JUPITER, FL – June 4, 2011 – Thousands of fans invaded the road course at Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR) this weekend for the first-ever Formula DRIFT Championship event at the south Florida track.  Crowds were on their feet to watch the Top 32 drivers compete side-by-side in the tandem elimination rounds until one driver was named Formula DRIFT – Round 3: Invasion Champion.

Saturday’s competition intensified as the Top 32 cars pared down to the final two.  It was a battle of the Ford Mustangs as Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Justin Pawlak fought for the PBIR title.  In the end, the judges named Pawlak the event champion.  This marks Pawlak’s second win of the 2011 season; his first win was the opening race at Long Beach. Darren McNamara rounded out the podium in third place.

“South Florida race fans were part of history this weekend as Formula DRIFT made its debut at Palm Beach International Raceway,” said Jason Rittenberry, President and CEO, PBIR.  “As the ‘Invasion’ city on the Formula DRIFT tour, this event aligns with our plans to expand the range of events we have at PBIR.  Thanks to our fans for coming out to the track this weekend and for being part of the inaugural Formula DRIFT event.”

During the tandem elimination rounds at PBIR, drivers accelerated on the front stretch exceeding speeds 100 miles per hour and entered the first turn nearly backwards.  Sliding and smoking tires inches apart, the tandem cars drifted in front of the packed grandstands before making one final turn near the judging tower.  Each pair of drivers made two passes during the tandem rounds unless the judges were undecided in their ruling.  The judges would rule “one more time” for several pairs and once that ruling was declared, the crowdcheered even louder.

The next event at Palm Beach International Raceway takes place on Friday, June 10.  The sixth installment of the 2011 Midnight Madness is a two-fold event, test and tuners take to PBIR’s quarter-mile drag strip while amateur drifters help transform PBIR’s road course into a drifting circuit.  Drag racers looking for the ultimate challenge can participate in the ‘Beat the Heat’ segment of the test and tune.

Formula DRIFT – Round 3: Invasion

Podium Results

1. Justin Pawlak
2. Vaughn Gittin Jr.
3. Darren McNamara

About Formula DRIFT

Entering its eighth season, Formula DRIFT is recognized as North American's professional drifting championship series. As the first official series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life and establishes itself as the worldwide leader for the Sport. This high-skilled, high-powered motor sport where drivers intentionally maneuver their cars into well executed, controlled sideways slides at high speeds through a marked course, has professional drivers & teams competing in seven championship competitions in 2011.

Judged on execution and style, rather than who finishes the course in the fastest time, Drifting is a guaranteed crowd pleaser, and is often compared to the freestyle nature of skateboarding and motocross.  For more information, visit www.formlad.com

About Palm Beach International Raceway

Palm Beach International Raceway is a state-of-the-art venue and one of the most popular raceways in the country for racers and spectators alike. As a leader in its operating form and function, PBIR seeks to provide its drivers with a higher level of challenge, excellence and opportunity. PBIR boasts three completely refurbished, exceptionally designed tracks, including a high-performance road course, an all-concrete drag strip and a 7/10’s mile karting track and new karting center. The technologically superior two-mile road course features some of the fastest and most challenging corners and straight-aways offered by any track in North America. PBIR is sanctioned by the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and is pending certification by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body for many major racing events. For more information on PBIR, please visit www.RacePBIR.com.

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