Aasbo returns to Formula Drift podium with runner-up finish in Seattle
MONROE, Washington (August 23, 2026) — Fredric Aasbo returned to the Formula Drift podium Saturday night at Evergreen Speedway, driving the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra to a second-place finish at Round 6: Throwdown.
“It feels good to be back fighting at the front,” said Aasbo. “We’ve had some tough rounds this year, but everybody on this team has kept working and kept pushing. The car was really strong when it mattered and we had some very close battles tonight. We wanted the win, but getting back to the Final gives us something to build on for these last two rounds.”
The result is Aasbo’s third podium of the 2026 season and moves the three-time champion up to sixth in the standings with two rounds remaining. Teammate Ryan Tuerck advanced to the Top 16 in the Rain-X Toyota GR Corolla.
Formula Drift staged competition under the lights at Evergreen Speedway for the first time in the 21 years the series has visited the Seattle-area circuit, with a capacity crowd filling the grandstands for Saturday’s night event.
Aasbo opened with a Top 32 victory over Ken Gushi and then advanced past Rudy Hansen in the Top 16. In the Great 8, Aasbo defeated fourth-place qualifier Jack Shanahan when the Irish driver over-rotated in the final zone. He earned a close decision over Matt Field in the Final Four to secure his second trip to a Formula Drift Final this season.
Aasbo faced Conor Shanahan in the Final, a rematch of the championship-opening Long Beach event where the pair also met for the win. After two closely matched runs in Seattle, the judges gave Shanahan the decision.
In the Rain-X Toyota GR Corolla, Tuerck opened Saturday competition against Simen Olsen. He advanced from the Top 32 before meeting Conor Shanahan in the next round. Shanahan took the decision and went on to win the event.
The result moves Tuerck to ninth in the provisional championship standings as he continues his final full-time Formula Drift season.
“We had a solid car and I would have liked to go further, especially at a place that has been so good to me over the years,” said Tuerck. “Conor was driving really well and obviously went on to win the whole thing. We’ve got two rounds left and I’m looking forward to making the most of them.”
Toyota remains second in the Formula Drift Auto Cup standings following the Seattle round, while Kenda Tire sits third in the Tire Cup.
Papadakis Racing now turns its attention to another new venue on the 2026 calendar as Formula Drift heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for Round 7: High Stakes, September 24–26. The eight-round championship concludes on the Streets of Long Beach October 23–24.
Norwegian driver Aasbo has won three Formula Drift championships since joining Papadakis Racing in 2011, earning his first title in 2015 before securing consecutive championships in 2021 and 2022. He is the winningest driver in Formula Drift history and has earned more than 100 podium finishes in competition around the world.
Tuerck joined Papadakis Racing in 2020, and is known for his ambitious collection of custom Toyota builds, including the Ferrari-powered GT4586, Formula Supra, Toyota Stout and Celica GT411. Next season, his touring schedule is expected put his collection in action for fans around the world.
Based in Carson, California, Papadakis Racing began competing in drifting in 2004 and is the most successful team in Formula Drift history. The team has earned five driver championships, winning with Aasbo in 2015, 2021 and 2022, and with Tanner Foust in 2007 and 2008.
Drifting is a high-skill, high-powered motorsport with an emphasis on car control. Drivers compete in head-to-head knockout heats on a closed course, sliding sideways in runs judged on line, angle and style. Formula Drift launched its professional United States championship in 2004 and now presents an eight-round national series in front of live and online audiences around the world.