K&N-Sponsored Formula Drift Drivers Wrap Up Successful Season, Look Ahead to 2018
K&N-Sponsored Formula Drift Drivers Wrap Up Successful Season, Look Ahead to 2018
Nov 7, 2017
Chelsea Denofa joined the Ford Mustang RTR Drift Team for the 2017 Formula D Season
Formula Drift closed out their 14th season of competition at the Irwindale Speedway, which has lovingly been known as the “House of Drift” since hosting the first major drifting competition in the US back in 2003. K&N-sponsored drivers made an impact both at the final Irwindale event as well as on the season, coming home with strong accolades and accomplishments. Vaughn Gittin Jr., Chelsea Denofa, and Matt Coffman all achieved career-best marks in some way or another, and have positive momentum looking ahead toward 2018.
Chelsea Denofa finished the Formula D season in 13th overall, including earning #1 qualifier twice
For Chelsea Denofa, 2017 was the biggest year of change since launching his Formula Drift career in 2013. Denofa joined Vaughn Gittin Jr.’s Ford Mustang RTR drift team, piloting a second 2017 Ford Mustang chassis for the team. Denofa’s season started a bit slow, but he improved quickly over the year as he gained comfort in the chassis and tied his career best championship finish at 13th. Denofa also earned top qualifier in New Jersey and Irwindale, including scoring a career-best 98 points at the Irwindale event and earning an extra $500 in spending cash in addition to 7 championship points for each top qualifier award. Denofa’s pair of Top-8 finishes this season, at Seattle and Texas, set a new high-water mark for his career. While Denofa is disappointed that he couldn’t bring home any trophies for the Ford Mustang RTR drift team, the learnings and progress through 2017 should carry over into continued success in 2018.
Vaughn Gittin Jr. finished in 4th place overall, which marks the eighth time he's finished in top 5
Denofa's Mustang RTR team boss, Vaughn Gittin Jr. piloted his Ford Mustang RTR to a fourth place overall finish in the Formula Drift championship, the eighth time he has finished in the top-5 at the end of the season. Gittin Jr. is one of the few drivers who has competed in every season of Formula Drift to date, claiming 9 event wins and 21 career podium finishes. This season, Gittin Jr. earned the top qualifier award at Long Beach and Atlanta, also padding his wallet by $500 each time in addition to the 7 championship points that come with each top qualifier award, and earned a trio of Top 4 finishes at Orlando, Montreal, and Irwindale. Overall, Gittin Jr. won 16 of 23 tandem battles, for a tandem winning percentage of 69.6%. Gittin Jr. is proud of expanding the team to include Denofa and feels that Denofa’s late-season results are indicative of even better things to come.
Matt Coffman finished the Formula Drift season in a career-best 10th place overall
K&N-sponsored Matt Coffman finished the 2017 Formula Drift season in tenth position, his first career Top-10 finish in the final standings. Coffman, in his fourth season as a Pro class driver, has continued to improve his position in each subsequent year and even earned a career-best 2nd place qualification at Texas with a score of 98. Coffman’s run earned full points in the ‘style’ category, a sign that his driving prowess continues to improve. Over the course of the season, Coffman earned a Top-4 finish at Wall Speedway and a pair of Top-8 finishes in Long Beach and Seattle, the first season Coffman finished in the Top-8 or higher in at least three events. Coffman’s continual progress in the sport has his competitors taking note, no longer thinking that a tandem battle against Coffman will be a ‘gimme’. Coffman won 10 of his 18 tandem battles, the first time he has finished the season with a tandem record higher than 50%. While mechanical issues limited Coffman at several events over the course of the season, he’s happy with the final results and the career-best finish.
Overall, K&N filters is proud of the trio of Formula Drift drivers we worked with over the course of the 2017 season, and congratulate them on their accomplishments. We look forward to continuing to work with them in 2018 and beyond!
