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Team Falken’s Matt Field Prepares For Formula Drift Finale Controlling Championship Lead

GRANTSVILLE, UT – Team Falken and Driver Matt Field continue to stand on top of the Formula Drift Championship leaderboard after last weekend's Round 7 at Utah Motorsports Campus, a new circuit for 2022. The team will now prepare for next month's season finale at the “House of Drift” in Irwindale, California.

It was a tough night for Field, who qualified 23rd, while his Falken teammates, Dylan Hughes, qualified 2nd; Justin Pawlak, 9th; and Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis, 13th. Field was ultimately defeated by eventual Round 7 winner Ken Gushi, following a collision on their third run – a One-More-Time – and received a five-minute Competition Time Out to make repairs. On his fourth run, Field ran off track, leading to a premature retirement. Despite this, he maintains a 14-point lead over second place.

“Not the kind of result we wanted for Team Falken,” Field said. “All of us representing the teal and blue tried as hard as we could, but struggled with our competition. Nevertheless, I’d still have to say it was a good night. We got to run at a new track for Formula D, and it was definitely fast. I was surprised by that fact and disappointed I didn’t do better.

“But, you learn from every experience and we have almost four weeks to put everything together to be the best possible for the Title Fight at Irwindale,” Field added. “One thing is certain: the Falken Azenis tires are always consistent and I’m glad they’re on my Corvette.”

“Matt still stands strong,” noted Gerald Alvarado, Falken’s Supervisor, Passenger Car Motorsports and Events. “It is Falken’s intention and overriding goal to see Matt atop the stand as the 2022 Formula Drift Driver’s Champion when the lights go out at Irwindale in four weeks. We’re going to do whatever we need to do to maintain his position as well as assist our other team members in their own quest to improve their opportunity to win and increase their place in the final driver standings. The Title Fight will be an exciting night for sure. We expect a huge crowd there and a lot of Team Falken supporters will be in the stands.”

More than 45 Falken dealers from the Salt Lake City region joined the teams at the Utah Motorsports Campus to see – for many – their first Formula Drift event.

After Field, current points standings for Team Falken drivers list Hughes in 6th; Bakchis in 9th; and Pawlak, 14th.

Round 8, the Title Fight, takes place at Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, CA, October 14-15, where the champion will be crowned.