Formula Drift Round 6 Infineon Raceway - Cali Smoke

Subarus are rare in the drift circuit. Podium position is even more rare. At this Formula D event, Eric O'Sullivan managed second place with his WRX. While Stephan Verdier and his Cooper Tires/Crawford Performance Subaru WRX STI took the first place trophy. "This is a dream come true. My first victory after three years of competition and it is also the first victory for a Subaru and Cooper Tires. I'm number one and it's a great feeling." If you've ever met the Frenchman, you'd know Verdier is very passionate about drift and rally racing. I actually met Verdier on a Hyundai Genesis press trip where Verdier gave me lessons on how to drift, and I must say his victory is long overdue. He is a very methodical and calculated driver.

At the last event in Seattle, Dai Yoshihara crashed one of the most badass sounding Lexus IS I've ever heard. The car is so FUBAR'd that salvage yards from Fontana wouldn't be able to repair it. With very little time between Round 5 and Round 6, Falken Tire had to quickly come up with a new car for Dai if they wanted to finish the season. Ross Petty's old Falken S13 was quickly sent out to SPD Metal Works to be brought back into commission. Scott Dodgion of SPD Metal Works and that team finished the car at 4AM that morning, and then trailored the car six hours right to the start of Round 6. With no real testing or seat time in the new car, Dai managed to come into the Top 32, and then to the Top 16, where he landed in ninth place. Dai says, "Although I didn't make it past the Top 16 round, I am extremely happy as this was a major accomplishment for me this year. I am very thankful towards SPD for building me a car only in nine days, I only wish I did better for them. I am also thankful towards Falken and Discount Tire for believing in me and allowing SPD to build me another car."

There's only one more event for the season. And although Chris Forsberg has the lead in points, we don't know who will take the championship for the season. Even more interesting will be the second and third place battle. There are about four others that are within about 15 points from each other. We can't wait until Round 7 when Formula D comes back to the "House of Drift" in Southern California.