Formula DRIFT extends agreements with Long Beach, Evergreen Speedway and Road Atlanta - MotorSportsTalk

We’re still in 2014, but the Formula DRIFT presented by GoPro series is already looking ahead to 2015 and 2016, extending contracts and event hosting through ’16 at Road Atlanta and Evergreen Speedway.

In addition, the series announced Thursday that it has extended its current deal with The Streets of Long Beach through 2015.

The announcement is especially poignant for Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington, which hosts the fifth event of the 2014 Formula DRIFT schedule this weekend: Throwdown at Evergreen Speedway on July 18 and 19.

It also marks the ninth year Evergreen Speedway has hosted the drift racing circuit.

“Evergreen Speedway is excited and proud to announce a three-year contract extension with Formula DRIFT through the 2016 season” Evergreen Speedway president/CEO Doug Hobbs said in a media release. “Formula DRIFT is by far, the most exciting and single largest motorsport event each and every year at Evergreen Speedway.

“Having such a marquee world stage series in the Seattle market is also a boost to tourism with a major economic impact. The best part for me is seeing thousands of fans smiling and having fun watching some of the most talented drivers in the world wow the crowd.”

As for Road Atlanta, the annual Formula Drift race there has grown by leaps and bounds, prompting track and series officials to extend the present deal so soon.

“The growth of Drift Atlanta over the past 11 years has been phenomenal,” Road Atlanta president/general manager Geoff Lee said. “We are pleased to extend our relationship with Formula DRIFT through 2016, and continue to build on the momentum that has made Drift Atlanta one of the largest and most renowned drifting events in North America.”

Based in Long Beach, Formula DRIFT is also working on extending working agreements with other existing tracks on its 2014 schedule.

“Eleven years ago we were the last on the list to get dates locked in for some of the venues,” Formula DRIFT president Jim Liaw said. “Now here we are 11 years later and are towards the top of the list for venues across the country.

“We are proud of the growth of the sport and it couldn’t have been done without the relationships that we have with these top venues and we look forward to continuing the relationships for years to come.”

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The biggest race of the NTT IndyCar Series season (and in the world) is over, and NBC Sports’ power rankings look very similar to the finishing results in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Pole-sitter Alex Palou entered the Indy 500 at the top and remains there after his impressive rebound to a fourth after a midway crash in the pits. Top two Indianapolis 500 finishers Josef Newgarden and Marcus Ericsson also improved multiple spots in the power rankings just as they gained ground during the course of the 500-mile race on the 2.5-mile oval. Though Alexander Rossi dropped a position, he still shined at the Brickyard with a fifth place finish.

Santino Ferrucci, the other driver in the top five at Indy, made his first appearance in the 2023 power rankings this year and now will be tasked with keeping his A.J. Foyt Racing team toward the front as the IndyCar circuit makes its debut on a new layout..

Heading into the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix on the streets of downtown, here’s NBC Sports’ assessment of the current top 10 drivers through six of 17 races this year (with previous ranking in parenthesis):

Alex Palou (1): Three consecutive top 10 finishes at the Indy 500, and yet the 2021 IndyCar champion still seems slightly snake-bitten at the Brickyard. A few different circumstances and a dash of experience, and Palou could have three Indy 500 wins. But he at least has the points lead.
Marcus Ericsson (4): Some want to say the Indy 500 runner-up’s unhappiness with IndyCar race control was sour grapes, but the Swede had a legitimate gripe about the consistency of red flag protocols. Still a magnificent May for Ericsson, especially while the questions swirl about his future.
Josef Newgarden (7): Strategist Tim Cindric and team did a fantastic job catapulting Newgarden from 17^th into contention, and the two-time series champion did the rest. Particularly on a late three-wide pass for the lead, it can’t be overstated how brilliant the Team Penske driver was in his finest hour.
Alexander Rossi (3): He winds up being the best Arrow McLaren finisher in a mostly disappointing Indy 500 for a team that seemed poised to become dominant. With a third in the GMR GP and a fifth in the Indy 500, this easily was Rossi’s best May since his second place in 2019.
Pato O’Ward (2): Unlike last year, the Arrow McLaren star sent it this time against Ericsson and came out on the wrong side (and with lingering bitterness toward his Chip Ganassi Racing rival). The lead mostly was the wrong place to be at Indy, but O’Ward managed to be in first for a race-high 39 laps.
Scott Dixon (5): He overcame brutal handling issues from a wicked set of tires during his first stint, and then the team struggled with a clutch problem while posting a typical Dixon-esque finish on “a very tough day.” The six-time champion hopes things are cleaner the rest of the season after the first three months.
Santino Ferrucci (NR): Pound for pound, he and A.J. Foyt Racing had the best two weeks at Indianapolis. Ferrucci said Wednesday he still believes he had “by far the best car at the end” and if not for the timing of the final yellow and red, he would have won the Indy 500. Now the goal is maintaining into Detroit.
Colton Herta (NR): He was the best in a mostly forgettable month for Andretti Autosport and now is facing a pivotal weekend. Andretti has reigned on street courses so far this season, and few have been better on new circuits than Herta. A major chance for his first victory since last year’s big-money extension.
Scott McLaughlin (6): Ran in the top 10 at Indy after a strong opening stint but then lost positions while getting caught out on several restarts. A penalty for unintentionally rear-ending Simon Pagenaud in O’Ward’s crash then sent him to the rear, but McLaughlin still rallied for 14th. Detroit will be a fresh start.
Rinus VeeKay (10): Crashing into Palou in the pits was less than ideal. But a front row start and 10^th-place finish in the Indy 500 still were 2023 highlights for VeeKay in what’s been the toughest season of his career. The Ed Carpenter Racing cars have been slow on road and street courses, so Detroit is another test.

Falling out: Will Power (8), Felix Rosenqvist (9), Romain Grosjean (10)

PAST NBC SPORTS INDYCAR POWER RANKINGS

PRESEASON: Josef Newgarden is a favorite to win third championship

RACE 1: Pato O’Ward to first; Newgarden drops out after St. Pete

RACE 2: O’Ward stays firmly on top of standings after Texas

RACE 3: Marcus Ericsson leads powerhouses at the top

RACE 4: Grosjean, Palou flex in bids for first victory

RACE 5: Alex Palou carrying all the momentum into Indy 500