National Drifting series invades Palm Beach on Memorial Day weekend

Jupiter, Fla. (May 15, 2013) North America’s Professional Drifting Championship Series, Formula DRIFT, returns to Palm Beach International Raceway Mary 31 & June 1 for Round 3: Invasion. The competition will feature nearly one hundred racers drifting on the road course, sliding their cars at speeds over one hundred miles per hour for motorsports’ best example of extreme car-control driving. After last year’s sell out event, PBIR has brought in additional grandstands to accompany the expected 16,000 spectators over the weekend.

The two-day competition starts on Friday and continues through Saturday evening. Two levels of drifting professionals will take to the track where they will be judged based on their drifting style and execution. The Formula DRIFT Series is comprised of professional drifters from throughout the world to compete in seven rounds at various racetracks and street courses. Once an underground event, now a national phenomenon, drifting has become extremely popular attracting a younger generation of motorsport fans with its freestyle nature.

Drifting is a high powered, high skilled motorsport where professional drivers intentionally maneuver their cars into executed controlled sideways sliding at high speeds through a marked course, challenging the drivers ability and control. In this racing series, engine and body modification become second to driving skill. Drivers are judged on execution and style, rather than who finishes the course in the fastest time. Drivers will drift on Palm Beach International Raceway’s road course on turns 1 and 4 in reverse, which has proved to be the most challenging course yet in the national series.

This year Palm Beach International Raceway will be giving one lucky fan the ultimate drifting experience including: a ride-along with a professional drifter to experience the rush of a car sliding at one hundred miles per hour around the track, a family four pack of tickets to Formula DRIFT on Friday and Saturday night and Formula DRIFT gear. To win the ultimate Formula DRIFT experience, go to Palm Beach International Raceway’s Facebook page to enter to win.

Burger Bar in Palm Beach Gardens will welcome the series back to South Florida with a burgers and beer kickoff party on Thursday May 30 9:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. Before all the drifting action goes down at PBIR, Burger Bar has joined forces with BizSpeed to host an imports car show and meet and greet with the professional drifters.

After the success of last year’s kickoff, Burger Bar has decided to offer their guests and drift fans a $10 “Burger and Beer” Meal Deal special outside in the car show. Additional specials for the Formula DRIFT kickoff party include: $5 burger sliders inside, $2 Miller Lite and Yuengling drafts and half off all drinks for ladies. Burger Bar will give its customers exclusive access to meet the top drifters in the series before they hit the track that weekend.

During the evening fans will also have a chance to win Formula DRIFT tickets, enjoy a live DJ and party with the PBIR Pit Crew Girls. Palm Beach International Raceway will be giving away 10 pairs of full event admission tickets to those who register to win with the PBIR Pit Crew Girls. The DJ will announce the winners at 10:00 p.m.

Formula DRIFT’s Round 3: Invasion will kick off Friday, May 31, gates will open to the public at 12:00 p.m. for drifting trials and qualifying. Gates will open at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, for the final rounds and awards ceremony. Tickets are available for advance purchase online on PBIR’s website at RACEPBIR.com. All tickets are general admission based on a first-come, first-serve seating starting at $27 for Saturday admission and $30 for Full Event admission (Friday & Saturday.) The competition will run rain or shine. For more information on the series please go to FormulaD.com or on Facebook.com/FormulaDRIFT.

The Formula DRIFT kickoff party will be 9:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. on Thursday May 30, at Burger Bar, 4650 Donald Ross Rd., Palm Beach Gardens, FL (20 minutes from Palm Beach International Raceway).

Palm Beach International Raceway