldn’t be happier to do this at my home track!”

Following the successful completion of Round 4 at Stafford Motor Speedway, the series moves to Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 30-August 1. Following Round 6 at its traditional Seattle home, Round 7 will take place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 24-26 where the PROSPEC Champion will also be crowned. The 2026 season will then culminate on the Streets of Long Beach for the FD PRO Final on October 23-24.

 

ROUND 4 FD PRO TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

James Deane

50 +1

2

Jack Shanahan

40 +1

3

Conor Shanahan

30 +2

4

Ben Hobson

30 +1

5

Dylan Hughes

20 +4

6

Branden Sorensen

20 +3

7

Ryan Tuerck

20 +1

8

Aurimas Bakchis

20 +1

9

Fredric Aasbo

10 +1

10

Matt Field

10 +1

11

Dan Stuke

10 +1

12

Cody Buchanan

10 +1

13

Dan Burkett

10 +1

14

Derek Madison

10 +1

15

Simen Olsen

10 +1

16

Andy Hateley

10 +1

 

2026 FD PRO TOP 16 DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

James Deane

149

2

Aurimas Bakchis

127

3

Branden Sorensen

107

4

Jack Shanahan

106

5

Conor Shanahan

105

6

Dylan Hughes

87

7

Fredric Aasbo

85

8

Ryan Tuerck

64

9

Chris Forsberg

58

10

Cole Richards

56

11

Vaughn Gittin Jr

51

12

Ben Hobson

44

13

Matt Field

44

14

Dan Burkett

34

15

Simen Olsen

34

16

Ken Gushi

24

 

2026 AUTO CUP TOP 5 STANDINGS*

Ford

243

Toyota

169

BMW

110

Nissan

72

Chevrolet

45

 

2026 TIRE CUP STANDINGS*

GT Radial

286

Nitto

243

Kenda

183

Kumho

130

 

 

ROUND 2 FD PROSPEC TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Dmitriy Brutskiy

50

2

Braden Lons

40

3

Camren Sorensen

30

4

Tyler Mayer

30

5

Jason Webb

20

6

Matthew Bystrak

20

7

Ayden Copham

20 + 12

8

Sean Booth

20 + 6

9

Cory Talaska

10

10

Jerry Johnson

10

11

Nik Jimenez

10

12

Adam Heishman

10

13

Chellee Hansen

10

14

Kasey Kohl

10

15

Chris Leonard

10

16

Collete Davis

10

 

2026 FD PROSPEC TOP 16 DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Dmitriy Brutskiy

80

2

Jason Webb

63

3

Braden Lons

62

4

Cory Talaska

60

5

Tyler Mayer

56

6

Camren Sorensen

50

7

Jerry Johnson

40

8

Ayden Copham

32

9

Matthew Bystrak

30

10

Sam Maghmoumi

29

11

Sean Booth

26

12

Dustyn Farrell

26

13

Nik Jimenez

20

14

Adam Heishman

20

15

Chellee Hansen

20

16

Kasey Kohl

20

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

NEXT ROUND

Round 5 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship and Round 3 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship will take place at another new venue: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis, IN on July 30-August 1. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream.

 

EDITOR’S NOTE

Images for editorial use from Round 4 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship can be found here: dropbox.com/scl/fo/jeafkjknpzagfso1zigq1/ALbfGsi77XpwYh7VYnpKq20?rlkey=pv7hb60htpy7tba649hg777kb&dl=0

Images for editorial use from Round 2 of the FD PROSPEC Championship can be found here: dropbox.com/scl/fo/n1n89kux9s9933y9qdalf/AD-VlK2PhLKiU16XuDfl7dM?rlkey=9ohiyrm6e9gltsfw4bvd7k39j&dl=0

 

ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT

Formula DRIFT is recognized as the leading international drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges the driver's skill while demanding a great deal from their vehicle in terms of power and strength. Formula DRIFT provides a series for the best professional drifters from around the globe to compete for the coveted title of Formula DRIFT Champion. As the first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting drift fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life, and established itself as the global leader for the sport. For a competition schedule, ticket information, special content and livestream, please visit formulad.com

 

WATCH FORMULA DRIFT

Fans can find the free-to-view event livestream at formulad.com/live and on Racer Network through the Racer+ app and Racer Select 

 

FOLLOW FORMULA DRIFT ONLINE

formulad.com

instagram.com/formulad

facebook.com/formuladrift

x.com/FormulaDrift

youtube.com/Formuladrift

 

2026 FORMULA DRIFT OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Major Sponsor, Official Vehicle Lighting – TYPE S 

