World Fitness Blog : Leading Global Bloggers

December 25, 2021

Tony Stewart on the Smartest Racing Tip He’s Ever Received

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 3:41 pm

Tony Stewart, the racing legend (aka “Smoke”) notched the inaugural SRX championship—a series he co-created.

Men’s Journal: Why do we love racing?

Tony Stewart: It’s not the speed. It’s watching racers figure out how to be better or faster than somebody else.

What has racing given you?

One big thing it gives you is a large family. You’re all passionate about something together. You race together. You have fun together. You get frustrated at each other. Just like a big family.

Who were your own heroes?

I was obviously a big A.J. Foyt fan. I enjoyed watching Rick Mears. On the sprint-car side, Steve Kinser, Sammy Swindell, Doug Wolfgang—those are the guys I looked up to.

Advice to your younger self?

Honestly, I’d tell myself to do the same thing I did. It wasn’t the easiest path. There were bumps on the road. Last year was kinda the first time I had a chance to sit back and look at my life and career, and I’ve been pretty satisfied with it.

What’s the wisest racing tip you’ve ever gotten?

Sometimes you have to slow down to go faster. It took me a bit of time to understand that one—but when I did, it sure made my life a whole lot easier.

Do you get challenged on the street to drag races?

No. I do enough stupid stuff without somebody else’s help.

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

Source

The Sound and Fury of Formula Drift

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 3:33 pm

Fast cars, smoking tires and ear-shattering noise. These are the nuts and bolts of Formula Drift.

Unlike most motorsports, Formula Drift isn’t an actual race. Drivers tango in tandem, competing with their dance partners to drift longer and deeper into corners—and are then judged on the skill they demonstrate.

That’s not to say drift cars are slow. After all, what would a motorsport be without speed? The spectacle is predicated on a certain amount of velocity in order to produce the billowing plumes that pour from the wheel wells.

This year’s Pro series was contested over nine events around the country and streamed live for viewers at home. Akin to competitive surfing, skateboarding or snowboarding, it’s a visually inspiring format that mates perfectly with social media—Formula Drift’s official accounts have millions of followers. And while the series (launched in 2003) predates both Facebook and Instagram, Formula Drift has lately become one of the hottest motorsports in the world. Its appeal is easy to understand.

“It’s the art of trying to control a car that’s out of control—and I think there’s something ultimately very sexy and exciting about that,” says Norwegian driver Fredric Aasbø, who leads the points for the Formula Drift championship going into the final event.

Attend any event and it’s quickly apparent why drifting is so enthralling. The volume from the 1,000-horsepower motors is bone-shaking and the whole experience is visceral.

Race car drivers standing on podium
THANANUWAT SRIRASANT

“You’re not watching it from far away. These things are in your face,” says Nick Gregson of Compton-based Antigravity Batteries. “You’re smelling all that burnt rubber and race gas. It just gets your adrenaline going.”

The fans are not only treated to the spectacle of the duels, but can also get up close and personal with the gladiators and their chariots. Any attendee can walk right though the pits, and most Drift drivers are surprisingly accessible—willing to give autographs or snap a photo. Pit crews are also happy to chat about their work and will occasionally even invite a fan to sit behind the wheel of one of the racers.

Unlike other series, a large number of Drift aficionados are serious enthusiasts with their own whips they take to the track. It’s a scene embraced by the tuner community, where you’re likely to pass fans in “Tuna, No Crust” T-shirts (a reference to The Fast and the Furious) and backpacks with straps made from racing harnesses. Along with typical merchandise like T-shirts and stickers, vendors also offer engine parts and mod kits.

“We’re really into drifting,” says Nick Martinez, who recently blew up his BMW 4 Series F32 on the freeway. Martinez was attending a qualifying session for the Autozone Streets of Long Beach with his friend and aspiring drift racer Jehad Asad, who rips laps in a 1992 Nissan 240SX. “I’m not trying to get us in trouble, but we really do like it—on and off professional tracks,” Martinez said. The pair, as do many others, comes to the track to feel the energy and thrill of the scene. “You never know what’s going to happen. It takes a lot of skill and attention to do what you gotta do here. That’s what I respect the most about it—it just takes some balls to do what they’re doing.”

