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2015 Formula Drift New Jersey
BY Kyle Crawford //
July 2, 2015
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Entering Wall Stadium Speedway in Wall, NJ on the morning of Formula Drift, you’re greeted by a sensory overload of tire smoke, loud revving engines, and colorful vendor booths. With practice time incorporated into the pre-race schedule, fans can listen as they anticipate their entrance into the speedway. Inside the guardrails lining the 1/3-mile oval track have seen better days, making it the perfect setting for the chaos brought with the 4th round of the Formula Drift series.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

The weather forecast for the weekend had rain predicted on both Friday and Saturday, however the morning of qualifying was littered with sunshine.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

All of the teams were busy getting as many practice runs as they could before the dry track conditions disappeared.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Dave Briggs would unfortunately crash with the guardrail later in the day causing some problems with the Briggs Racing S14.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Some tandem practice runs took place, though drivers kept their distance from each other, in an effort to prevent collisions. Illustrated here by Dai Yoshihara in the Turn 14 Distribution BRZ and Kristaps Bluss in the HGK Motorsport E46.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Drivers lined up next to the pits and vendor area as they awaited their lap out on the course for qualifying.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

The opening corner has a 30º bank and the judged clipping point rests atop the guardrail at the very end of the turn. This makes the cars navigate on the edge of grip, just inches from a barrier ready to ruin their day.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Daigo Saito in the Achilles Radial Nissan GT-R showing why it’s called the “clipping point” as he rubs his bumper along the railing.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Following the turn down the bank to flat ground, comes the transitional clipping point where the drivers must switch direction as the suspension unsettles while recording their fastest speeds on the course.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Smokescreen engage! Alec Hohnadell lit up the first turn and transition in his Magnuson Supercharged LS3 S14.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Ryan Tuerck looked ready for competition at his hometrack in the Retaks Scion FRS.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Due to the relatively small amount of open real estate at the Wall Stadium Speedway, there is no sponsored car show that takes place. However, you can always find some great builds inside the vendor booths that populate the paddock area. Like this grey Varis widebody equipped BRZ at the Takata booth, sporting some bronze Volk Racing ZE40 wheels.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Another car with bronze Volk Racing ZE40 wheels was this Midnight Purple R34 Skyline with Nismo Z-Tune fenders at the Borg Warner booth.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Not what Subaru intended for this car, but this low Baja XT at the Airlift Suspension booth sat so perfectly on Work VS-XX wheels.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

The E-Shift Performance booth housed two very different cars yet both had their own great features. First was this sleek black R32 Skyline with BBS LM wheels and Bride seats.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

They also had this unique SUV, a Mercedes-Benz GLA45 AMG sitting low on a set of Advan GT wheels.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

This red Nissan GT-R clad in APR aero was tucking some Volk Racing TE37 Ultra wheels under the fender arches at the Rays Wheels booth.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

The weather was much less satisfactory on race day with rain clouds looming overtop and thunderstorm warnings in the forecast.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

The steady light rain could be described as spitting all day, as the teams tried to lock in car setups on the damp track before the Round of 32.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

The first battle saw Nate Hamilton in the Enjuku Racing 240sx lose his bumper mid-drift against Ken Gushi in the Greddy Racing FRS, and Ken would take the win.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Michael Essa tried to keep the SLP Performance Chevy Camaro steady as the suitable conditions faded, but would be edged out by Pat Goodin in the Enjuku Racing S13.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

By the start of the Top 16, the continuing rain had picked up intensity. Bringing with it the appearance of umbrellas and ponchos in the stands.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Although he had failed to advance to the Top 16, Vaughn Gittin Jr. and the Ford Performance “Ultimate Funhaver” F-150 put on a show for the fans.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Watching the drivers skate across the road surface, it was clear the slick track conditions were throwing a curveball they hadn’t prepared for.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Matt Field couldn’t keep the CXRacing S14 from spinning, advancing Gushi into the Top 8.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

There were small spells of no precipitation allowing the track to dry momentarily between some runs.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Masashi Yokoi in the D-Max S15 Silvia took some bumps from Justin Pawlak in the Roush Performance Mustang, and kept going to advance on.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Unfortunately, the skies would open once again just before finals.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

The next tandem battles would require solo practice runs to test conditions before competition runs.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

With torrential rain on the way, the FD staff kept the show moving along. Squeezing the final bout between Dean “Karnage” Kearney, and Fredric Aasbø just before the track became flooded.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Aasbø in the Rockstar Energy Scion TC would seal his win by using what little grip was available to stick to the Oracle Lighting Dodge Viper’s door in the final run.

2015 Formula Drift New Jersey

Having now been at the top of the podium in 2 of the first 4 rounds, only 7 points separate Aasbø from the current points leader of the series.


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