Major Sponsor, Official Energy Drink – Rockstar Energy Drink 

Major Sponsor, Official Auto Parts Retailer – O’Reilly Auto Parts 

Major Tire Sponsors – GT Radial, Kenda Tire, Kumho Tire, Nitto Tire

Official Sponsors – Pennzoil (Official Oil), K&N (Official Performance Filter), Canon (Official Imaging Partner), Ford Performance, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, BC Forged, BC Racing (Official Suspension), SIMAGIC (Official SIM Racing Hardware), Fast Orange (Official Hand Cleaner)

Associated Sponsors – Enkei Wheels, RAYS Wheels, Meguiar’s car care, NGK Spark Plugs

Official ECU & PROSPEC Title Sponsor – Link Engine Management

Official PROSPEC Tire – GT Radial 

Official PROSPEC Tire Service Partner – Tire Agent 

Official PROSPEC Oil - ENEOS Motor Oil 

Broadcast partner – RACER Network

Official Education Partner ­– University of Northwestern Ohio

Official Community Outreach Program – Acceler8

Official Casino Partner – Yaamava’ 

Technical Partners – PCI Race Radios

 

2026 FORMULA DRIFT PRO CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION RESULTS FROM ROUND 4 IN CONNECTICUT

 

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026

Location: Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT

Event: Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round 4

 

RESULTS FROM FD PRO ROUND 2

  1. James Deane (Ireland) – O'Reilly / Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD
  2. Jack Shanahan (Ireland) – Pulsar Turbos E82 BMW
  3. Conor Shanahan (Ireland) – Red Bull / GT Radial / JYR Toyota GT86

 

NOTES

  • The new venue for Round 4 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship at Stafford Motor Speedway had a baptism of smoke and fire, producing one of the closest, most entertaining battles of the season in front of a capacity crowd
  • After a spin on his second Qualifying run dropped Deane down the starting order, he vowed to make amends and did so in emphatic style. On his path to the podium, Deane vanquished Jhonnattan Castro (Dominican Republic), Andy Hateley (USA), Ryan Tuerck (USA) in an intense Top 8 battle, and RTR teammate Ben Hobson (USA) in the Final 4 heats
  • In the Final, Deane completed two flawless runs in the O'Reilly / Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD against fierce competition from Jack Shanahan. Sadly, spectators were robbed of a full-blooded contest when Shanahan suffered steering issues on the second run in the Pulsar Turbos E82 BMW, which put him off-track and out of contention
  • Following his premature demise in Round 1, Deane placed second in both Round 2 and 3 before claiming his first win of the season tonight at the new venue. His 50-point reward allowed him to leapfrog “Odi” Bakchis (Lithuania) into first place in the 2026 FD PRO Championship standings with a 22-point margin
  • Jack Shanahan had to defeat Conor to reach the Final, and a technical issue meant his younger brother was unable to complete the second run. Jack then performed celebratory donuts around Conor’s stricken Red Bull / GT Radial / JYR Toyota GT86
  • Jack’s second place finish thrust him from sixth to fourth in the 2026 FD PRO standings, while Conor’s third place allowed him to remain fifth 
  • FD CT witnessed the first all-Irish podium in series history, but few would bet against it happening again
  • Ben Hobson (USA) had one of his best events since being promoted from the PROSPEC Championship. Losing to teammate Deane in the quarter-finals, he placed fourth and rocketed from 22nd to 12th overall driving the Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD
  • Bakchis, whose Feal Suspension / GT Radial / Subimods Subaru BRZ was beaten in the Great 8 heats by Conor, placed eighth on the night and dropped to second overall
  • Branden Sorensen (USA) maintained his 2026 momentum and placed sixth in the Sorensen Motorsports / Quad Lock BMW, allowing him to remain third in the Championship standings
  • Top Qualifier Dylan Hughes (USA) lost to Hobson in the Great 8 heats but placed fifth in the Royal Purple Synthetic Oil / GT Radial / 2JZ-powered BMW, boosting his Championship aspirations by one place to sixth
  • Fredric Aasbo (Norway) continued his inconsistent season in the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra. A broken axle eliminated him from the Top 16. He finished ninth, demoting him from fourth to seventh in the standings
  • In the absence of Cole Richards (USA) who failed to Qualify for Round 4, Cody Buchanan (USA) was the leading Rookie. He placed 12th in the Life Wide Open / Reboot Energy 350Z. However, in 21st position, he still trails tenth-place Richards in the Championship table
  • In the 2026 Formula DRIFT Auto Cup, Ford maintained its lead, as did GT Radial in the FD Tire Cup

 

ROUND 4 FD PRO TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

James Deane

50 +1

2

Jack Shanahan

40 +1

3

Conor Shanahan

30 +2

4

Ben Hobson

30 +1

5

Dylan Hughes

20 +4

6

Branden Sorensen

20 +3

7

Ryan Tuerck

20 +1

8

Aurimas Bakchis

20 +1

9

Fredric Aasbo

10 +1

10

Matt Field

10 +1

11

Dan Stuke

10 +1

12

Cody Buchanan

10 +1

13

Dan Burkett

10 +1

14

Derek Madison

10 +1

15

Simen Olsen

10 +1

16

Andy Hateley

10 +1

 