The action draws more casual observers too. “I get the point of doing laps in traditional racing. It’s all for speed,” says Buffalo (just one name) from Orange County. “But for someone like me who knows dick about cars, this is way more interesting to watch.”

It’s easy to see why that’s true for both aspiring drifters and plain old racing fans drawn to something completely different. “We’d all love to be badasses behind the steering wheel,” says Aasbø. “Ask anyone.”

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

Source

December 3, 2021

Formula DRIFT Roars Back With 2022 Schedule

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , — admin @ 6:53 pm

Less than a couple weeks after the 2021 Formula DRIFT PRO and Link ECU PROSPEC Championships came to an end at Southern California’s historic Irwindale Speedway, the series has speedily announced its complete 2022 schedule.

The lineup includes eight (mostly familiar) locations for the PRO series—opening with the Streets of Long Beach (April 1-2) and culminating back at Irwindale for the finals on October 14-15. Other stops along the way include Atlanta, GA; Orlando, FL; Englishtown, NJ; Madison, IL; Monroe WA; and a new site for 2022—Utah Motorsports Park in Grantsville.

The PROSPEC series begins at Orlando Speed World (May 20-21) with stops in Englishtown, NJ, and Madison, IL, before its final round at Utah Motorsports Park on September 16-17.

“2021 was one of the most successful years in Formula DRIFT history!” says Ryan Sage, Formula DRIFT President. “Coming off 2020, which was challenging for everybody, we’re extremely grateful for the strength of support shown by the FD community—illustrating, once again, why Formula DRIFT is one of the fastest growing motorsports series in the world.”

One 2021 location missing from next year’s schedule is Erie Speedway.

“We were very impressed with our first event there, and look forward to returning in the future,” added Sage.

DRIFT fans can expect the same Knockout Qualifying Format from 2021 for this next season—which sees PRO and PROSPEC drivers running once on Friday with the bottom eight running a second elimination round. The main event on Saturday features the Top 32 battling it out for the win.

Both 2022 FD PRO and Link ECU PROSPEC Championships offer free online viewing on Formula DRIFT livestream—accessible via formulad.com as well as its social media and YouTube channels.

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

Source

September 28, 2021

Recap: Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Super Drift Events

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , — admin @ 8:29 pm

For fans of racing, last weekend’s Super Drift events were icing on the cake. They were part of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach weekend, a motorsport festival on the streets of Long Beach. And, along with the IndyCar main event, Formula DRIFT was putting on a show.

The Super Drift event here traces its history to 2005. That’s when Grand Prix organizers invited Formula DRIFT to put on a drift demo. The next year, a standalone event was created, and it’s been part of the Formula DRIFT schedule ever since.

The event is a little different, taking place on turns 9-11 on the Grand Prix track. Drivers race through heats until one winner remains. However, a condensed schedule means this isn’t a full Formula DRIFT event with 32 drivers. Instead, the Long Beach Super Drift event invites eight drivers to duke it out over two nights of competition.

Fans had a nice surprise on Friday night with the return of Forrest Wang in the Achilles Tire/Yellowspeed Racing/NRG Innovations Nissan. Wang has been absent from Formula DRIFT since the 2019 season. That’s also the year when he won both Super Drift rounds. This year, however, he didn’t take the top spot.

On the first night, Jeff Jones in the Jeff Jones Racing/GT Radial Nissan 370Z came out on top. He defeated Wang in the first round and, after a One More Time, eked past Justin Pawlak driving the Falken Tire Ford Mustang. Finally, Jones overtook Michael Essa in the FCP Euro/Liqui Moly/GT Radial BMW M3 in the final round.

On Saturday, it was Pawlak’s night to shine. After he beat Essa in the first round, the speed of Pawlak’s Mustang was too much for Wang in the Final 4. An all-Mustang final versus Trenton Beechum in the Clonex Racing/Nexen Tire Ford Mustang did not come to pass, as Beechum had car problems that left him in the pits. All that was left was a victory lap for Pawlak.

Next up for Formula DRIFT PRO and Link ECU PROSPEC championships is the final round at the Irwindale Speedway on October 22-23.

For more information on schedule, tickets, and drivers, visit formulad.com.

