The air was crisp and the sun was rising, spreading it’s warmth across the Evergreen State Fairgrounds when the first set of people arrived to Evergreen Speedway on a Thursday morning.  Located in Monroe, WA with the foothills of the Cascade mountains as a backdrop, Evergreen Speedway was host to Formula Drift’s event: The Throwdown. With coffee from the local shops in hand or energy drinks, the race crews and event coordinators started setting up for their day of racing.

Drifting is the art of intentionally over steering one’s car, allowing the rear wheels to come out from behind the car while controlling the direction the car is moving throughout the corner or track. Originating in Japan, drifting has taken a firm grasp on America in the past few years.

Formula Drift was organized in 2003, with their first event in 2004. Over 60 drivers are currently licenced to participate in these events. In the middle of their 11th season, Formula Drift, also called FD, is recognized as the North American professional drifting championship.

The media was given early access to the day’s practice at FD. The race teams were setting up each car, fine tuning them for the local track. The sound of the first engine started up that morning roared across the track, echoing off the rafters of the grandstands. The media was setting up their cameras to capture the days events, but first they had to attend a safety briefing to ensure everyone knew the rules of the event. Just like the different race teams, many media outlets sent photographers/videographers from all over the US and even internationally to Evergreen.

The drivers set up for practice for the first time that day. Some drivers as they waited did a burnout to warm up the new tires that were placed on the cars. The pits, where all the teams are set up and work on their cars, where chaotic. Crews were moving from place to place fixing everything from tires to engines to graphics on the sides of the cars.

As everyone was set up, the first set of cars sped off the starting line towards the 5/8ths bank. Reaching speeds up to 100 mph, the drivers initiated the drift and controlled their cars all the way through into the first set of turns. The set up has one car in front and a second car chasing the first. Each driver had to keep a certain line, hit the clipping points, and not mess up for maximum points. If a driver went off course, straightened out their car, or spins out/wrecks, then they do not receive points for that match.

This was the 5th round of FD this season. Point leader, Chris Forsberg in his Nissan 370z, seemed to feel right at home at this track. Setting up a beautiful scene of smoke and speed, he drifted with what seemed like little effort around the track all day. Forsberg did not let up on his attack though. Right behind him in points was Fredric Aasbo in his Scion TC. Anyone could take the top spot after this weekend’s event.

FD set up a new venue this year with the Pro 2 class. Pro 2 is the up and coming racers in FD. They compete on the same track as the professionals and have a chance to race against them during the competition if they earn enough points in qualifying. Being only the second event of the year for Pro 2, many drivers needed to dial in their tunes and adjustments to their cars. Each time a driver would go around their cars seem to react better and better to the adjustments.

Friday was the Pro 2 event. Drivers qualified for placing in the Top 32 drivers. During qualifying, each driver was able to go around the track by themselves, scoring as many points as they can. Drivers are given two chances around the track.

The day was warm with the sun beating down on everyone. Drivers and crews had to balance keeping cool and working on their cars without getting heat exhaustion. Unlike an everyday vehicle, these cars do not come with air conditioning. Even the media, who was placed at several points around the track, needed to keep hydrated so they would not pass out.

The competition slowly started eliminating drivers, who had to battle another driver for the rights to move onto the next round. Local FD driver, Mike Phillips and his Nascar engine powered 240sx, put on quite a show for the onlookers. With the livery of red, white, and blue and the saying “Freedom Isn’t Free” pasted to his rear wing, he zipped across the track with the urge to win the event. Unfortunately, he was knocked out of competition during one of the rounds.

Dan Savage and his Sikky Mazda RX-8 took top podium spot that night. Champagne was shaken and sprayed all over in celebration of the win.

Thousands of people filed into the Speedway on Saturday for the main event. Along with the Pro series, there was a car show for fans to take part of. Cars from areas as far as California to Canada showed up to compete for trophies. DJ Shonn was mixing music for the car show as onlookers and judges walked around the venue.

“I am excited to finally come to Formula Drift for the first time. I normally watch it on their websites in hope to see it one day.” said Alyssa Mercedes, Pierce College student.

Most are able to watch the live-stream of the event on their computers or mobile devices from around the world. “Nothing beats hearing the sound and smelling the smoke from the tires” said Alyssa of the atmosphere of the event.

During the day, the drivers took time and signed autographs for the fans before the day’s main event of the top 8. “I loved being able to meet the drivers that I have only seen on the internet or magazines. I was even able to get several autographs from them” said Arielle Olmos, another Pierce student.

With the local Air Force delayed entry program members and Air Force color guard at the event, the drivers, crew, and on goers watched the opening ceremony. The national anthem was played as the drivers drove to the front of the grandstands for their introductions. Once the ceremony was done, the drivers left in fashion, giving the crowd a scene of burnouts, donuts, and drifting around the front of the grandstands.

The competition began with cars traveling at a high rate of speed, sideways, inches away from each other. The crowd cheered when the competition was fierce and gasped when there were accidents. The top 8 drivers were giving it their all, battling on the track like those of World War 2 pilots dog fighting in the air over the Pacific Ocean. The talent shined through to where there was only one victor. Darren McNamara in his Falken Tire Nissan S14 took first place in a final battle against Dean Kearney in his Oracle Lighting Dodge Viper.

Festivities were rampant that night, with people camping and celebrating the events of the weekend. Some of the pro drivers stayed behind for the next day’s ProAm competition, giving the local drivers a chance to battle against some of their favorite drivers in FD. The event wrapped up with everyone eyeing the next round in Texas.