2026 FD PRO TOP 16 DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

James Deane

149

2

Aurimas Bakchis

127

3

Branden Sorensen

107

4

Jack Shanahan

106

5

Conor Shanahan

105

6

Dylan Hughes

87

7

Fredric Aasbo

85

8

Ryan Tuerck

64

9

Chris Forsberg

58

10

Cole Richards

56

11

Vaughn Gittin Jr

51

12

Ben Hobson

44

13

Matt Field

44

14

Dan Burkett

34

15

Simen Olsen

34

16

Ken Gushi

24

 

2026 AUTO CUP TOP 5 STANDINGS*

Ford

243

Toyota

169

BMW

110

Nissan

72

Chevrolet

45

 

2026 TIRE CUP STANDINGS*

GT Radial

286

Nitto

243

Kenda

183

Kumho

130

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

FORMULA DRIFT CONNECTICUT RECAP

A recap of all the action from FD CT with event images will be available on Monday.

 

NEXT ROUND

Round 5 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship and Round 3 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship will take place at another new venue: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis, IN on July 30-August 1. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream.

 

 

 

 

2026 FORMULA DRIFT PROSPEC CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION RESULTS FROM ROUND 2 IN CONNECTICUT

Dmitriy Brutskiy takes the win ahead of teenagers Braden Lons and Camren Sorensen in second and third

 

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Friday, June 19, 2026

Location: Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT

Event: Formula DRIFT Link ECU PROSPEC Championship Round 2

 

RESULTS FROM FD PRO ROUND 2

  1. Dmitriy Brutskiy – Never Settle BMW
  2. Braden Lons (USA) – Lons Motorsports Nissan S13
  3. Camren Sorensen (USA) – Optima Battery / Sorensen Motorsports BMW

 

NOTES

  • PROSPEC veteran Dmitriy Brutskiy – a two-time Champion in 2020 and 2021 – claimed victory at the inaugural Formula DRIFT event held at Stafford Motor Speedway. After placing third in Round 1, the win has propelled Brutskiy to the lead of the PROSPEC standings by a healthy 17-point margin
  • Brutskiy’s points lead was stretched by the early dismissal of Round 1 winner, Cory Talaska (USA) in the Fuelab / Yellow Speed Racing 2JZ E36 BMW. Talaska was eliminated from the Top 16 by Rookie Braden Lons, which relegated him to ninth on the night and fourth in the title race
  • Lons would continue his skyward trajectory into the Final, despite suffering a separated shoulder. The 15 year-old drove through the pain magnificently until it went off the rails when he collided with Brutskiy into Outside Zone 3 during their first run. The impact forced Brutskiy’s BMW into a spin and the mistake proved unrecoverable during their second run
  • Lons’ second place bumped him from eighth to third in the PROSPEC standings and second in the Rookie title race behind Jason Webb (USA)
  • Webb, who placed second in Round 1, was knocked out of the Great 8 but placed fifth in Connecticut, allowing him to retain his second place in the PROSPEC standings by a single point from Lons
  • Fourteen year-old Camren Sorensen’s third place equaled Hiroya Minowa as the youngest driver to stand on a Formula DRIFT podium. Sorensen, driving the 1100hp Optima Battery / Sorensen Motorsports BMW was dispatched in the Final 4 heats by Lons, but the podium position elevated Sorensen from ninth to sixth overall

 

ROUND 2 FD PROSPEC TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Dmitriy Brutskiy

50

2

Braden Lons

40

3

Camren Sorensen

30

4

Tyler Mayer

30

5

Jason Webb

20

6

Matthew Bystrak

20

7

Ayden Copham

20 + 12

8

Sean Booth

20 + 6

9

Cory Talaska

10

10

Jerry Johnson

10

11

Nik Jimenez

10

12

Adam Heishman

10

13

Chellee Hansen

10

14

Kasey Kohl

10

15

Chris Leonard

10

16

Collete Davis

10

 

2026 FD PROSPEC TOP 16 DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Dmitriy Brutskiy

80

2

Jason Webb

63

3

Braden Lons

62

4

Cory Talaska

60

5

Tyler Mayer

56

6

Camren Sorensen

50

7

Jerry Johnson

40

8

Ayden Copham

32

9

Matthew Bystrak

30

10

Sam Maghmoumi

29

11

Sean Booth

26

12

Dustyn Farrell

26

13

Nik Jimenez

20

14

Adam Heishman

20

15

Chellee Hansen

20

16

Kasey Kohl

20

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

FORMULA DRIFT CONNECTICUT RECAP

Competition results from FD PRO Round 4 will be available Saturday evening. A recap of all the action from FD CT with event images will be available on Monday.

