EVENT: Formula D Round 5: Throwdown: Part II

I always look forward to Formula Drift every year and it keeps getting better every year. The sport itself has grown a lot in Washington in the past year and having a sellout stadium shows that we here in the northwest love drifting!

Local driver Walker Wilkerson and his much talked about Nissan S13, one of my favorite cars at FD this year.

After a long day of shooting day 1, I spent the night with friends, at the house of Driver Roland Gallagher and Nikki Miguel, both great drivers and Nikki being the only other girl competing in the upcoming XDC Extreme Drift Circuit coming to the local Pacific Grand Prix track. Coffee was a must that morning.

Drivers Erich Hagen and Kyle Pollard also spent the night with some of their pit crews, and spent the morning with some good conversation before heading out to the track.

This is the scene in the early morning, before the crowds rolled in. Everything is silent and empty except for the sound of practice sessions tire burning continuing on before the main event. What was thought to be a rainy forecast turned into a fantastic weekend

Day 2 started out with more practice, and I was able to get to this sweet spot looking down from the entry point to the 5/8th bank. Matt Powers and his Team Need for Speed Nitto Tires S14 and Cyrus Martinez in his Megan Racing 240SX.

Dean Kearney and his 2008, VLEDs Federal Tire Dodge Viper SRT-10 knows how to bring the smoke, as he shows here coming down toward the end of the run.

This is a fun spot for photographers, the concrete box that juts out into the track, only part of the track you cant see too well is the 5/8th bank, and thats quite a walk, EXACTLY why I left halfway through the event to buy a scooter at the store down the street from the track, just to get around on!

Vaughn Gittin Jr. and his Monster Energy Falken Tire Ford Mustang pulling ahead during one of many great runs he put down.

As the afternoon started turning into dusk, the sun setting behind the grandstands lit of the track in this fantastic warm light.

Rhys Millen and his Redbull/Hankok Tires Hyundai Genesis going against Kyle Mohan and his Nexen Tire Mazdatrix KMR, and tapping just a bit.

Kyle Mohan showing the crowd how to put out some smoke, Notice that last strip of sun still showing.

One of the final battles between Chris Forsberg and Rhys before the RedBull Genesis was knocked out.

Fredric Aasbo and his Team Need for Speed Scion Tc took third place after a fantastic run, and that left Forsberg and Dai to battle it out to the finish.

It was close, both drivers putting out their best and getting the most bumper to bumper id seen all day.

Props to Chris and his new NOS Energy Drink Nissan 370Z, you looked awesome out there taking 2nd place, but in the end Dai took first place.

Chris Forsberg, Daijiro Yoshihara, and Fredric Aasbo posing after taking the podium standings.

Formula DRIFT Professional Championship 2011 Point Standings after 5 Rounds
1. Yoshihara, Daijiro	Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13	412 Points
2. Pawlak, Justin	Falken Tire Ford Mustang	397 Points
3. Forsberg, Chris	NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z	369 Points
4. McNamara, Darren	Falken Tire Pontiac Saturn Sky	345.50 Points
5. Powers, Matt	Need for Speed Nissan S14	328.50 Points
6. McQuarrie, Tyler	Falken Tire Nissan 350Z	317 Points
7. Tuerck, Ryan	Gardella Racing / Mobil 1 Chevrolet Camaro	308 Points
8. Grunewald, Conrad	Hankook Tire Chevy Camaro	300 Points
9. Gittin, Vaughn	Monster Energy / Falken Ford Mustang	291 Points
10.. Mohan, Kyle	Nexen Tire / Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8	266 Points
11. Aasbo, Fredric	Need for Speed / Hankook Scion TC	250 Points
12. Yoshioka, Toshiki	Retaks Nissan S13	238.25 Points
16. Millen, Rhys	Red Bull / Hankook Hyundai Genesis Coupe	207 Points
14. Gushi, Ken	RS*R / Hankook / Scion Racing TC	188.75 Points
15. Bakchis, Aurimas	Bakchis Racing / Forged Racing Nissan 240SX	185.50 Points
16. Wilkerson, Walker	Fatlace / Intec Racing Nissan 240	185 Points
Round 5: Throwdown Event Results
1. Yoshihara, Daijiro	Falken Tire / Discount Tire Nissan 240SX	Winner
2. Forsberg, Chris	NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z	Second Place
3. Aasbo, Fredric	Need for Speed / Hankook Scion TC	Third Place
Tires.com Triple Crown (after 2 of 3 events)
1. Yoshihara, Daijiro	Discount Tire / Falken Tire Nissan S13	212 Points
2. Forsberg, Chris	NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z	153 Points
3. McNamara, Darren	Falken Tire Pontiac Saturn Sky	144.50 Points