Long Beach, Calif. – The Formula DRIFT Championship presented by Circuit City entered the Toyota Speedway at Irwindale for Round 7: “Final Fight”. Formula DRIFT history was made tonight as Vaughn Gittin, Jr. won his first Formula DRIFT event ever and Tanner Foust was announced the first Formula DRIFT back to back champion. Rhys Millen also won his second Tires.com Triple Crown bonus prize in his career.

Coming into the last event of the Pro Championship series, Round 7: Final Fight saw history take place with Vaughn Gittin, Jr. and his Falken Tires / Ford Racing Mustang battle for his first Formula DRIFT victory ever. Gittin bested Champion Tanner Foust and his Rockstar / AEM Nissan 350 in the final head-to-head battle.

“It has been a season of ups and downs for me and there isn’t a better way to put it behind! Thanks to all my fans and sponsors for supporting me,” said Vaughn Gittin, Jr., Formula DRIFT Round 7: Final Fight winner. “We are coming out swinging with a 2010 Falken Tire / Ford Mustang for the 2009 season.”

Leading the Castrol SYNTEC Power Cup points standings coming into this event, champion Tanner Foust looked to win his 2nd championship in back to back years. By finishing in second place at this event, Foust secured the championship in the Great 8 round.

Point Standing after the jump

“We started 2008 with a 2-year old car and with the help of Rockstar we made it strong enough to keep up with the competition,” said 2-time Formula DRIFT champion Tanner Foust. “Honestly I can hardly believe that I am part of Formula DRIFT history and it is an amazing honor.”

The Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, also known as the “House of Drift”, played host to an energetic sell-out crowd that also witnessed Rhys Millen and his Red Bull Pontiac Solstice, take home a second Tires.com Triple Crown bonus prize of $10,000, a custom Fender guitar, and a hand blown glass trophy. Millen watched from the sidelines as he barely edged out Michihiro Takatori by 4 points for the victory.

With the Formula DRIFT Championship on the line and a chance to earn a limited spot in the Red Bull Drifting World Championships, the drivers let it all hang out and provided the jam-packed crowd one of the most competitive and exciting competitions ever. The top 16 drivers from Tanner Foust to Justin Pawlak have made it into the first ever event that will take place at the Port of Long Beach on November 15-16. The Formula DRIFT drivers will meet the top drivers in the world to compete for the biggest prize purse in drifting history.

Castrol SYNTEC Power Cup 2008 Point Standings

Top 16 will receive invite to Red Bull Drifting World Championship

1. Foust, Tanner 599 Points
2. Hubinette, Samuel 544 Points
3. Millen, Rhys 510 Points
4. Yoshihara, Daijiro 481 Points
5. Forsberg, Chris 459 Points
6. Tuerck, Ryan 453 Points
7. Takatori, Michihiro 452 Points
8. Gittin, Jr., Vaughn 356.50 Points
9. Grunewald, Conrad 349.25 Points
10. Nishida, Robbie 318.25 Points
10. Miki, Ryuji 300.50 Points
12. McNamara, Darren 237.25 Points
13. Verdier. Stephan 224.75 Points
14. Gushi, Ken 222.75 Points
15. Sherman, Bill 203.25 Points
16. Pawlak, Justin 197 Points

Tires.com Triple Crown 2008 Point Standings

1. Millen, Rhys 232 Points
2. Takatori, Michihiro 228 Points
3. Foust, Tanner 226 Points

Formula DRIFT Round 7: Final Fight Event Results

1. Gittin, Vaughn 103 Points
2. Foust, Tanner 95 Points
3. Pawlak, Justin 84 Points

Full official standings available on: www.formuladrift.com

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