 

NEXT ROUND

Round 5 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship and Round 3 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship will take place at another new venue: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis, IN on July 30-August 1. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream.

 

ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT

Formula DRIFT is recognized as the leading international drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges the driver's skill while demanding a great deal from their vehicle in terms of power and strength. Formula DRIFT provides a series for the best professional drifters from around the globe to compete for the coveted title of Formula DRIFT Champion. As the first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting drift fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life, and established itself as the global leader for the sport. For a competition schedule, ticket information, special content and livestream, please visit formulad.com

 

WATCH FORMULA DRIFT

Fans can find the free-to-view event livestream at formulad.com/live and on Racer Network through the Racer+ app and Racer Select. The PRO Championship Top 16 will only be available via the Racer Network  

 

FOLLOW FORMULA DRIFT ONLINE 

formulad.com

instagram.com/formulad

facebook.com/formuladrift

x.com/FormulaDrift

youtube.com/Formuladrift

 

2026 FORMULA DRIFT OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Major Sponsor, Official Vehicle Lighting – TYPE S 

Major Sponsor, Official Energy Drink – Rockstar Energy Drink 

Major Sponsor, Official Auto Parts Retailer – O’Reilly Auto Parts 

Major Tire Sponsors – GT Radial, Kenda Tire, Kumho Tire, Nitto Tire

Official Sponsors – Pennzoil (Official Oil), K&N (Official Performance Filter), Canon (Official Imaging Partner), Ford Performance, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, BC Forged, BC Racing (Official Suspension), SIMAGIC (Official SIM Racing Hardware), Fast Orange (Official Hand Cleaner)

Associated Sponsors – Enkei Wheels, RAYS Wheels, Meguiar’s car care, NGK Spark Plugs

Official ECU & PROSPEC Title Sponsor – Link Engine Management

Official PROSPEC Tire – GT Radial 

Official PROSPEC Tire Service Partner – Tire Agent 

Official PROSPEC Oil - ENEOS Motor Oil 

Broadcast partner – RACER Network

Official Education Partner ­– University of Northwestern Ohio

Official Community Outreach Program – Acceler8

Official Casino Partner – Yaamava’ 

Technical Partners – PCI Race Radios

 

 

FORMULA DRIFT PRO & PROSPEC CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING RESULTS FROM CONNECTICUT

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026

Location: Stafford Motor Speedway, Stafford Springs, CT

Event: Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round 5 Qualifying & PROSPEC Round 2 Seeding Bracket results

 

RESULTS FROM FD PRO QUALIFYING

  1. Dylan Hughes (USA) – Royal Purple Synthetic Oil / GT Radial / 2JZ-powered BMW
  2. Branden Sorensen (USA) – Sorensen Motorsports / Quad Lock BMW
  3. Conor Shanahan (Ireland) – Red Bull / GT Radial / JYR Toyota GT86

 

RESULTS FROM FD PROSPEC SEEDING BRACKET
  1. Ayden Copham (USA) – Copham Racing Nissan Z
  2. Levi Wait (USA) – Drift Doctor BMW
  3. Sean Booth (USA) – Feal Suspension Nissan S14.9

 

PRO NOTES
  • With Stafford Motor Speedway appearing on the Formula DRIFT schedule for the first time, all teams faced the uphill task of setting up the cars as the drivers learned the new track. Adding to the pressure, a heavy rain shower before Qualifying soaked the track, with large puddles remaining throughout the session. Fortunately, with 30 drivers competing for a Top 32 Competition place, they only had to complete one of their two allotted qualifying runs to advance
  • Formula DRIFT PRO Qualifying utilizes UDSM (Universal Drift Scoring Method) technology from Race Data Labs. The telemetry and data system has automated the objective aspects of scoring individual qualifying runs with up to 80% of each PRO driver’s Qualifying score for drift Line and car Angle quantified and scored entirely by UDSM. Driving Style – the remaining 20% – continues to be assessed and awarded by the panel of three Formula DRIFT judges
  • An advantage of UDSM is that it can place the cars precisely on the track, allowing the judges to examine car placement even when water plumes might otherwise obscure their view
  • Widely recognized as a rain master, Dylan Hughes topped the standings with a score of 84.13 points thanks to his precision in the challenging conditions. He was awarded four Championship points for his qualifying efforts
  • Branden Sorensen was close behind with 83.6 points as he continues to present a major threat in the 2026 title race. He gained three Championship points
  • Irishman Conor Shanahan claimed third place with 82.33 points thanks in part to his familiarity with wet conditions. Fellow countryman and five-time FD PRO Champion James Deane fared less well after he spun out on his second run and placed 12th, while Conor’s brother Jack qualified seventh
  • Championship leader Aurimas Bakchis (Lithuania) qualified sixth in his Feal Suspension / GT Radial / Subimods Subaru BRZ and will be hoping to build on his momentum in Saturday’s Competition heats
  • While drivers only had to complete one run to qualify, two drivers failed to do so and were eliminated. These included Trenton Beechum (USA) who hit the wall hard on his first run and didn’t re-appear. Rookie Cole Richards (USA) hit the wall hard in practice and struggled with the car in Qualifying. His failure ended an incredible run that saw him podium at Round 1 and lead the Rookie of the Year chase
  • With only 28 drivers qualifying for the Top 32, the four leading drivers will recieve bye runs through the first Competition heats
  • The top qualifier receives four Championship points, while second place receives three, third gets two points and all other drivers receive one point

