Long Beach is always a tone-setter for the Formula DRIFT season. It’s tight, fast, and leaves little room for mistakes. That much hasn’t changed, but the 2025 opener offered something more - new faces, a shuffled format, and a final that came down to the two most decorated drivers in series history. The outcome? A hard-earned win for Fredric Aasbo after one of the weekend’s most intense head-to-heads with longtime rival James Deane.
The match-up between Aasbo and Deane in the Final was one for the books. On paper, it was even. Deane, coming off a dominant 2024, looked comfortable in the RTR Mustang. Aasbo, now running Kenda rubber on his Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra after years on Nitto, was the question mark. But any concern about tire changes faded quickly as Aasbo’s consistency carried him all the way through the bracket.
Both drivers went deep in their initial Final runs - clean lead laps, aggressive chase lines, and little to separate them. The judges called for One More Time. On the rerun, Deane clipped the wall in Outside Zone 3 trying to match Aasbo’s pace and trajectory. The mistake caused contact between the cars, forcing a brief reset. After review, Deane was ruled at fault, handing Aasbo the win.
That wasn’t the only close call of the day for Aasbo. He opened his bracket against rookie Connor O’Sullivan in a matchup that looked more even than the stats might suggest. O’Sullivan held his own, but Aasbo advanced. He then faced off against veteran Ken Gushi, whose experience on this track runs deep. Still, Aasbo pushed forward and met Ryan Tuerck in the Top 8 - a teammate and familiar opponent. It was a tight battle that split the judges, but Aasbo’s line at the Inside Clip helped him take it. In the Semis, he was up against Branden Sorensen, who showed up with one of his most composed performances to date. It took another narrow decision, but Aasbo punched through.
On the other side of the bracket, Deane was carving his way through the field with trademark precision. He ultimately eliminated Adam LZ in the Top 4, ending what had been a strong weekend for the Florida-based driver. LZ had gotten past three-time champ Chris Forsberg in an earlier round, even needing a One More Time to close it out. He’d settle for third place overall - his best Long Beach finish to date, and a solid start to his full-season commitment.
Beyond the podium, a few other stories stood out. Daniel Stuke made the most of the revised Seeding Bracket format, beating out Ben Hobson in a close fight and taking the top spot. That result landed Stuke fifth in the overall standings, putting him in a strong position heading into Round 2. Hobson’s second place in the bracket was also a welcome return after a tough 2024.
The rookie field saw mixed results. Jack Shanahan and Tommy Lemaire both advanced through the Seeding Bracket and managed to avoid an early exit. Shanahan ended up 21st, narrowly ahead of Lemaire, and now leads the Rookie of the Year standings by a single point. Meanwhile, Daigo Saito’s much-anticipated return to Formula DRIFT was cut short by engine trouble. After falling in qualifying and then retiring from his first heat, his weekend ended early.
With Aasbo’s win, Kenda Tire picked up its first-ever event victory in Formula DRIFT - an important milestone after two seasons of development. Toyota also grabbed an early lead in the Auto Cup standings.
And while the focus remained on track for most of the event, one off-track moment stood out. Larry Chen, who’s been behind the lens documenting nearly every step of FD’s growth since 2006, was inducted into the Formula DRIFT Hall of Fame. It’s a rare honor, previously reserved for Rhys Millen, Samuel Hubinette, and Tanner Foust. Chen's photography has helped shape how the culture around drifting is seen and remembered. It was fitting that Long Beach - where so many of his most iconic shots were taken - would be the place to recognize his contribution.
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