Papadakis Racing Toyota scores points at challenging Connecticut round
STAFFORD SPRINGS, Connecticut (June 21, 2026) -- Papadakis Racing scored a pair of Top 10 results Saturday as Formula Drift made its Stafford Motor Speedway debut for Round 4: Battle at the Springs.
Three-time Formula Drift champion Fredric Aasbo finished ninth in the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra after a rare mechanical failure ended his run in the Top 16. Teammate Ryan Tuerck finished seventh in the Rain-X Toyota GR Corolla, advancing to the Great 8 in front of an enthusiastic New England crowd.
Aasbo qualified ninth and opened eliminations with a win over Ryan Litteral before facing Ben Hobson in the Top 16. The Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra suffered a rare broken axle during the battle, ending Aasbo’s run earlier than the team had targeted.
“We had a strong car and were ready to keep fighting, so it’s disappointing to have the day end that way,” said Aasbo. “Mechanical issues are rare for us, but they can happen. The team works incredibly hard to give me a competitive car every round, and we still came away with points. Now the focus is on Indianapolis.”
Tuerck entered tandem competition from the fourth qualifying position and advanced through the opening rounds before a hard-fought Great 8 battle against James Deane. Fans were on their feet cheering for the New England driver as he put up a strong fight against the eventual event winner. The close matchup ultimately went to Deane, while Tuerck’s result moved him to eighth in the unofficial championship standings after four rounds.
For Tuerck, the Stafford event carried extra meaning. His New Hampshire hometown is just a two-hour drive from the track, and he had many friends, family members and longtime fans in the crowd.
“It was extra special to have my family here,” said Tuerck. “There were a lot of familiar faces and a lot of New England fans who made the trip and it was awesome to feel that energy. Stafford was a great venue for Formula Drift, and it felt good to put together a strong weekend close to home.”
Set in the lush Connecticut countryside, Stafford Motor Speedway delivered a strong first appearance on the Formula Drift calendar. Mixed weather challenged teams during Thursday qualifying, but Saturday’s competition took place under sunny skies in front of a packed house. Fans lined up outside the gates before noon to secure the best seats and stayed late into the night as tandem battles continued until 11 p.m.
James Deane took the Round 4 victory at Stafford, with Jack Shanahan second and Conor Shanahan third. With the first half of the season complete, Aasbo and Tuerck are both in the championship hunt.
The next round of the eight-stop championship takes place July 30 to August 1 at another new venue, Indianapolis Raceway Park. The 2026 season then continues with stops in Seattle, Las Vegas and the exciting mid-October finale close to Papadakis Racing headquarters in Long Beach, California.
Drifting is a high-skill, high-powered motorsport with an emphasis on car control. In the Formula Drift series, drivers compete in knockout heats on a closed course, sliding sideways in trials judged on speed and style. With origins in Japan, the sport has rapidly grown to one of the most popular youth-oriented motorsports in the world. Here in the United States, Formula Drift officially launched in 2004 and its national schedule of eight events routinely hosts capacity crowds, while live-streamed multi-platform broadcasts attract millions of online viewers.
ABOUT TOYOTA
Toyota (NYSE:TM), creator of the Prius hybrid and the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota and Lexus brands, and directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America (nearly 48,000 in the U.S.).
For almost 70 years, Toyota has assembled nearly 47 million cars and trucks in North America at the company’s 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, the company’s plant in North Carolina will begin to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
Through our more than 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.), Toyota sold more than 2.7 million cars and trucks (more than 2.3 million in the U.S.) in 2024, of which more than 43 percent were electrified vehicles (full battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell).
ABOUT KENDA TIRE
Founded in 1962, Kenda Tire is a global leader in tire and wheel manufacturing with market presence in multiple industries, including automotive and light truck, bicycle, motorcycles, ATV, RV, industrial, golf, and more. With more than 12,000 employees globally, Kenda Tire prides itself as an organization where quality, honesty, innovation, and customer service are core values.
ABOUT ROCKSTAR ENERGY
Founded in 2001, Rockstar Energy Drink is committed to understanding the mind-body connection, providing functional energy to keep you moving confidently through every moment. It empowers a new generation to feel energized both mentally and physically, giving them the power to access and optimize every version of themselves. Acquired by PepsiCo in 2020, Rockstar Energy Drink offers over 40 products and is available in more than 30 countries. For more information, visit www.rockstarenergy.com and unlock your full potential, mind, and body.