Bringing The Heat: The Drift League Round 2 Highlights

The Drift League is a Southern California based organization with a focus on Formula DRIFT based competition. Drivers and teams compete for the chance to win a Formula DRIFT Pro/Am License. Round 2 at Willow Springs International Raceway brought the heat on and off the track. Come with us as we look at the highlights of the second round of the 2024 season. 

Before the cars even hit the track mother nature would throw her worst at the teams and drivers with an egg frying 105 degree forecast. Tire and water temperatures would be a major concern during consecutive runs as the sunlight blazed the pavement throughout the day.  Despite the sizzling heat, drivers kept the cars and themselves cool throughout the weekend. Seemingly unbothered by the heat, drivers went into practice at Willow Springs Speedway course eager to test their car setups and lay down some rubber before judged competition rounds.

After dialing in the cars and a bit of door to door practice, drivers took their knowledge and skills to qualifying to secure their slots for the competition shootout. Like Formula DRIFT,  Qualifying determines where you are seated in the tourney bracket. At these high speed circuits it is all about commitment and keeping the rear end of the car in the zones to maximize points during the drivers two runs. Because of the high intensity some of the best driving of the day happens during qualifying. Drivers display what these machines can do sideways.

With the competition order set drivers hit the track ready to go wheel to wheel to fight for the top spot.

Intense battles took place. One of the most notable was the decider for second spot in the final round between Dino Child and TJ Hunt. The battle was close enough for a “One More Time” call from the judges. Hunt would take the top spot after a mechanical failure from Child’s Silvia S14 would prevent him from returning to the line for his follow run. It would later be found that the alternator had failed leaving the car dead in the water out of the exit of the first banking.

This set the stage for the final round between TJ Hunt and Drift League Round 1 winner Carsen Rueger. The two would put on a masterful display of driving across their lead and follow runs with enough tire smoke to render my eyeball useless. After myself and the judges could see again, TJ Hunt was dubbed the winner of the second round.

Having driven consistently all day, TJ took the top spot to hold the trophy high on the podium. 

This puts a shake up in the point standings going into the third and final round of The Drift League. Taking place at Willow Springs on October 12, the series winner will be crowned at Horse Thief Mile.