Formula Drift makes its debut in Connecticut, signing a three-year agreement with the track.

      **Aaron Segal**

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      Good news for drifting enthusiasts in the Northeast: Formula Drift has announced a new three-year agreement to host events at Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut. The opening event this weekend set records with an unexpected layout, a full-capacity crowd, and an all-Irish podium finish.

      Most car enthusiasts are now familiar with drifting. However, for those who aren't, Formula Drift (FD for short) is a head-to-head judged competition organized in a bracket format, emphasizing four main criteria:

      - **Speed:** The ability of a driver to navigate through the course quickly and smoothly.

      - **Line:** The driver's capability to follow the judges' defined ideal path.

      - **Angle:** Maintaining a significant angle while drifting; the greater the angle, the better the score.

      - **Style:** Demonstrating driving technique, proximity to obstacles or competing vehicles, and overall course mastery.

      At the conclusion of the weekend, drivers receive a numerical score reflecting their final standings, which impacts their overall season rankings. The driver accruing the most points by the end of the season earns the title of “Pro Champion.”

      This weekend, Formula Drift had much to demonstrate as it hosted its inaugural event in a series of three new locations this year, part of an eight-round competition. This meant stepping away from iconic venues like Old Bridge Raceway Park—considered the birthplace of drifting in the U.S.—due to the New Jersey track owners’ inability to endorse a contract, likely stemming from recent zoning challenges. This created an opportunity for New England, a long-time underdog in the vibrant car culture, and was in close proximity to Lock City Drift, one of the largest grassroots drifting communities in the country.

      “We aim to establish this venue as our new hub for the Northeast,” explained Bryan Olfert, Formula DRIFT’s Director of Sales and Partnerships, expressing his enthusiasm about the three-year deal with Stafford Motor Speedway.

      “We’ll pinpoint areas—whether on-track to develop a more dynamic layout or off-track to enhance fan experiences and improve paddocks for our teams and partners.”

      Formula Drift has been progressively expanding over the years as it intersects car culture, fan engagement, social media appeal, and grassroots motorsport accessibility.

      During the event weekend, I had the opportunity to follow the RTR Team, renowned for its Ready-To-Rock Mustangs. “I’m thrilled that this track offers an even playing field for all drivers,” stated Cody Pennell, RTR’s Director of Motorsports.

      A new venue meant that newcomers like RTR’s Ben Hobson (who has struggled for points this season) had a better chance at scoring higher against seasoned veterans who have experience from competing on the same tracks for over a decade.

      Ben Hobson (yellow car) and James Deane (black car) during the Final Four showdown.

      This strategy paid off with numerous upsets among the competitors, and Ben Hobson achieved a final-four finish, the best of his PRO career. Additionally, we witnessed an all-Irish podium, with RTR Driver James Deane currently leading the season with a 22-point lead:

      1. James Deane, driving the Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD

      2. Jack Shanahan, driving the Pulsar Turbos BMW 1-Series

      3. Conor Shanahan, driving the Red Bull / GT Radial / JYR Toyota GT86, and the younger brother of Jack Shanahan.

      We have now reached the midpoint of the 2026 Formula DRIFT season, with the next event scheduled at another new track at the end of July.

      Full disclosure: Pennzoil, which sponsors both Formula DRIFT and RTR, invited me to this weekend's event and covered my ticket.