LAS VEGAS, NV (July 13, 2009) – Facing serious challenges from both competitors and the weather, Team Falken put on a valiant effort, but when it rolled the dice at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Round 4 of the demanding Formula Drift competition, the team managed to make the Semi-Finals with Falken’s Tyler McQuarrie losing to eventual overall winner Tanner Foust. McQuarrie placed fourth.
Falken tires were on five of the cars that qualified for the top 32. Daijiro Yoshihara, driving the much improved Lexus IS350, was the best qualifier in 5th, but slid into the barrier as he led his round. While the damage was cosmetic, he was unable to move forward. Three team members would advance to the top 16 – McQuarrie, privateer Ross Petty and Gittin. Unfortunately, Gittin suffered a cut tire due to debris as he started the next round, forcing him to make major corrections to his line while he competed on his three remaining Azenis RT615 tires. McQuarrie defeated Michael Essa to move to the Top 4, and after losing to Foust, battled Chris Forsberg for third, but was unable to take the win.
Valiant efforts were undertaken by all, and Team Falken remains with three drivers in the top six positions. Overall standings now place Gittin in fourth, McQuarrie, fifth, and McNamara in sixth. Team Falken will head north by northwest when Formula D meets the “Breaking Point” at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA, for Round 5, August 7-8.
