Ireland's James Deane Makes His Return To Formula DRIFT A Beaming Success

The Worthhouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan S15 driven by James Deane takes the 2017 Formula DRIFT season O’Reilly Auto Parts Round 1: Streets of Long Beach win. Image Credit: @worthousedrift via James Deane Facebook (2017)

Ireland's James Deane Makes His Return To Formula DRIFT A Beaming Success

Formula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Championship presented by BlackVue Dash Cameras kicked off the 14th season with an exciting day of action at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Round 1: Streets of Long Beach.  Irish driver James Deane returns to the Series and gets the win in the Worthhouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan S15.

“What a way to start the season,” said Jim Liaw, president and co-founder of Formula DRIFT.  “With not only a capacity crowd, record numbers on the Livestream, but proof that Formula Drift is truly an international series where the best of the best come to compete.”

The first event of the season commenced on the Grand Prix of Long Beach Street Course.  The highly anticipated event was action packed from start to finish and the capacity crowd witnessed many competitive battles throughout the day.  The event also introduced new drivers to the field including Georgy Chivchyan from Russia and Piotr Wiecek from Poland and marked the return of Irish driver, James Deane.  The event broke records with the Livestream with over 1 million viewers tuning in from around the world over the two-day event weekend making for the largest viewership for a single event in Formula DRIFT history.

Deane returned to Formula DRIFT after a seven year hiatus from the Series in dramatic fashion.  Deane proved to be a contender after qualifying in second position and making his way through to the finals by defeating both former champion Michael Essa and the reigning and 3-time champion, Chris Forsberg.

Deane met with Ryan Tuerck in the Gumout / Nameless Performance / Hankook Toyota 86 in the semi-finals and with consistent driving all-day and a solid chase run he was able to advance to the Finals.

On the other side of the bracket in the semi-finals, Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis in the Falken Tire / Drifz Wheels / Ark Performance Nissan 240SX faced off against Alex Heilbrunn in the IMR / Nitto Tire BMW M3.  After a hard fought battle that was too close to call, the drivers met in a One More Time battle and while chasing Heilbrunn, Bakchis made an error entering the hairpin giving Heilbrunn the win to put him in the Finals.  Deane’s consistency and technical driving was no match for Heilbrunn in the Finals and Deane won his first Formula DRIFT victory to take the lead in the chase for the championship.

“Man, what a way to start back in Formula DRIFT after missing out on the last seven years,” said James Deane, winner of Round 1: Streets of Long Beach.  “I owe a lot to my good friend and teammate, Piotr Wiecek, who came up with this whole idea to come back to the Series as a two-car team.  To come out with the win is just mind blowing.  What a feeling!"

For more information visit, www.formulad.com and find Formula DRIFT on Instagram @formulad, Facebook www.facebook.com/formuladrift, Twitter @FormulaDrift, and Snapchat - formula_drift. Tune into Formula DRIFT on CBS Sports and check your local listings for airtimes.

Formula DRIFT 2017 Round 1 Podium - (L to R) P2 - Alex Heilbrunn, P1 - James Deane, P3 - Ryan Tuerck. Image Credit: Formula DRIFT (2017)

Round 1: Streets of Long Beach Event Results

1. Deane, James
Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240
Winner

2. Heilbrunn, Alex
IMR / Nitto Tire BMW M3
2nd Place

3. Tuerck, Ryan
Gumout / Nameless Performance / Hankook Toyota 86
3rd Place

4. Bakchis, Aurimas
Falken Tires / Drifz Wheels / ARK Performance Nissan 240
4th Place

5. Aasbo, Fredric
Rockstar Energy / Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla iM
5th Place

6. Coffman, Matt
Nexen Tire / Coffman Racing Nissan 240
6th Place

7. Forsberg, Chris
NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z
7th Place

8. Kearney, Dean
Oracle Lighting Dodgle Viper
8th Place

9. Gittin, Vaughn
Monster Energy / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR
9th Place

10. Wiecek, Piotr
Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240
10th Place

11. Gushi, Ken
GReddy Racing / Nexen Tire Toyota Racing 86
11th Place

12. Field, Matt
Falken Tire / Vapetasia / ARK Performance Nissan 240
12th Place

13. Rintanen, Juha
STR Racing / Nexen Tire Nissan 240
13th Place

14. Bluss, Kristaps
HGK / Mast / Motul / Wisefab BMW E46
14th Place

15. Pawlak, Justin
Roush Performance Ford Mustang
15th Place

16. Essa, Michael
Achilles Tire / Essa Autosport BMW M3
16th Place

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2017 Formula DRIFT Black Magic Championship Presented by BlackVue Standings After 1 Event

