TEAM FALKEN TAKES SECOND AND THIRD PLACE AT NEW JERSEY’S FORMULA DRIFT

28 Jun, 2011

Facing tougher competition than anticipated, Team Falken nevertheless took home second and third place during Saturday night’s Formula Drift Championship at legendary Wall Speedway.  Falken’s Justin Pawlak, who currently leads the 2011 Formula D Championship standings, finished in second while teammate Daijiro Yoshihara earned third.  Conrad Grunewald won the Gauntlet in New Jersey, while Team Falken has secured nine podiums within the first four rounds.

Defending Formula D Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. was second in qualifying, followed by Yoshihara in third and Falken teammates Tyler McQuarrie 5^th, Pawlak 7^th, and Darren McNamara in 15^th.  Falken privateer Ross Petty qualified 11^th, and all advanced to the Top 16 round.  Yoshihara, Pawlak, McQuarrie and Gittin Jr. (the latter after defeating teammate McNamara) moved forward to the Top 8.

“Unfortunately, in the next two rounds, we had Falken drivers competing against each other, as Justin beat JR [Gittin], and then in the Top 4, Justin outscored Dai,” explained Jonathon Bradford, Falken’s Drift Team Supervisor.  “Still, it
was a good night for Team Falken, and we continue to lead the championship.”

Team Falken holds the top three spots in the run for the 2011 championship, as Pawlak increased his lead to 57 points, while Yoshihara and McNamara swapped slots with Dai now in second and McNamara third.  McQuarrie currently sits
in 8^thwith Gittin Jr. in 9^th.  Petty is 14^th.
“The pressure continues to mount,” said Nick Fousekis, Falken's Director of Motorsports Marketing and Events.  “Every other tire manufacturer and Formula D competitor is looking to beat us, but we will continue to focus on gaining points in our quest to earn a second consecutive championship.”

Falken also hosted 220 dealers and guests at its hospitality suite at the raceway. Next month, Team Falken will return to Evergreen Raceway in Seattle for Round 5 of the 2011 Formula Drift Championship, July 22-23

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