Formula Drift: October 11, 2008 - Irwindale, CA

After a tumultuous season of technical hardships, Vaughn Gittin Jr. (JR) and the Falken Tire Ford Racing Mustang dominated the field at yet another memorable Formula D Final at the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA.

The combination of Falken Motorsports personnel, Autosport Dynamics and the intense support of the crowd, Vaughn was able to stomp the field of top-tier competitors.  Qualifying 8th, Vaughn first faced Bill Sherman in his Nissan 240SX.  Sherman, a Formula D series up and comer, drove outstanding but with Vaughn at a blazing 78 mph, the Falken RT-615 shod Mustang proved to be too much giving Vaughn the win.  Up next, Vaughn pitted against the skilled Ryuji Miki in his Mazda RX7.  With both the Mustang and highly tuned 2-Rotor FD going all out, the sold out crowd awaited the judges scores.  Once the smoke cleared, Team Falken moved on with Vaughn’s 17 over 12 win.  After a surprising and abrupt first pass from #2 ranked Samuel Hubinette, veteran Japanese driver Michihiro Takatori advances to the Great 8 going head to head against the iconic Falken Ford Mustang.  Takatori and his formidable Nissan Skyline GTR34 put up a great fight but it was not enough to prevent Vaughn from advancing forward to face Tanner Foust in the finals.  Following a difficult season of events, could Vaughn bring his A-game to the track which made him a US vs. Japan and World Champion?  The answer was an astounding Yes!  The first run for both champion drivers was smooth and consistent.  With more angle and charging speed, the judges called 9 over 7 in Vaughn's favor.  Moving into the final run of the season, the Ford Racing V8 powered Mustang roared across the oval track pluming Falken Azenis RT-615 smoke to a decisive win over Foust.  The night clatter of flash photography, blanketed Toyota Speedway as a storm of Falken teal and blue team members and fellow drivers raced across the track to meet the ecstatic final round champion.