D1 Grand Prix 2007 World Championship Drifting

IRWINDALE, CA -- Drifting fans got an early holiday treat as the 2007 D1 Grand Prix World Championship was held at Irwindale Speedway during Thanksgiving Weekend. On Saturday, November 24th, the D1GP Season Finale Tournament was held. Then, on Sunday, November 25th, drivers representing the United States took on the Japan team in a Battle Royale Dream Drift Match. The Gran Turismo D1 All Star World Championship then took place on Sunday evening. During the weekend, the 11,000 fans that came to Irwindale were also able to attend the Extreme Autofest Show which was held in conjunction with the D1GP event.

Nobushige Kumakubo took top honors in the season finale tournament on Saturday. However, Vaughn Gittin Jr. emerged as the big winner for the weekend-first leading the U. S. to an upset victory over Team Japan, and then winning the All Star World Championship on Sunday. Gittin Jr. captained the United States team also comprised of Rhys Millen, Ken Gushi, Tyler McQuarrie, and Robbie Nishida. Ken Nomura was captain of the Japan team which also featured Kumakubo, Masato Kawabata, Youichii Imamura, and Takahiro Ueno. In the World Championship tournament, Gittin Jr. bested Nomura in the semi-finals before defeating Kumakubo in the finals.

The event will be televised on the Speed Channel sometime during December 2007.

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