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

Source

August 26, 2021

Formula DRIFT PRO and PROSPEC Head to St. Louis

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , — admin @ 12:00 pm

With only three rounds remaining in the 2021 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship, the title chase is heating up as we head toward the Final round in Irwindale, CA, at the end of October.

Round 6: Crossroads brings the teams to familiar territory at the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, IL—a mere six miles from the famous Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

With 100 points available for the winner of each round, 32 of the 33 FD PRO drivers have a mathematical chance of winning. But in reality, the 2021 FD PRO Champion will almost certainly emerge from the top six drivers, who are all within 105 points of current leader Chelsea DeNofa (USA) in the BC Racing / Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D.

Despite three wins from five rounds, DeNofa is only one point clear of second place Matt Field (USA) in the Falken Tire / Drift Cave Chevrolet Corvette. Both drivers have been incredibly consistent this season, managing to deliver blistering acceleration from their circa 1000hp missiles, while drifting with controlled aggression between unforgiving walls.

Four of the top six drivers have yet to claim an FD PRO Championship title, making them especially hungry, willing to put everything on the line. But let’s not discount the experience of 2015 FD Champion Fredric Aasbo (Norway) and his potent Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota GR Supra. The Norwegian is currently third, always a threat, and has to be respected.

The same applies to sixth place Vaughn Gittin Jr (USA). As the team leader to DeNofa, Gittin’s Monster Energy Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D is more powerful than the majority of his competitors, and with two titles under his belt from 2010 and 2020, the reigning champ loves to ruin the day for his rivals.

For all the top drivers, success and failure are a whisker away as they attempt to run fast, hard, and uncomfortably close to each other, risking everything for the win. And as the pressure mounts, small mistakes can be brutally punished by the walls expectantly waiting to wreck aspirations in a fraction of a second.

PROSPEC

For the 2021 Formula DRIFT PROSPEC Championship, Round 3 in St. Louis represents the start of the second half of the four-round season. The teams had a six-week summer break to fix, fettle, and fine-tune their vehicles. As the feeder series for the PRO Championship, PROSPEC cars tend to be less powerful, averaging around 600hp. The drivers tend to be less experienced, cutting their teeth on concrete walls before moving up to FD PRO. However, less horsepower and experience doesn’t mean a lack of excitement or commitment. If anything, the PROSPEC drivers have more to prove and will do what it takes to catch the eye of the bigger teams and sponsors.

The Championship currently has two drivers on the same 180 points, led by reigning Champion, Dmitriy Brutskiy (Belarus) who drives the Essa Autosport / ISC Suspension BMW E46. As the 2020 title winner, Brutskiy had the opportunity to join the PRO Championship but decided to remain in PROSPEC and develop his skills. That decision has paid off but he needs to remain consistent to rise above joint leader, Nick Noback (USA) in the KoruWorks BMW E46. However, Noback fully intends to win the title himself, meaning both men need to score points this weekend to take the fight to the Final round in Irwindale.

With two Championship rounds taking place this weekend, fans can satisfy their drift craving as the competition runs late into the night. Visit formulad.com for ticket sales to join what will be a capacity crowd, if the previous 2021 rounds are any indicator of the popularity of the series.

Fans unable to attend can log onto the free-to-view Formula DRIFT livestream. Broadcasts are available for both qualifying and competition heats at every round, and are available via the Formula DRIFT website, the FD YouTube page, or FD Facebook page. Visit the website for the event schedule.

Formula DRIFT is an all-weather, high-horsepower, high-speed sport. Drivers qualify in cars that typically have more than 1000hp, for a position in the Top 32 elimination heats. Drivers drift the course in pairs during competition, with points awarded for angle, line, and style, where proximity and speed are the key ingredients. Teams from around the globe compete in Formula DRIFT, which is the premier drift series in the world.

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

Source

July 28, 2021

2021 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship hits halfway point in Seattle this weekend

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , — admin @ 12:00 pm

Formula DRIFT is an all-weather, high-horsepower, full-speed sport. Drivers qualify in cars that typically have more than 1000hp for a position in the Top 32 elimination heats. Drivers drift the course in pairs during competition, with points awarded for angle, line and style, where proximity and speed are the key ingredients. Teams from around the globe compete in Formula DRIFT, which is the premier drift series in the world.

