Formula Drift Round 4 - Las Vegas, NV
Chris Forsberg and the NOS Energy Drink Drift Team headed to “Sin City” Las Vegas, NV for round four of the 2009 Formula Drift Pro Championship Series this last weekend. With outside temperatures soaring over 108 degrees and track temperatures over 150 degrees, the team fought the heat all weekend drinking NOS Energy Drink and water to keep cool and to give them the energy to be their best. The Las Vegas event in July is generally the hottest event of the year, but it never seems to stop the fans from coming out in droves. For the fourth straight event this year, Formula Drift saw record attendance as the series continues to prove it’s the largest, most competitive drift series in the world.
Formula Drift’s redesigned course provided the fans with some of the best drift action the series has had all year. The high heat during the day and the 50 degree cool off of the track at night caused the teams to work overtime chasing track conditions to find maximum grip. "The heat in Vegas is almost unbearable,” said Forsberg. “Our Mishimoto radiator helped keep us cool through our non-stop evening of tandem battles and multiple one more times! And thanks to our Maxxis tires, we never had to worry about our tires falling apart due to the ridiculous surface temperatures!"
Forsberg qualified the team into the 10th place position pairing them up against the always unpredictable and fast “Wild” Bill Sherman. Sherman was running strong in practice leading into the event, but the NOS Energy Drink Drift Team was able to edge him out advancing him to the “Top 16” bracket of tandem. Forsberg then defeated Michihiro Takatori to move into the “Great 8” where he lined up against Drift Alliance team mate and good friend Ryan Tuerck. Forsberg and Tuerck’s tandem battles were so close that the judges required them to run the course 3 separate times in order for them to determine the NOS Energy Drink 350Z the winner.
“Tuerck is my absolute favorite person to tandem with,” stated Forsberg. “He is so good, and so consistent, that I can follow him closely without ever having to worry about him making a mistake.”
The win also propelled Forsberg to the lead in the Championship standings.
In the “Final Four”, Forsberg fought against former Drift Champion, Ryuji Miki. Miki was able to edge out Forsberg sending him to the consolation round against Tyler McQuarrie to decide the third place position. Both Forsberg and McQuarrie battled hard and put down great runs. The two were so close the judges called a “One More Time” to decide a clear winner. Both drivers again came in with blazing speeds and deep angle, but the judges declared Forsberg the clear winner giving the NOS Energy Drink Drift Team their second podium this year and moving Forsberg to the top of the Championship points.
“We are very excited to be leading the Championship midway through the season,” said Forsberg. “My Team has worked very hard to put us in this position and I know we’ll have to keep it up. We have had some tough times in Seattle in the past 2 years, but we will learn from our mistakes and try our best to stay on top!"
The points Championship is heating up as the season moves past the half way point as Forsberg and the team hold a slim 13 point lead over Tuerck. The next round in the Formula Drift Pro Championship will be held at Monroe Speedway, in Monroe, WA on August 7th and 8th.
Team NOS Energy Drink Round 3 Result:
Chris Forsberg is 3rd Place
Team NOS Energy Drink Formula Drift Standings:
Chris Forsberg is 1st Place
Formula Drift’s redesigned course provided the fans with some of the best drift action the series has had all year. The high heat during the day and the 50 degree cool off of the track at night caused the teams to work overtime chasing track conditions to find maximum grip. "The heat in Vegas is almost unbearable,” said Forsberg. “Our Mishimoto radiator helped keep us cool through our non-stop evening of tandem battles and multiple one more times! And thanks to our Maxxis tires, we never had to worry about our tires falling apart due to the ridiculous surface temperatures!"
Forsberg qualified the team into the 10th place position pairing them up against the always unpredictable and fast “Wild” Bill Sherman. Sherman was running strong in practice leading into the event, but the NOS Energy Drink Drift Team was able to edge him out advancing him to the “Top 16” bracket of tandem. Forsberg then defeated Michihiro Takatori to move into the “Great 8” where he lined up against Drift Alliance team mate and good friend Ryan Tuerck. Forsberg and Tuerck’s tandem battles were so close that the judges required them to run the course 3 separate times in order for them to determine the NOS Energy Drink 350Z the winner.
“Tuerck is my absolute favorite person to tandem with,” stated Forsberg. “He is so good, and so consistent, that I can follow him closely without ever having to worry about him making a mistake.”
The win also propelled Forsberg to the lead in the Championship standings.
In the “Final Four”, Forsberg fought against former Drift Champion, Ryuji Miki. Miki was able to edge out Forsberg sending him to the consolation round against Tyler McQuarrie to decide the third place position. Both Forsberg and McQuarrie battled hard and put down great runs. The two were so close the judges called a “One More Time” to decide a clear winner. Both drivers again came in with blazing speeds and deep angle, but the judges declared Forsberg the clear winner giving the NOS Energy Drink Drift Team their second podium this year and moving Forsberg to the top of the Championship points.
“We are very excited to be leading the Championship midway through the season,” said Forsberg. “My Team has worked very hard to put us in this position and I know we’ll have to keep it up. We have had some tough times in Seattle in the past 2 years, but we will learn from our mistakes and try our best to stay on top!"
The points Championship is heating up as the season moves past the half way point as Forsberg and the team hold a slim 13 point lead over Tuerck. The next round in the Formula Drift Pro Championship will be held at Monroe Speedway, in Monroe, WA on August 7th and 8th.
Team NOS Energy Drink Round 3 Result:
Chris Forsberg is 3rd Place
Team NOS Energy Drink Formula Drift Standings:
Chris Forsberg is 1st Place
