Play-by-Play: Formula Drift Rd 6 Texas Motor Speedway
The Showdown at Texas Motor Speedway played out like an old Western movie with a plot twist. Another podium here at Round 6 and Chris Forsberg would secure the 2014 Formula Drift Championship...but does he? Top 16 pairs had a few David and Goliath-esque battles. Read on to find out how it all went down in Texas! 
Ford Top 16
Forrest Wang Vs. Conrad Grunewald
Wang Lead: Top qualifier Wang was on his game showing why he was first on the grid. He wheeled his S14 hard on initiation and was able to hit the outer clipping zones better than Grunewald. Grunewald was too far back early on, rotated into the second clipping zone too early, and looked to drop a tire off. Grunewald Lead: Was best at initiation but failed to reach either of the two outer clipping zones in the middle of the course. Wang missed an inside clipping zone and failed to go wide himself. Wang advances on the strength of his lead run. 
Ken Gushi Vs. Joon Maeng
Gushi Lead: Both were even at initiation, Gushi did not go wide enough in the first outer clipping zone. Maeng was close early, which made an impression with the judges, but he dropped back a tad late in the run. No shining star in this one, match is up for grabs. Maeng Lead: Maeng initiated hard, but was lazy in the mid section. Gushi did not take advantage of the opportunity. 2 judges voeted for Maeng, 1 called a OMT...Maeng moves on. 
Dean Kearney Vs. Vaughn Gittin Jr.
Kearney Lead: Crash between the first outer clip and the following inner clip. Looked like Gittin got into Kearney, but you could see Kearney’s back wheel drag, slowing his car and Gittin, already committed, had nowhere to go. Kearney takes competition timeout. Gittin Lead: Drops some big angle early, puffs smoke prodigiously, and wins the day against Kearney who didn’t really engage. 
Odi Bakchis Vs. Tyler McQuarrie
Bakchis Lead: On his game from the leave, Bakchis was quick to initiate, and worked it wide, nailing the first outer clipping zone and did a great job transitioning to the following inner clip. McQuarrie had no answer. McQuarrie Lead: Not as aggressive as Bakchis at initiation, McQuarrie short in zone two and Bakchis closed hard and the two were a tandem at the end of the run. It was a 3-0 slam dunk for Bakchis. 
Chris Forsberg Vs. Jhonnattan Castro
This was a VooDoo 13 showdown between a pair of 370Zs owned by Forsberg. Forsberg Lead: Forsberg laid it down, pulling sick angle at initiation and through the first clipping point. As awesome as that lead run was, Castro was not crushed, he did a great job early and only got pulled slightly in the later stages. Castro Lead: Castro took his boss to task at initiation but Forsberg was a shadow. In fact, you could see his brake lights come on as he got too close to Castro. Forsberg was a 3-0 winner. 
Daigo Saito Vs. Ryan Tuerck
Saito Lead: Saito’s SC430 was blazin’ at initiation and swung wide with crazy angle through the early zones but swung a bit wide late which allowed Tuerck to close the gap late in the run. Tuerck Lead: Tuerck made a nice run and Saito matched him move for move. He looked like one of the few drivers to master both the inner and outer clipping zones. It smelled like a 3-0 Saito to us, but came out of the oven a 2 OMT-1 Saito rematch. OMT Saito Lead: Saito was rippin’ it from the start, dropped some harsh angularity on Tuerck, and left the course well ahead of Tuerck who over rotated at mid course and never caught up. Advantage Saito. Tuerck Lead: Saito stalled off the line and Tuerck busted a U-turn and returned to the starting line. Given the chance to advance on a technicality, Tuerck honorably chose to decide matters on the track. Saito’s car was hurt and he failed to fully engage. Tuerck heads to the Great 8. 
Patrick Goodin Vs. Chelsea DeNofa
Goodin Lead: DeNofa came into the heat with a wounded warrior, his BMW engine spitting up fluids like a newborn after a roller coaster ride. Goodin spun, DeNofa’s BMW went critical mass and he coasted off the track. DeNofa’s car was done for the event. Goodin made a solo pass and moved on. 