With the second half of the 2021 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship season beginning this weekend at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA, you could throw a blanket over the top five drivers—that’s how close the competition is. Those racers are only separated by 76 points after four rounds. And with 100 points available for each win, now is the time for somebody to try and extend their lead or double down and catch up with the leaders.

 

The current leader in the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship, Matt Field (USA) driving the Falken Tire/Drift Cave Chevrolet Corvette, had his advantage eroded to 19 points at the previous round in Erie, PA. His strongest challenger is Chelsea DeNofa (USA), who’s the only driver to win two rounds this year, thanks to victories at Round 2 (Orlando) and Round 4 (Erie).

DeNofa has always been a major force within the FD PRO Championship, driving the BC Racing/Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D with aggression and precision. However, he’s never won at Evergreen Speedway, so he’ll have a point to prove to himself and his competitors.

Evergreen Speedway has been on the Formula DRIFT schedule since 2006 and draws a knowledgeable, enthusiastic crowd, which makes it a favorite venue for the drivers. And while the veterans have plenty of experience on the course, the unpredictable Seattle weather could throw another wrench in the works. With rain affecting the previous two rounds—Formula DRIFT runs rain or shine—vehicle durability and reliability has played a bigger part than usual as the slick surface punishes more drivers than a dry event.

As with the previous round, FD SEA will only see the PRO Championship teams take to the track. The Link ECU PROSPEC drivers are on a break until the end of August when both PRO and PROSPEC will run at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, IL, on August 27 and 28.

If you live in the Seattle area and want to visit Round 5: Crossroads, tickets are still available. But be warned, all the rounds have been capacity events this season, so visit formulad.com/schedule for ticket purchase, event details, and itinerary information while they’re still available.

The halfway point in the 2021 season is a great time to start watching Formula DRIFT—either in person at one of the remaining four rounds, or on the free-to-view livestream. The broadcasts are available for both qualifying and competition heats at every round, available via the Formula DRIFT website, the FD YouTube page, or FD Facebook page.

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

Source

July 13, 2021

Chelsea Denofa Wins Inaugural Formula Drift Pro Round at Lake Erie Speedway

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 5:12 pm

The hot new Formula DRIFT racing series is still blazing with round four of the Pro Championship debuting at the refreshed Lake Erie Speedway in North East, PA. American Chelsea DeNofa won after pressuring the overall points leader Matt Field in the No. 777 Chevrolet Corvette to over-correct through the sweeping Outside Zone 2 turn, leading to an unfortunate off-track excursion.


 

DeNofa—in the BC Racing/Nitto Tire/Ford Mustang—was able to mount the top spot on the podium after the overall race leader, Norwegian Fredric Aasbo in the Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota GR Supra, was disqualified when failing to fix a broken rear suspension in the allotted time out for repairs.

DeNofa’s teammate Vaughn Gittin Jr., in the Monster Energy Ford Mustang, previously lost to Aasbo, driving the Rockstar Energy Drink Toyota GR Supra, after over-rotating in Outside Zone 3, droning the second semi-final, which forced him to lift and straighten, ending his drift. DeNofa, as the first driver to win two rounds this year, shot up from fourth in the Formula DRIFT Pro Championship rankings to second behind Field, who now has a narrow 19-point lead.

“I’d actually been here about 13 years ago, so it was cool to see the track layout from behind the wheel of an insanely well set-up car,“ DeNofa said after the podium ceremony. “I didn’t know what to expect but the fans were amazing, packed in, tuned-in to everything—they were pumped to have us here and we were pumped to be at the track.”

Round 5 Up Next


With Aasbo finishing second, he held onto third place in the FD PRO Championship, while Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis (Lithuania) in the Falken Tire/Feal Suspension Nissan S15 dropped to fourth. Top rookie finisher was Josh Reynolds (USA) who put his Drift Force/Nexen Tire F22 Eurofighter BMW into 19th place.

Jim Liaw, Formula DRIFT president, said after the race that, “We’re very happy to have added this amazing facility in the Great Lakes area to the 2021 Formula DRIFT schedule. The crowd came from across the Mid-West and Eastern Seaboard, and we’re hoping to see Canadian visitors once the borders open up. We’ve built a great foundation here for years to come in terms of the close competition we can expect and engagement with the fans. I really hope they enjoyed the inaugural Formula DRIFT event at Lake Erie Speedway—it certainly looked as if they did—and we have tremendous opportunities to grow from here.”