 

PROSPEC NOTES
  • The Formula DRIFT Link ECU PROSPEC Championship retained its competitive tandem Seeding Bracket Qualifying format, providing lower ranked drivers with additional competitive track time to increase their experience level 
  • With 24 of the places in Top 32 Competition determined by the Championship standings from Round 1, the remaining eight places would be filled from among the 13 drivers competing in the Seeding Bracket
  • The top three finishers were all Rookies, with Ayden Copham claiming first place after a hard fought Final against Levi Wait. The 20 year-old from Brainerd, MN took the victory despite suffering a hand injury in a traffic collision on his way to the track. His reward was a place in Top 32 Competition and 12 Championship points (three for each heat win) to help his 2026 aspirations
  • Third place went to Sean Booth who lost to Wait in the Final 4
  • With only eight Competition places available, five drivers were eliminated including Christian Cotrone, Kelsey Rowlings, Luis Lanz, Dustin Miles and Kabott Cardoso. They will get another chance to qualify through the Seeding Bracket at Round 3 at Indianapolis Raceway Park on July 30-August 1

 

FD PRO ROUND 4 TOP 16 QUALIFYING RESULTS*

POSITION

NAME

POINTS

1

Dylan Hughes

4

2

Branden Sorensen

3

3

Conor Shanahan

2

4

Ryan Tuerck

1

5

Chris Forsberg

1

6

Aurimas Bakchis

1

7

Jack Shanahan

1

8

Ben Hobson

1

9

Fredric Aasbo

1

10

Adam LZ

1

11

Connor O`Sullivan

1

12

James Deane

1

13

Matt Field

1

14

Tommy Lemaire

1

15

Dan Stuke

1

16

Ken Gushi

1

 

FD PROSPEC ROUND 2 SEEDING BRACKET RESULTS*

POSITION

NAME

POINTS

1

Ayden Copham

12

2

Levi Wait

9

3

Sean Booth

6

4

Brian Hoplamazian

6

5

Matt Rusiecki

3

6

Carsen Ruger

3

7

Allen Boss

3

8

Matt Shulman 

3

9

Christian Cotrone

0

10

Kelsey Rowlings

0

11

Luis Lanz

0

12

Dustin Miles

0

13

Kabott Cardoso

0

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

 

FORMULA DRIFT CONNECTICUT RECAP

Competition results from FD PROSPEC Round 2 will be available on Friday evening. FD PRO Round 4 Competition results will be available Saturday evening. A recap of all the action from FD CT with event images will be available on Monday morning.

 

NEXT ROUND

Round 5 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship and Round 3 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship will take place at another new venue: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Indianapolis, IN on July 30-August 1. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream.

 

ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT

Formula DRIFT is recognized as the leading international drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges the driver's skill while demanding a great deal from their vehicle in terms of power and strength. Formula DRIFT provides a series for the best professional drifters from around the globe to compete for the coveted title of Formula DRIFT Champion. As the first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting drift fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life, and established itself as the global leader for the sport. For a competition schedule, ticket information, special content and livestream, please visit formulad.com

 

WATCH FORMULA DRIFT

Fans can find the free-to-view event livestream at formulad.com/live and on Racer Network through the Racer+ app and Racer Select. The PRO Championship Top 16 is only available via the Racer Network 

 

FOLLOW FORMULA DRIFT ONLINE

formulad.com

instagram.com/formulad

facebook.com/formuladrift

x.com/FormulaDrift

youtube.com/Formuladrift

 

2026 FORMULA DRIFT OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Major Sponsor, Official Vehicle Lighting – TYPE S

Major Sponsor, Official Energy Drink – Rockstar Energy Drink

Major Sponsor, Official Auto Parts Retailer – O’Reilly Auto Parts

Major Tire Sponsors – GT Radial, Kenda Tire, Kumho Tire, Nitto Tire

Official Sponsors – Pennzoil (Official Oil), K&N (Official Performance Filter), Canon (Official Imaging Partner),Ford Performance, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, BC Forged, BC Racing (Official Suspension), SIMAGIC (Official SIM Racing Hardware), Fast Orange (Official Hand Cleaner)

