Top Drift Round 3 was a very difficult round to cope with, for drivers, staff, and media alike. It was extremely hot, breezy, and the sun pounded spirits to a pulp all day long. The main focus seemed to be staying cool and hydrated, while driving and winning came second. The combination of heat and broken spirits had drivers jumping in their tow rigs and heading home the moment they were knocked out of competition.
Top 16 was composed of those who managed to keep their cool on track during qualifying, but making the cut meant they would be sticking around for a couple of more hours in the heat. (Alex Heilbrunn, Donovan Brockway, Tim Cobb, Jef Groff, Jason Kim, Matt Madrigali, Spike Chen, Robin Webber, Brandon Contreras, Kenny Chieu, Blake Olsen, Dan Burkett, Aaron Sly, Joe Tardiff, George Kiriakopoulos, and Cody Sarem)
Top 16
Matt Madrigali vs Jason Kim – Matt Madrigali
Brandon Contreras vs Aaron Sly – Brandon Contreras
Spike Chen vs Kenny Chieu – Spike Chen
Alex Heilbrunn vs Robin Webber – Alex Heilbrunn
Joe Tardiff vs Cody Sarem – Cody Sarem
Donovan Brockway vs Jef Groff – Jef Groff
Dan Burkett vs George Kiriakopoulos – Dan Burkett
Tim Cobb vs Blake Olsen – Blake Olsen
Great 8
Matt Madrigali vs Brandon Contreras – Matt Madrigali
Spike Chen vs Alex Heilbrunn – Alex Heilbrunn
Cody Sarem vs Jef Groff – Jef Groff
Dan Burkett vs Blake Olsen – Dan Burkett
Final 4
Matt Madrigali vs Alex Heilbrunn – Matt Madrigali
Jef Groff vs Dan Burkett – Dan Burkett, Jef Groff wins 3rd place.
Matt Madrigali vs Dan Burkett – Dan Burkett
1st place – Dan Burkett
2nd place – Matt Madrigali
3rd place – Jef Groff
The Stealth Custom Fab Insane Entry award went to Alex Heilbrunn!
As soon as Top Drift Round 3 concluded, we jammed out of there faster than ever in search for cooler weather back home. We will be back at Willow Springs Raceway on August 22-23 for Top Drift Round 4.
Enjoy the 2014 Top Drift Round 3 gallery!
