By RACER Staff - Jul 31, 2026, 6:16 AM ET

Formula DRIFT drivers learn the IRP ropes in qualifying at IRP

With Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park appearing on the Formula DRIFT schedule for the first time, the series decided to resurface parts of the course to improve the drift spectacle. The changes were developed in conjunction with Driver Liaisons Ryan Litteral, Ken Gushi and Matt Field as well as FD Judges Brian Eggert, Reese Marin, Robbie Nishida and Vernon Zvanevald, plus the Formula DRIFT Competition Department. All parties focused on creating the best competitive environment for the drivers.

During practice on the new course, there were a number of incidents while drivers were learning the track, including a heavy collision between LZ and Matt Field. And while the geometry of the track walls, along with the speed and directionality of the cars was well within the certified safety tolerances, Formula DRIFT subsequently changed an Outside Zone to an Inside Clip to enhance the shortened practice time with PROSPEC going over. The series opted to take additional measures to preserve the time drivers spent on track by decreasing the probability of potential incidents on a newly learned course. Additionally, the day’s qualifying events were shifted one hour later to allow additional onboarding time for both championships

With 29 drivers competing for Top 32 competition places, nobody would be eliminated provided they completed at least one of their two qualifying runs. However, Jeff Jones crashed his Big Drift Energy/Prisma Lab Nissan 370Z in practice and was unable to successfully complete a run, so won’t be competing on Saturday

The top four finishers will receive a bye run into the Top 16 Competition heats.

Jack Shanahan topped PRO qualifying with a score of 84.63 points on his second run thanks to precise car placement and driving with real flair. He narrowly beat Field by 1.08 points after the Corvette driver had led the field for most of the session. Third-place Aurimas Bakchis wasn’t far behind with a score of 82.7 points as he continues to settle into his new car.

Championship leader James Deane (Ireland) put the O'Reilly/Pennzoil Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD into fourth place with a score of 82.53. The leading rookie driver was Cole Richards who scored 80.66 in the Richards Racing Toyota GT86.

The top qualifier receives four Championship points, second place receives three, third gets two, and all other drivers receive one point.

In the Formula DRIFT Link ECU PROSPEC Championship, with 24 of the places in Top 32 competition determined by the championship standings from Round 2, the remaining eight places would be filled from among the 16 drivers competing in the Seeding Bracket. Jacob Duncan took his first Seeding Bracket win after his fellow rookie opponent Christian Cotrone failed to complete the Final because of differential damage.

Third-place Matt Rusiecki was unable to compete in his semi-final heat after damaging his car in the Top 8 heats. However, the rookie was awarded third by virtue of his first place ranking in the Seeding Bracket.

With a full field for the Seeding Bracket, a total of eight drivers were eliminated including Brian Hoplamazian, Dustin Miles, Matt Shulman, Krzysztof Krutul, Levi Wait, Luis Lanz, Allen Boss and Jayden Martorana.