1. Deane, James
Worthouse Drift Team / Falken Tire Nissan 240
106.00 Points

2. Heilbrunn, Alex
IMR / Nitto Tire BMW M3
84.00 Points

3. Tuerck, Ryan
Gumout / Nameless Performance / Hankook Toyota 86
69.00 Points

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2017 Manufacturer Championship Standings After 1 Event

1. Toyota
121.00 Points

2. Ford
74.00 Points

3. Nissan
52.00 Points

4. Dodge
51.00 Points

5. BMW
35.00 Points

6. Infiniti
18.00

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2017 Tire Championship Standings After 1 Event

1. Falken
174.00 Points

2. Nitto
123.00 Points

3. Hankook
121.00 Points

4. Nexen
104.00 Points

5. Achilles
86.00 Points
(ht: Formula DRIFT)

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: Formula DRIFT, Round 1, Long Beach, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Falken, Nitto, Hankook, Nexen, Achilles, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Dodge, BMW, Infiniti, James Deane, Alex Heilbrunn, Ryan Tuerck, The EDJE

Sit Down Talk With ACS’s Dave Allen Before 20th Reunion At Auto Club 400 Weekend

Sit Down Talk With ACS’s Dave Allen Before 20th Reunion At Auto Club 400 Weekend

The NASCAR Auto Club 400 is scheduled for Sunday, March 26, 2017 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

AUTO CLUB SPEEDWAY

Tickets for the Auto Club 400 start at $41 /  After March 11– tickets start at $45.

To purchase tickets, call 800-944-RACE (7223) or visit http://www.autoclubspeedway.com

In 2017, Auto Club Speedway celebrates its 20th Anniversary with  a ‘Track Reunion’ theme. The Auto Club 400 race is NASCAR’S only stop in Southern California.

Auto Club Speedway is one of the fastest tracks on the NASCAR circuit and the oval has aged to perfection for incredible racing.

Weekend Schedule:

FanFest and Hauler Parade – Thursday, March 23 from 5-9 p.m.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying - 5.11 Tactical Pole Day: Friday, March 24
NASCAR XFINITY Series 300 Race: Saturday, March 25 at 1 p.m. on FS1
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400: Sunday, March 26 March 12:30 p.m. on FOX.

Auto Club Speedway Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Auto Club Speedway is celebrating 20 years of racing with a ‘Track Reunion’ theme at Southern California’s premier motorsports venue between now and March 24-26, 2017 when NASCAR makes its only stop in Southern California for Auto Club 400 Weekend.

Motorsport milestones from Roger Penske’s vision of a world-class facility in Southern California to Jeff Gordon’s inaugural California 500 in 1997. From Gil de Ferran’s closed course qualifying world record of 241+MPH run in 2000 to Jimmie Johnson’s (aka Superman) visit to Victory Lane in 2016.  Interactive timeline: http://www.autoclubspeedway.com/reunion

20th Anniversary Fan Experiences:

A special Q&A with racing legends Richard Petty, Michael Waltrip and Rusty Wallace will be open to all fans on the main stage in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fan Zone on Sunday morning – Auto Club 400 race day.

Historic show cars on display throughout the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fan Zone – Jeff Gordon’s 1997 race car from Inaugural race; Jimmie Johnson’s Superman car and other surprises.

FanFest and New Hauler Parade route returns on Thursday, March 23, 2017 – a free community event featuring NASCAR driver appearances, live music, vendors and family-friendly entertainment in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Fan Zone at Auto Club Speedway. FEATURED Music Act - No Duh - No Doubt cover band.

New Post-Race Concert on Saturday after NASCAR XFINITY Race – Los Lobos will perform in the fan zone on the main stage beginning around 4 p.m.

About Dave Allen – Auto Club Speedway President:

Dave Allen serves as President of Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. In this role, Mr. Allen is responsible for the management and operations of the ISC facility including Auto Club Dragway.

Mr. Allen has been with the Speedway since 1999 after spending one year at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca.  From 2002-2006, Mr. Allen served as Senior Director of Sales and Marketing.  In 2006, Mr. Allen was named Vice President of Sales and Marketing with oversight of all sponsorship, hospitality, suite and consumer sales.

Mr. Allen’s leadership skills have enabled the track to grow with the addition of new events including Hard Summer Music Festival and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk.

... notes from The EDJE




TAGS: Auto Club Speedway, Monster Energy, NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY, FanFest, Hauler Parade, No Duh, Los Lobos, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Dave Allen, The EDJE