Fredric Aasbo Vs. Justin Pawlak
Aasbo Lead: Aasbo was better at initiation but JTP closed ranks quickly. Aasbo threw out some big angle in the middle transition area and JTP seemed to sacrifice angle for proximity. Pawlak Lead: JTP made a nice run but Aasbo kept it tight. Had the look of a One More Time and was a unanimous on the point this time. OMT Aasbo Lead: Aasbo initiated early and hard, used all of the course in the first outer clipping zone, and pulled away at the end of the run. Pawlak was close early but could match neither the speed nor angle of Aasbo. Pawlak Lead: Slow on initiation, Pawlak laid down a nice run. But with the slow beginning Aasbo was able to jump all over him, mirroring his every move, and advancing 3-0.
Nitto Great 8
Forrest Wang Vs. Joon Maeng
Wang Lead: This Wang-Maeng matchup has quite a ring to it. Like a boxer reacting to the bell, Wang hit first and he hit hard, charging into the initiation zone and taking his S14 wide and aggressive in the first outer clipping zone. Maeng took a shallow line in an effort to gain proximity but still lost contact. Advantage Wang. Maeng Lead: Maeng ran well enough, bobbling a little late. But Wang barely engaged and was never really close. It would seem Wang’s stout first run was enough to generate a 3-0 win. 
Odi Bakchis Vs. Vaughn Gittin Jr.
Bakchis Lead: Fellow Nitto teammates, Bakchis and Gittin. Jr both had their own work to do. Bakchis was on point with a big, snappy transition at initiation, a smooth wide angle through both outer points. Gittin took a tighter line, sacrificing angle and clipped the inner clipping point pylon near the end of the course. Gittin Lead: Gittin made a nice enough run but Bakchis was a man possessed. Hustling off the line to stay close, he maintained that impressive proximity throughout the run, driving off with a 3-0 victory. 
Chris Forsberg Vs. Ryan Tuerck
Forsberg Lead: This all Drift Alliance showdown lived up to the hype. Forsberg was hot in the initiation zone and was aggressive through the outer clipping area, showing decisively more angle. Tuerck employed less angle to keep it close and had a minor misstep late. Tuerck Lead: Tuerck initiated well but had a hiccup in the first transition zone. Forsberg anticipated wrong and a cascade effect from Tuerck’s misstep caused Forsberg to make a mistake. What seemed like a Forsberg lock after the first run was 2 OMT-1 Forsberg do-over after the second. OMT Forsberg Lead: One of the best duels of the night, Forsberg kept his roll going with huge angle in the first two clipping points and plenty of speed. Tuerck lacked the angle and he lost speed going shallow into the second outer clipping zone, losing contact. Tuerck Lead: The crowd reacted to the simultaneous initiation and Forsberg showed why he’s the championship points leader as the cars took on the same silhouette in the thick smoke as Forsberg sealed the deal 3-0. 
Fredric Aasbo Vs. Patrick Goodin
Aasbo Lead: Aasbo matched the tenacity of his earlier runs but the upstart Goodin was having none of it and the cars were ghost images of each other. Goodin did not swing as wide in the final turn but this one was close all the way. Goodin Lead: Goodin had his hammer dropped but Aasbo, the Norwegian Hammer, was doing some pounding too. He was on Goodin’s quarter panel most of the way, and took advantage when Goodin went a little wide in the last sweeper. Aasbo moves on.
Nitto Top 4
Forrest Wang Vs. Odi Bakchis
The two hottest drivers of the night faced off for a trip to the finals. Wang Lead: Not missing a beat, Wang hung it out early and used every bit of pavement in his attack. Bakchis was killing it and did not give an inch, maintained proximity, and looked somehow attached to Wang’s car as the two rotated in unison like ice dancers. Bakchis Lead: This was a carbon copy of the first pass with the cars playing opposite roles. 2 OMT-1 Bakchis. OMT Wang Lead: As if fired from a canon Wang got out front early, initiated aggressively, and went wide and hard in the troublesome outer clipping zones. Bakchis did not use the full width of the pavement and his shallow drift cost him points. Bakchis Lead: Bakchis recovered and laid down the law with a tantalizing run that dominated Wang like the Seahawks dominated the Broncos in Super Bowl 48. Wang, like earlier in the event, did not seem to fully engage and it cost him. Bakchis moves into the money round. 
Chris Forsberg Vs. Fredric Aasbo
This was a pivotal showdown of the two remaining title contenders. Forsberg could secure the 2014 Championship if he wins this battle. Forsberg Lead: Forsberg got away quick, showed more angle, and had a good advantage in the contest. Aasbo Lead: The two crashed in the middle section of the course. It was ruled Forsberg’s fault so Aasbo advanced, but many questioned whether his Scion tC would be race-ready for the finals.
Go Pro Finals
