Check out this video from the last Formula Drift event of the season at Irwindale Speedway!
Produced by: WebRidestv.com

NuFormz/BFGoodrich Racing Formula DRIFT (FD) team and driver Samuel Hübinette ended their 2009 season with a Great 8 finish, the fourth spot in the final point standings and a poignant tribute to their fallen team owner and leader, Shaun Carlson, at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 17. Carlson, NuFormz Racing team owner and a former Team Mopar driver, passed away suddenly on Oct. 4.

Hübinette’s Dodge Viper SRT10(R) was wrapped with special “red Camo” graphics, donated by Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Competition Graphics, that featured an image of Carlson with his trademark Mohawk haircut. The beloved and respected racing icon and innovator was also saluted with a moment of silence and a special FD video tribute prior to the Irwindale main event.

The NuFormz team and Hubinette did Carlson proud, qualifying in the ninth spot and drawing Frederic Aasbo in the Round of 32. Hübinette defeated Aasbo and moved on to the Top 16 main event in a close race with the FD newcomer.

Hübinette then faced the formidable Joon Maeng in the Top 16. Hubinette followed on the first tandem run, bringing the crowd to its feet as he stuck his Mopar-powered Viper to Maeng’s door. Hubinette led on an evenly matched second tandem run with Maeng, prompting the FD judges to call for a “One More Time” (OMT). Hübinette came away with the win in the OMT after Maeng made a correction during the run, prompting a passionate celebration from Carlson’s family and friends, who turned out in large numbers to witness the event.
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After a rough Friday with lot’s of mechanical problems with the car, the Nuformz boys worked hard and got the car quite dialed in for Saturdays competition. We were fighting with to much traction from the BFGoodrich kdw’s in the oval, with the gearing we had to run. So to be able to keep a good drift in the fast part of the track I had to take away the rear wing. That caused us lack of speed but a more reliable drift.
In top 32 I went up against Fredrik Aasbo from Norway. We had a good battle and when I was following him I tapped the wall in the infield. I did a little correction, but still kept the Shaun Carlson/BFGoodrich Viper drifting. The judges called the win to my advantage and I moved on to top 16. I have to give props to Fredrik Aasbo for a great battle.
Before rolling out for the top 16 introduction, there was a tribute to Shaun that was amazing. I went out there and tried to do my best for Shaun and the NuFormz team.
In top 16 I was matched up against Joon Maeng. He has become great driver and I believe the most improved driver in the last year. We had a great battle and the judges called it a “one more time”. Then when I was following him in to the infield he was going much slower then I expected so I ended up spinning behind him. Of course I thought that it was over for me, and I though for my self that this will be my last time going around on this track for a long time. So when I was going to lead him I went big, close to the walls and really tried to give the fans a great BFG smoke show. Then Joon spun at the same place I did. He told me he was struggling with power and had to clutch kick it to keep the drift. I though it was going to be a “on more time”, but the judges called the win to my advantage after Joon was shallow in the oval when following me.
In top 8 I was going against Tyler Mcquarrie. Again I was up against a great guy. Before going up against Tyler I was currently on 3rd place in the points standings for the Championship, so this was the battle for 3rd place in the Championship. We had a good battle, but unfortunately Tyler had a faster car than me this time. If I was going to loose 3rd place to someone, Tyler was the guy! Big congrats to him for a great season, well deserved.
Also Congrats to Chris Forsberg for his first Championship and to Ryan Tuerck for his win yesterday and his 2nd place in the Championship.
Overall it was a great event. The house of drift was sold out and the crowd was amazing. I’m glad we could finish the season in tribute to Shaun.
Drift Ya Later

Photo by Ron Bermudez

Photo by Ron Bermudez

Drivers introduction at a sold out Irwindale!

The House of Drift was sold out!

Sparco had this suite made in tribute to Shaun Carlson that all the FD drivers signed

Practice

The Nuformz boys worked hard!

We are glad that we could finish the season in Tribute to Shaun!

Ready to Drift in tribute to Shaun!