Associated Sponsors – Enkei Wheels, RAYS Wheels, Meguiar’s car care, NGK Spark Plugs

Official ECU & PROSPEC Title Sponsor – Link Engine Management

Official PROSPEC Tire – GT Radial

Official PROSPEC Tire Service Partner – Tire Agent 

Official PROSPEC Oil – ENEOS Motor Oil

Broadcast partner – RACER Network

Official Education Partner – University of Northwestern Ohio

Official Community Outreach Program – Acceler8

Official Casino Partner – Yaamava’

Technical Partners – PCI Race Radios

 

 

 

ODI BAKCHIS WINS ROUND 3 OF FORMULA DRIFT PRO CHAMPIONSHIP IN ORLANDO

 

 

Bakchis scores an emphatic victory, beating five-time Champion James Deane in the Final

 

Round 3 of the 2026 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship saw a third driver claim the top step of the podium as drivers struggled to find consistency. And with three new tracks on this year’s calendar, it may take a while for anybody to establish dominance. Certainly the weather in Orlando didn’t help the drivers establish a rhythm, with occasional rain showers continually changing track conditions throughout both qualifying and the Competition heats. But Formula DRIFT doesn’t stop for rain. The drivers are masters of overcoming slippery conditions and finding grip, with many of the most experienced campaigners rising to the top.

 

PRO QUALIFYING

The inclement weather arrived before qualifying began and continued to exert its influence throughout the session, dictating whether drivers had a wet, damp or dry track. This undoubtedly affected the results but it wasn’t the entire story; many drivers were able to overcome the conditions and thread the needle through the point-scoring Inside and Outside Zones to snatch a respectable qualifying position. And with a total of 32 drivers qualifying, it meant each driver only had to complete a run to advance into the Top 32 Competition Heats, which undoubtedly alleviated some of the pressure.

With heavy rain falling towards the end of the first runs, the new UDSM (Universal Drift Scoring Method) technology from Race Data Labs earned its keep. The telemetry and data system has automated the objective aspects of scoring individual qualifying runs and is able to track the car’s precise position, even if water plumes conceal it from the human eye. This meant UDSM was able to provide accurate scoring for the driver’s Drift Line and Car Angle, which constituted 80% of their score. The remaining 20% for Driving Style was awarded by the panel of three Formula DRIFT judges. 

Having studied the effect of UDSM over the first two Rounds of the season, Formula DRIFT chose to resize and reposition both the Outside and Inside Zones in an effort to help raise the median Qualifying scores by positioning the Zones where the majority of drivers were running. 

Traditionally, the Zones were used to provide a visual target that could be seen by fans, spotters and judges to gauge a driver’s Line. But with the introduction of UDSM, the system cannot grade a score as "good enough." It must strictly measure how the driver filled each Zone but has revealed the Zones are never 100% covered, particularly on entry and exit. In the human judging era, the judging panel could estimate coverage and score accordingly, but the accuracy of UDSM has meant the average score was dropping when precisely measured. 

For Orlando, drivers achieved their highest average scores of the year, despite a mostly wet qualifying session, because the Zones were designed for the drivers in an effort to raise the average scores. It also helped to connect what viewers thought they saw in terms of Zones filled and the psychology of what scores may have historically represented for a similar run. All of this happened without diminishing the value of having a "perfect judge” in UDSM and its roof-mounted Wally sensor.

With all the technology calibrated, three-time Formula DRIFT PRO Champion Chris Forsberg (USA) emerged as the top qualifier. He scored 85.83 points on his first run in the Destined Industries Nissan Z. Forsberg set the standard on what was arguably the driest track conditions, but that didn’t diminish his achievement. He drove with poise and precision to achieve impeccable line, angle and style scores. As the top qualifier, he also received a four-point boost to his title bid.

Receiving three Championship points for placing second was Rookie Cole Richards (USA) who scored 85.6 points driving the Richards Racing Toyota GT86. He also benefitted from a drier track and would be looking to improve on his eighth place in the standings after some incredible performances at the first two Rounds.

Fredric Aasbo (Norway) was breathing down Richards neck with a score of 84.7 points in the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra. The three-time FD PRO Champion needed to restore his title challenge after being eliminated from the Top 32 heats in Round 2, and his additional two qualifying points would nudge Aasbo in the right direction to make amends.

Championship leader Conor Shanahan (Ireland) again qualified relatively poorly in the Red Bull / GT Radial / JYR Toyota GT86. Facing a wet track and heavy rain, he placed 23rd, echoing his 24th position in Round 2 qualification. Undoubtedly, Shanahan would be hoping to reach the podium in Competition but his qualification ranking would pair him against the five-time and defending FD PRO Champion James Deane (Ireland) in the Top 32 heats. Deane and his O'Reilly / Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD qualified tenth and it would undoubtedly require a Herculean effort for Shanahan to defeat his fellow Irishman.

