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Race report
Formula Drift Long Beach

Formula Drift Round 6: Rookie Masashi Yokoi is victorious

Japanese rookie Masashi Yokoi in the D-MAX Nissan S15 earns his first Formula DRIFT victory.

Masashi Yokoi
Michael Essa
Fredric Aasbo and Masashi Yokoi
Chris Forsberg
Chris Forsberg
Chris Forsberg
Ken Gushi
Ken Gushi
Daigo Saito
Kenneth Moen
Daigo Saito
Fredric Aasbo
Drift action
Ken Gushi
Ken Gushi
Kenneth Moen and Matt Powers
Daigo Saito
Drift action

Long Beach, Calif. – Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro returned to Texas Motor Speedway for Round 6: Showdown. Japanese rookie Masashi Yokoi in the D-MAX Nissan S15 earns his first Formula DRIFT victory. The championship will be determined at the Series finale on October 10.

Round 6: Showdown was an action packed event weekend. The new course configuration at Texas Motor Speedway proved to be challenging and highly competitive for the drivers. With only one event remaining in the 2015 season a champion will be crowned at the season finale at Irwindale Speedway.

I wanted to come out and show the Japanese style of driving and really worked hard in the tandem battles,

Masashi Yokoi

“Texas has some of the most diehard fans as they braved the heat to see the action through the weekend and were rewarded with intense drifting action,” said Jim Liaw, President of Formula DRIFT. “With only one event remaining, the season will come to climatic conclusion to end a remarkable year.”

Points leader and number one qualifier, Fredric Aasbo lost in the Great 8 opening the chase for the championship up to the rest of the field. Aasbo will head into the championship with a considerable lead of 80 points. The semi-finals had Daigo Saito in the Achilles Radial Nissan GT-R face against his close friend Ken Gushi in the GReddy Performance / Hankook Tire Scion FR-S. Gushi was able to outdrive his opponent on his way to his second podium of the season. Yokoi battled Chris Forsberg in the NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z. Yokoi beat the former champion to head into the Finals. The Finals were close with the rookie Yokoi being awarded the win by the judges for his first podium and victory in Formula DRIFT. Gushi’s second place finish moves him into second place overall.

“I wanted to come out and show the Japanese style of driving and really worked hard in the tandem battles,” said Masashi Yokoi, winner of Round 6: Showdown. “In the end I wasn’t able to show everything that I wanted, but I’m really happy to get the victory.”

The 2015 Formula DRIFT Pro Championship season will conclude at Round 7: Final Fight at Irwindale Speedway on October 9-10.

Round 6: Showdown event results

1. Yokoi, Masashi D-Max Nissan S15 Silvia Winner
2. Gushi, Ken GReddy Racing / Hankook Tire Scion Racing FR-S 2nd Place
3. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Hankook Tire Nissan 370Z 3rd Place
4. Saito, Daigo Achilles Radial Nissan GT-R 4th Place
5. Aasbo, Fredric Rockstar Energy Drink / Hankook Scion tC 5th Place
6. Moen, Kenny Bridges Racing / Achilles / Gatebil Nissan S14 6th Place
7. Hohnadell, Alec 11 Racing Nissan S14 7th Place
8. Yoshihara, Dai Falken Tire / Turn 14 Distribution Subaru BRZ 8th Place
9. Whiddett, Mike RedBull / Mobil 1 Mazda “Radbul” 9th Place
10. Tuerck, Ryan Ryan Tuerck Racing / Retaks / Maxxis Scion FR-S 10th Place
11. Wang, Forrest Get Nuts Lab Nissan S15 11th Place
12. Kearney, Dean Oracle Lighting / Achilles Motorsports Dodge Viper 12th Place
13. Bluss, Kristaps HGK Motorsport BMW 3 Series 13th Place
14. Evans, James SIKKY Racing Nissan 350Z 14th Place
15. Ng, Charles Maxxis / Sparkplugs.com / Speedhunters Infiniti G37 15th Place
16. Castro, Jhonnattan E3 / Hankook / Progresso Nissan 350Z 16th Place

Standings after six rounds

1. Aasbo, Fredric Rockstar Energy Drink / Hankook Scion tC 428.00 Points
2. Gushi, Ken GReddy Racing / Hankook Tire Scion Racing FR-S 348.00 Points
3. Tuerck, Ryan Ryan Tuerck Racing / Retaks / Maxxis Scion FR-S 332.00 Points

Manufacturers Championship standings after six rounds

1. Scion 924.00 Points  
2. Nissan 555.00 Points  
3. Ford 447.00 Points  
4. Chevrolet 337.00 Points  
5. Mazda 248.00 Points  
6. Infiniti 211.00 Points  
7. Dodge 204.00 Points  
8. BMW 157.00 Points  
9. Toyota 123.00 Points

Tire Championship standings after six rounds

1. Hankook 905.00 Points  
2. Achilles 643.00 Points  
3. Nitto 570.00 Points  
4. Yokohama 569.00 Points  
5. Falken 557.00 Points  
6. Maxxis 470.00 Points  
7. GT Radial 302.00 Points

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