The New Course

The 3/8-mile oval Lake Erie Speedway is popular with local drift racers, but was totally new to the majority of Formula DRIFT Pro drivers. To ensure high-speed action, Formula DRIFT created a new course layout for the teams, providing three sweeping Outside Zones that rewarded smoothness while allowing the spectators to enjoy the close proximity of the cars during the tandem competition runs.

“I really hope they enjoyed the inaugural Formula DRIFT event at Lake Erie Speedway—it certainly looked as if they did—and we have tremendous opportunities to grow from here,” Liaw added. “We’ll evaluate how everything went and see how we can make the 2022 event even stronger!”

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

Source

May 17, 2021

Watch the Formula DRIFT Competition Heat Up at Orlando Speed World

Filed under: Fitness — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 6:47 pm

Formula DRIFT—America’s fastest-growing motorsport—heads to Orlando Speed World on May 21-22 for the second round of the premier PRO Championship and the first round of the PROSPEC Championship.


 

Many of the PRO teams didn’t get to return home after a punishing opening round at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on May 7-8. With almost six months elapsing since the end of the 2021 season, Round 1 saw some teams overcome technical issues, as the drivers were thrown in the deep end with the challenging Road Atlanta drift course, making it an extremely exciting weekend.

The event was won by fan favorite, Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis (Lithuania), driving his V8-powered Falken Tires/Feal Suspension Nissan S15. Second place went to Matt Field (USA) in the Falken Tire/Drift Cave Chevrolet Corvette in an incredibly hard fought Final, which saw these close friends repeat their runs before the judges could separate them.

With Nitto Tire dominating the 2020 season, it was interesting to see the two Falken Tire competitors rise to the top. However, third place went to 2010 reigning FD PRO Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr (USA). The title defense began in his Nitto-shod 1200hp Monster Energy Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-D, and with all five of the Formula DRIFT tire suppliers represented by the Top 16 drivers, rubber will continue to play an important part in the sport.


The uninitiated might assume tire performance isn’t that important in a motorsport series defined by wheel spin and smoking tires, but they couldn’t be more wrong. The drivers need consistently high levels of grip to perform the maneuvers, particularly when they transition from one direction to another. With higher steering angles than conventional race cars, Formula DRIFT drivers depend on front grip to tackle the course and massive horsepower to overcome the rear grip, getting the wheels spinning in order to slide through the turns.

With most Formula DRIFT cars developing more than 1000hp, every qualifying run and competition heat is an assault on the senses—screaming engines, cars sliding door-to-door, smoke filling the air. This is what attracted a capacity crowd to Road Atlanta for the opening round after fans had been heavily restricted throughout the 2020 season. And fans will next flock to Orlando Speed World on May 21-22, where attendees will not only witness the PRO teams dance with the devil, but witness the opening round of the 2021 FD Link ECU PROSPEC Championship.

PROSPEC is a feeder series for the PRO Championship, allowing up-and-coming drivers to learn the skills to compete at the highest level. Most PROSPEC cars have slightly less power but are no less spectacular to watch. And for the new drivers in both categories, Orlando will be their first experience of a banked track. The banking creates a unique challenge, as drivers have to apply more power to climb the bank, then control the speed as they accelerate off it, all while maintaining a consistent drift inches from the door of another car.

The banked Orlando track gives the best drivers the chance to shine, so we’ll see which of the FD ATL teams continue their momentum, and who rises to the top.

Visit the Formula DRIFT website for event details, ticket purchases, COVID requirements, and more. If you can’t attend in person but want to catch the action, Formula DRIFT has an extremely popular free-to-view livestream broadcast. Available for both Friday qualifying and Saturday elimination heats, the livestream is available via the Formula DRIFT website, the FD YouTube page, or FD Facebook page.

Formula DRIFT is an all-weather event: A wet track won’t stop the drivers and adds another variable to keep everybody guessing who will win. Rain or shine, we send it!

For access to exclusive gear videos, celebrity interviews, and more, subscribe on YouTube!

Source

Powered by WordPress