 

PRO COMPETITION

Despite his best efforts, Conor Shanahan fell victim to Deane’s Mustang RTR with disastrous implications for his 2026 Championship aspirations. Scoring zero points in Competition, Shanahan dropped like a stone from first to fifth in the title standings, left to contemplate his qualifying performance.

With the Championship leader cast aside, Deane appeared to have a clear run to the Final. He defeated LZ (USA) in the Top 16, followed by Matt Field (USA) in the Great 8 and won a titanic battle against Fredric Aasbo (Norway) in the Final 4. 

The GR Supra driver was on a point-scoring mission and fought hard to reach the Final. With eight FD PRO titles between them, the outcome of a Deane versus Aasbo duel is never assured. However, a small mistake by the Norwegian as he transitioned from Zones 2 to 3 allowed the Irishman to pull ahead and take the win. Aasbo would end the night in third place and climbed to fourth in the standings.

Deane’s opponent in the Final would be Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis who had defeated Simen Olsen (Norway) in the Top 32, then Dan Burkett (USA), Jack Shanahan (Ireland), and Branden Sorensen (USA) in the Final 4. Odi appeared to be driving with renewed energy at the wheel of his new Feal Suspension / GT Radial / Subimods Subaru BRZ after switching from his faithful Nissan S15 chassis. 

The new car had brought instant results, placing fifth at Round 1, qualified first and finished third at Round 2, and now defeated Deane in Orlando to claim his first win in the BRZ and first win since Round 7 in 2024, where he also defeated James Deane. 

A small mistake by Deane transitioning into Zone 3 was all Bakchis needed to open a slight gap and claim the victory. As a result, Odi jumped from third overall to lead the 2026 FD PRO Championship by an eight-point margin over Deane.

"Going into Orlando I wanted to focus on getting good pace in the second half of the track," Bakchis told us after the podium ceremony. "I knew the weather was going to be sketchy, so we worked hard in practice to get good drive out of the turns and to preserve tire life. And all the attention to detail paid off. We found really good pace in the car and adjusted it to suit the conditions. Everything clicked together and I'm stoked to have taken the win but the next round is at a new track where everybody starts from zero. We'll have to focus on what we know and what's worked so far to hopefully be on the pace again."

Fourth place went to Branden Sorensen (USA) in the Sorensen Motorsports / Quad Lock BMW who climbed to third overall following his continuous improvement at each round.

Leading qualifier, Chris Forsberg, placed fifth after losing to Sorensen in the Great 8 and secured eighth position overall.

For the third time in three Rounds, the leading Rookie was Cole Richards (USA) driving the Richards Racing Toyota GT86. He finished ninth in Orlando after being defeated by Matt Field in the Top 16 and sits ninth overall.

The toughest battle of Round 3 had to be the Top 32 clash between Jack Shanahan (Ireland) in the Pulsar Turbos E82 BMW and Derek Madison (USA) driving the Team Infamous / Coilover Depot / Kenda Tire Nissan S14.9. The contest was so evenly matched the judges requested they repeat their two runs on two separate occasions. The stalemate was finally broken when Madison surged into Zone 1 and made contact with Shanahan’s BMW. Derek’s bumper was deleted and a drive belt flew off, causing the Nissan to come to a halt. Despite efforts to effect repairs, Madison was unable to overcome the deficit and was defeated. 

The elder Shanahan sibling would advance until the Top 8 where he fell victim to Bakchis after another bruising contest. Jack finished sixth on the night and rose to sixth overall, behind his brother Conor.

In the 2026 Formula DRIFT Auto Cup, Ford maintained its lead over Toyota, while GT Radial continues to lead the FD Tire Cup

“Round 3 was another incredibly dynamic event, switching from wet to dry throughout the weekend,” said Ryan Sage, President of Formula DRIFT. “We’re so grateful to the fans who stuck around through everything. They’re always so supportive and among the best in the country. And they were able to witness the Championship get shaken up again, with changes at the top as Conor Shanahan acknowledged he didn’t find the best set up for qualifying. That meant he faced James Deane in the Top 32 and while we saw one of the best battles of the year, it resulted in Conor’s early dismissal. But it was Odi Bakchis who captured the headlines by steadily improving in his new car and taking the Round win. He now sits at the top of the table as he sets his sights on a run for the Championship.”

