Tyler McQuarrie Wins Formula Drift 2010 Las Vegas In Falken Sweep
By OR Staff, Photography by Duane Uyeda
Only one description can truly give a picture of what it’s like to drift in the desert in the height of summer – it’s hot outside. Really hot. Hell bubbling up through the pavement hot.
Photo by Duane Uyeda
Formula Drift returned to the grand Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the fifth round of the 2010 season, entitled “After Dark”. With competition running past sundown and into the night, the event truly lived up to its name.
We’re sure that quite a few teams and drivers partook in the close proximity to Sin City and enjoyed some other “after dark” action but that’s a different story.
Competitors from all ranks made the trip out into the blazing heat and braved overheating issues to run under the sparkling lights of the speedway. “This event in Las Vegas is challenging for everyone involved with Formula Drift including the staff, teams, and sponsors, but at the end of the day the event exceeded all expectations with a sell-out crowd, amazing competition, and a tightening chase for the Championship heading into Sonoma,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula Drift. “The level of competition is at an all-time high and teams are setting the bar for the sport of drifting worldwide.”
Photo by Duane Uyeda
Beyond the Formula Drift pro drivers, the event also featured the up and comers in the Vegas Pro Am finals, Fatlace’s One of One Showcase car show, monster truck demos, and drag racing. Lifted trucks on giant knobby tires aren’t exactly drift machines but the Formula Drift team was dedicated to providing a good show for the crowds.
In the main event, the boiling weekend ultimately came down to a battle of the V8s. Making the final four for his first time, Tony Brakohiapa in the Cooper Tire / BSP Tuskegee Airmen Mustang went up against 2010 season points leader Vaughn Gittin Jr. in the Monster Energy / Falken Tire Ford Mustang for third place. Gittin gained the victory and still maintains the championship points lead.
The final battle for first and second place pitted Falken Tire teammates Daijiro Yoshihara in the Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13 240SX against Tyler McQuarrie in the Falken Tire Nissan 350Z.
Photo by Duane Uyeda
Mechanical problems forced Yoshihara to forfeit from the competition eventually; giving McQuarrie his first ever victory and moving him up the rankings into 9th place overall.
The all-Falken Tire podium brought big dividends for their intensive drifting program and, with only two events left in the 2010 season, the chase is on for Gittin to win a championship for Falken. “The Falken Tire Nissan 350Z was unreal in every practice and through qualifying. It was one of those events where I could just feel it,” said Tyler McQuarrie. “To get my first career victory here in Las Vegas feels incredible and for the Falken Tire team to get the second ever sweep in history is a milestone for the team.”
Contact
Formula Drift
www.formuladrift.com
