Drifters and Nascar stars ready to fight it out as "MOPAR D1 All-Star Duel" draws near; Event web site now online

Center Line, Mich August 28, 2006 -- Two racing worlds are about to collide, as some of the best professional drifters prepare to take on NASCAR's brightest stars in the "Mopar D1 All-Star Duel presented by ShiftIntoGear." The drifting exhibition is set for Thursday, August 31, at the "House of Drift," Southern California's Irwindale Speedway.

On one side: drifters such as Team Mopar's Samuel Hubinette, Vaughn Gittin Jr., Rhys Millen, Tanner Foust, Yasuyuki Kazama and Ken Nomura. On the other: NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Bill Elliott, Greg Biffle, Robby Gordon and Casey Mears. Foust and Kenseth are the latest drivers to join the historic lineup.

Chris Cook, driver for the Christine Marie Motorsports team, will also compete and has agreed to coach some of the NASCAR drivers in techniques of drifting. In addition to his skills on the race track, Cook is an accomplished racer in drifting, and has taught drivers young and old how to make their cars seemingly defy gravity.

"It is absolutely an honor to be involved in the first meeting of NASCAR drivers and drifters on the same track," said Gittin Jr. "I'm looking forward to meeting all the other drivers, competing, having a lot of fun and putting on a exciting show with them.

"The fact that this event is even possible shows how fast the sport of drifting is growing. It is only a matter of time before it becomes as large as NASCAR. It has everything spectators, especially Americans, love about motor sports: speed, smoke, the smell of fuel and rubber, screaming engines, amazing door-to-door action, body panels flying off and, most of all, a display of pure talent and car control by the drivers! You never know-some of the NASCAR drivers might find a new love August 31."

The NASCAR drivers are prepared to get a crash course in Drifting 101. Cook, co-owner along with Indiana, Pa., businessman Chris Evans of ShiftIntoGear, Inc., will instruct the NASCAR drivers on drifting techniques next week at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C. ShiftIntoGear, Inc., based in Mooresville, N.C., is one of the world's premier personal training and coaching resources for established racing professionals and young, up-and-coming development drivers.

The exhibition will feature three trophies (the NASCAR Drift Star, Drift All-Star, and Overall Event Winner), and will give attendees a lot of action. Eight drivers from each series will go head-to-head in tandem battles in the NASCAR vs. D1 Challenge, with the NASCAR stars competing in drift cars provided by D1. The drifters will also test their sideways skills against one another in the D1 All-Star match race, then go at it again with their Nextel Cup counterparts in a NASCAR vs. D1 tire-smoking competition. Fans will not want to miss the D1 All Eight tandem drift, which will showcase all eight D1 drivers drifting simultaneously in an insane full bank formation on the Irwindale track. Fans will also be able to take part in a brief autograph session with the drivers.

All proceeds from the event will benefit the Kasey Kahne Foundation, which raises and donates funds to charitable organizations that care for chronically ill children and their families. The Foundation is also committed to positive cultural changes, focusing on diversity awareness and providing at-risk youth ample opportunities for success.

The event Web site, www.kaseykahne.com/drift, is also now online. The site has up-to-date information on purchasing tickets. Visitors can also find press releases on the event; check out driver information; and view action photos and videos at the site.

Gates for the event open at 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 31. Tickets for the event are still available, and can be purchased online at www.irwindalespeedway.com.

For information on Hubinette, Kahne, D1, Irwindale Speedway, Mopar, ShiftIntoGear, or the "Mopar D1 All-Star Duel presented by ShiftIntoGear," log on to www.samuelhubinette.com, www.kaseykahne.com, www.d1gp.com, www.irwindalespeedway.com, www.shiftintogear.com, www.christinemariemotorsports.com, www.motorsportsmanagement.com, www.mopar.com or www.moparspeed.com.

Mopar® is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment supplier of parts and accessories for Chrysler®, Dodge® and Jeep® vehicles.

###END###

Back to news articles.