Papadakis Racing turns focus to Long Beach after tough Utah round
GRANTSVILLE, Utah (September 1, 2025) – Papadakis Racing is looking ahead to the Formula Drift season finale in Southern California next month after a challenging weekend for driver Fredric Aasbo in Utah.
Aasbo entered Round 7 at Utah Motorsports Campus determined to keep the pressure on in the title fight, but an intense battle with Nick Noback in the opening round brought an abrupt end to his day in the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra. Despite the setback, Aasbo remains within reach of a strong overall finish in the championship and says he is motivated to close out the season on a high note at Long Beach.
“We wanted more in Utah, but this team never gives up,” said Aasbo. “The finale is practically in our backyard, and we’re going to bring everything we’ve got for the fans and for Toyota.”
Teammate Ryan Tuerck continued his consistent run in the Rain-X Toyota GR Corolla, advancing through early rounds to deliver solid points on a high-speed track known for its technical demands and high elevation. Tuerck has delivered strong results in the back half of the season and is focused on carrying that momentum into Long Beach.
“I love this new finale location, and I’m excited to throw down in Long Beach,” said Tuerck. “The Corolla feels great and I’m ready to send it.”
Aasbo's result ended a close championship fight with James Deane, who was able to mathematically secure this year's title in Utah. The battle now turns to podium positions and finishing the season strong. Aasbo, a three-time champion and the most winning driver in series history, and Tuerck, a fan favorite with a proven track record on Southern California streets, both aim to deliver a big result at the all-new Long Beach course.
The final round of the 2025 Formula Drift season takes place October 17-18 on a brand-new layout in Long Beach, just a few miles from Papadakis Racing headquarters in Carson. Fans can expect a full weekend of high-energy competition as the series crowns its champions and closes another historic year of drifting.
Norwegian driver Aasbo has won three Formula Drift titles since joining the Papadakis Racing Toyota team in 2011, earning his first series championship in 2015, as well as back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022. The Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra driver has a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most winning in Formula Drift, having now achieved 20 No. 1 finishes in the premier USA series and 100-plus podium finishes on three continents over the past decade of global competition. In 2024, he finished third in the championship chase.
Tuerck, who hails from New Hampshire, is a contender in the Rain-X Toyota GR Corolla. His down-home charm, commitment to the sport’s grassroots, and talent in front of the camera have brought him a social fanbase of 1.7 million followers. His build legacy includes the Celica GT411, the Stout, and the Formula Supra, and started with the viral Toyota GT4586 build released in 2016. That inventive first project inspired the genre of build content online when he paired a Toyota GT86 with a Ferrari 458 engine to generate some 70 million digital impressions. He joined the Papadakis Racing team in 2020 and is a fan favorite for his go-big or go-home commitment to competition.
Based in Carson, California, the Papadakis Racing team began drifting in 2004 and is the most winning in Formula Drift history, earning the 2022, 2021 and 2015 championship titles with driver Aasbo, as well as back-to-back championships with driver Tanner Foust in 2007 and 2008. Partner Toyota has won the manufacturer’s cup nine times since 2014.
Team owner Stephan Papadakis is a legend of sport-compact racing who began building his reputation in the 1990s in drag racing. The team has recently expanded its capabilities outside of racing, delivering prototyping and engineering services for select industrial clients under the Papadakis Engineering banner.
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 host capacity crowds, while live-streamed multi-platform broadcasts attract millions of online viewers.
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