September 6, 2020

Event: Round Two, Formula DRIFT PRO Championship

Location: World Wide Technology Raceway, near St. Louis, MO

 

Photos: Courtesy of FD/ Alex Wong/Emotive Image, Larry Chen, and Andrew Schwartz/ 9nine2

With motorsports slowly but surely returning, but not quite to pre-COVID levels, the 17th season of Formula DRIFT PRO Championship got back into semi-swing over Labor Day weekend with a first ever doubleheader at the “Crossroads,” World Wide Technology Raceway outside St. Louis, MO. Team Falken and Vortech Superchargers Racer Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis finished 3rd in Round 1 and then took 2nd in Round 2, placing him in a tie for first place in the 2020 Driver’s Championship with Ryan Tuerck.

 

Team Falken kicked off the 2020 season with four familiar faces representing the tire brand: Matt Field, Justin Pawlak, Dai Yoshihara, and Odi Bakchis. Both Pawlak and Bakchis unveiled new cars: Pawlak arrived with a new edition of his traditional Mustang, while Bakchis debuted a new Nissan S15 build. Both Matt Field and Odi Bakchis continue to run Vortech V-7 YSi-B Superchargers on their cars to try and stay at the top of the points list for 2020.

Aurimus “Odi” Bakchis doing what it takes in Round Two in his Nissan S15 early in the second heat match up against Dai Yoshihara’s Subaru to win and continue on in the competition. He will eventually make it to the final round vs. Chelsea DeNofa.

 

On his way to second place in Round Two, Odi Bakchis talks shop with Round One winner, Fredric Aasbo (Norway) in the Rockstar Energy Drink / Nitto Tire GR Supra – eliminated from Top 16 by Matt Field following collision shortly after starting line on the second run. Aasbo was declared at fault for not providing sufficient space for lead driver to initiate.

Matt Field battled the stiff competition in the Falken Tires / Borla Exhaust C6 Chevrolet Corvette, seen here vs. Dylan Hughes and his 2JZ powered E46 BMW.

The Falken race crew kept busy prepping the S15 and repairing Odi’s car as the body contact between many of the racers was continuing the entire event.

Vortech Superchargers Driver Matt Field in his Falken Tires / Borla Exhaust C6 Chevrolet Corvette finished fourth, after being edged out in the third-place run-off by Ryan Tuerck.

Vortech Driver Odi Bakchis holds the line in the final run in Round Two against Chelsea DeNofa and eventually had to settle for Second place, but nabs the lead in FD Pro points.

Odi enjoys time after Round One to celebrate 3^rd place with 1^st place winner Fredric Aasbo. Odi then made it to the podium again in Round Two taking 2^nd place and celebrating briefly once again before the game face goes back on looking towards Rounds Three and Four Sep. 25-27 in WA.

Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis and Ryan Tuerck are currently tied up at the top of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship heading into the doubleheader at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA for Rounds Three and Four on September 25-27, 2020.