On Monday we said our last goodbye to Shaun Carlson. It was a beautiful memorial service at the Calvary Chapel in Chino Hills.
It was a good turn out and many industry people and fans came to honor his life.
For me it was still surreal that Shaun is gone… But we got to say goodbye and we know that he is in heaven looking down on us.
Right now we are preparing to do the last FormulaD event at Irwindale. We are racing for in the memory of Shaun and and we are hoping to bring home the win for him!
Its been a long brake since the last event in August so I am very hungry to get back in to the drift mode in the BFG/Viper. I’ve been busy working on a lot of different car commercials as a stunt driver so the time really went by quick.
Tomorrow is a test day so that’s going to be great to get some seat time before qualifying on Friday.
Looking forward to see you all out there this weekend.
Peace out.

After a good weekend at Infineon Raceway I’m still in 4th place for the finale at Irwindale Speedway, October 15-16th.
Drivers 2-5 is in a range of 18 points so Irwindale is going to be a really interesting final.

Here are some pictures from Sonoma!

This is the Championship Point Standing with 1 event to go, the season finale “House of Drift” at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale on October 15-16 for Round 7: Judgment Day
It’s going to be a tight battle for the Championship Points!

1. Forsberg, Chris NOS Energy Drink / Maxxis Nissan 350Z 470 Points
2. Tuerck, Ryan Gardella Racing / Mobil 1Pontiac Solstice 414 Points
3. Gittin, Vaughn Falken Tire Ford Racing Mustang GT 401.50 Points
4. Hubinette, Samuel NuFormz Dodge Viper 399.25 Points
5. McQuarrie, Tyler Falken Nissan 350Z 396 Points
6. Foust, Tanner Rockstar / Hankook Scion Racing tC 373 Points
7. McNamara, Darren Falken / Sears Auto Center Saturn Sky 370.50 Points
8. Verdier, Stephan Cooper Tire / Crawford Performance Subaru STI 364 Points
9. Nishida, Robbie Hankook Tires / Dynamic Autosports Nissan 350Z 362.25 Points
10. Pawlak, Justin Bergenholtz Racing / Nitto Mazda RX-8 354 Points
11. Miki, Ryuji APEXi / Hankook Mazda RX-7 341.75 Points
12. Gushi, Ken RS*R Scion Racing TC 333.50 Points
13. Brakohiapa, Tony Cooper Tire Ford Mustang 331 Points
14. Petty, Ross Garage Boso / Falken Nissan S15 329 Points
15. Aono, Taka Technosquare Toyota AE86 Corolla 321.25 Points
16. Mordaunt, Patrick PM Racing Nissan S13 317.25 Points

This was one of thoose weekends when things did not work out great but in the end it turned out pretty good.
After having issues with the front wheels touching the control arm I qualified 26. So that was not a great start for the weekend. But it turned out to be a good thing because I got to run against Ryan Tuerck 2nd in points and managed to move on. So that gave me a boost to be able to catch up for the 2nd and 3rd spot for the final.
I went up against Kondo in Top 16 and after a “one more time” I moved on to Top 8.
In Top 8 I had to battle Ruji Miki. Great driver and his car was so much quicker on this course and he ran good the whole weekend. We had a good battle, but Ruji moved on. There is still a chance to bring home the championship but that’s a long stretch.
I had great support from all of the fans and also the Northern California Viper club. They came out with a bunch of sick vipers so that was cool.
We are still fourth in the over all standings and look forward to Irwindale!

Samuel

Today has been a great day! After yesterdays qualifying at 26th place I felt like it was a “Do or Die” situation. I was matched up against Ryan Tuerck, a very talented driver. Both of us still in chase for the Championship.
After 2 great runs we manage to move on to Top 16. Car ran great and the team did an awesome job and now we are ready for tomorrow!!
Drift Ya Later!!

Now we are up at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma for Formula Drift round 6. Practice went well today in the Nuformz/BFGoodrich Viper. But we had some problem with uneven tire wear. So we did some changes for that before Qualification. Due to tempature difference of the track and the change of settings, the car became very tuff to handle. My first qualifaction run the Viper had to much rear traction from the BFG’s so it was fighting the drift. On the second run my front wheels touched the control arm and looked the front wheels so I spun.
I qualified 26th, my worst qualification ever. But Hey it happens.
Top 32 is tomorrow and we are matched up against Ryan Tuerck. He is a good guy so it should be a good battle!