 

ROUND 3 FD PRO TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Aurimas Bakchis

50 +1

2

James Deane

40 +1

3

Fredric Aasbo

30 +2

4

Branden Sorensen

30 +1

5

Chris Forsberg

20 +4

6

Jack Shanahan

20 +1

7

Dylan Hughes

20 +1

8

Matt Field

20 +1

9

Cole Richards

10 +3

10

Adam LZ

10 +1

11

Trenton Beechum

10 +1

12

Ken Gushi

10 +1

13

Jhonnattan Castro

10 +1

14

Ryan Tuerck

10 +1

15

Wataru Masuyama

10 +1

16

Dan Burkett

10 +1

 

2026 FD PRO TOP 16 DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Aurimas Bakchis

106

2

James Deane

98

3

Branden Sorensen

84

4

Fredric Aasbo

74

5

Conor Shanahan

73

6

Jack Shanahan

65

7

Dylan Hughes

63

8

Chris Forsberg

57

9

Cole Richards

55

10

Vaughn Gittin Jr

51

11

Ryan Tuerck

43

12

Matt Field

33

13

Trenton Beechum

23

14

Ken Gushi

23

15

Wataru Masuyama

23

16

Dan Burkett

23

 

2026 AUTO CUP TOP 5 STANDINGS*

Ford

161

Toyota

137

Nissan

70

BMW

68

Chevrolet

34

 

2026 TIRE CUP STANDINGS*

GT Radial

230

Nitto

161

Kenda

151

Kumho

78

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

NEXT ROUND

Round 4 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship and Round 2 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship will take place at a new venue: Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, CT on June 18-20. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream

 

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Friday, May 29, 2026

Location: Orlando Speed World, Orlando, FL

Event: Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round 3 Qualifying

 

RESULTS FROM FD PRO QUALIFYING
  1. Chris Forsberg (USA) – Destined Industries Nissan Z
  2. Cole Richards (USA) – Richards Racing Toyota GT86
  3. Fredric Aasbo (Norway) – Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra

 

PRO NOTES
  • The drivers faced occasional rain showers and continuously changing track conditions throughout both their runs in the qualifying session. Fortunately, with 32 drivers participating, they only had to complete a run to advance into the Top 32 Competition Heats
  • Formula DRIFT PRO Qualifying utilizes UDSM (Universal Drift Scoring Method) technology from Race Data Labs. The telemetry and data system has automated the objective aspects of scoring individual qualifying runs with up to 80% of each PRO driver’s Qualifying score for drift Line and car Angle quantified and scored entirely by UDSM. Driving Style – the remaining 20% – continues to be assessed and awarded by the existing panel of three Formula DRIFT judges
  • Chris Forsberg set the standard, scoring 85.83 points on his first run in what was probably the driest track conditions, which doesn’t diminish his achievement. He drove with poise and precision to achieve impeccable line, angle and style. With the Nissan driver finding his form, Forsberg will undoubtedly be a major threat in Competition
  • The leading Rookie was again Cole Richards who has continued to improve with each Round. He placed second with 85.6 points – fractions behind Forsberg – although he was also the beneficiary of a drier track. It remains to be seen if Richards can maintain his form and perhaps visit the podium this season
  • Third place was captured by Fredric Aasbo who scored 84.7 points. The three-time Champion needs to restore his title challenge after being eliminated from the Top 32 heats in Round 2. This qualifying result confirms he’s determined to make amends
  • Championship leader Conor Shanahan (Ireland) again qualified relatively poorly in the Red Bull / GT Radial / JYR Toyota GT86. He placed 23rd, echoing his 24th position in Round 2 qualification. Undoubtedly, Shanahan will be hoping to reach the podium tomorrow but he’ll face the five-time and defending FD PRO Champion James Deane (Ireland) in the Top 32 heats. With Deane and his O'Reilly / Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD sitting second in the title race, it’s going to be a heavyweight duel to the death
  • Aurimas Bakchis (Lithuania), who currently sits third in the Championship standings, qualified 12th in his Feal Suspension / GT Radial / Subimods Subaru BRZ and will face former teammate Simen Olsen (Norway) in the Top 32
  • The top qualifier receives four Championship points, while second place receives three, third gets two points and all other drivers receive one point

 

FD PRO ROUND 3 TOP 16 QUALIFYING RESULTS*

POSITION

NAME

POINTS

1

Chris Forsberg

4

2

Cole Richards

3

3

Fredric Aasbo

2

4

Jack Shanahan

1

5

Jeff Jones

1

6

Dylan Hughes

1

7

Adam LZ

1

8

Branden Sorensen

1

9

Cody Buchanan

1

10

James Deane

1

11

Tommy Lemaire

1

12

Aurimas Bakchis

1

13

Ben Hobson

1

14

Trenton Beechum

1

15

Matt Field

1

16

Ken Gushi

1

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

TOP 32 PRO COMPETITION BRACKET FOR ROUND 3

 

FORMULA DRIFT ORLANDO RECAP

Competition results from FD PRO Round 3 will be available on Saturday. A recap of all the action from FD ORL with event images will be available on Monday.

 

NEXT ROUND

Round 4 of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship and Round 2 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship will take place at a new venue: Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, CT on June 18-20. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream.

 

  

 

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