Pumphrey tries to help Matt & Odi drift | Frenemies Seattle

**Formula Drift in Seattle: A Thrilling Experience**

The Formula Drift tour stopped in Seattle for its 5th event, and the excitement was palpable. I had the chance to speak with driver Odi Bakchich, who shared his enthusiasm for the track and his strategy for qualifying.

"I love this track," Odi said. "It's fast, it's dangerous, and I really feel like that's gonna suit the Corvette well." With a current eighth-place standing in points, Odi is eager to secure a spot on the podium. "I've done it before, I've podiumed here, I feel like I have no excuse," he emphasized.

Odi also talked about his team, Falken, and their preparation for the event. "Falken asked me to come out and make sure everything's running smooth. They both did really well in the last event. They were thinking maybe a little Pumph magic might be what takes them over the top here."

The track in Seattle features a long straightaway to the first outer zone, making it one of the longest outer zones in all of Formula Drift. Drivers must push wide to driver's left and snap the car as hard as possible into outer zone two. After completing outer zone two, they need to transition the car as hard as possible and hit inner clip one right in front of the judges.

**Qualifying Run**

As I watched Odi take his qualifying run, I noticed that he had a 93 on his first run, which left him tied for first place. However, after analyzing the results, he bumped to second place. "I saw a bunch of people flying off, approaching the touch and go, so I was like, maybe there's not a lot of grip," Odi explained. "I was a little bit too safe there, and because of that, I was only scored a 90."

Despite this setback, Odi is determined to improve his score in the next qualifying run. "Good, but the top ten were sitting on 90s, time to throw down." He's eager to show off his skills and secure a spot in the top 32.

**Matt Field's Crash**

As I was watching Matt Field take his second qualifying round, he attempted to go for a yank but rear-ended the wall. The crowd gasped as the car crashed into the barrier. "Just terrible," someone in the audience groaned.

Odi offered some insight into the crash, saying that Matt might have lost too much weight during the run and wasn't used to driving at such a low weight. Fortunately, it's all cosmetic, and Matt is still sitting 12th going into tomorrow.

**The Falken Lifestyle**

As I watched Odi take his qualifying run, I couldn't help but feel the excitement of being part of the Falken lifestyle. The team's enthusiasm and passion for Formula Drift are infectious, making every experience at the track a thrilling one.

So all them parts you mopped up off your car? Those going winched?" someone asked Odi. "I make a killing, man!" he replied with a grin. It's clear that being part of the Falken team is an incredible experience, filled with excitement and camaraderie.

As I watched Dean Kearney take his qualifying run, I remembered the last time these two drivers went together was the worst crash I'd ever been involved in. "Now, Dean and I have had our fair share of tussles," Odi said. It's clear that both drivers are eager to show off their skills and secure a spot on the podium.

The Formula Drift tour in Seattle is sure to be an exciting event, with talented drivers like Odi Bakchich and Matt Field pushing themselves to the limit. The Falken team's enthusiasm and passion for the sport make every experience at the track a thrilling one.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Falken asked me to come outand make sure the guys are running smooth.And this is my car.- And this, is my car.Don't get me wrong,I wanna beat everybody out there.- He's a great teammate,but an even better frenemy.(rock music)- Headed out for practice #1 on Friday, qualifying.Sun's out, which is nice.- You know, when the sun's out?- Guns out.Hey I don't have those, relax.- We're in Seattle for the 5th stopof the Formula Drift tour,and I love this track,I'm absolutely pumped.It's fast, it's dangerous,and I really feel like that's gonnasuit the Corvette well.- I'm sittingeighth right now in points,I really need that bump.I've done it before,I've podiumed here, I feellike I have no excuse.I should be able to do well again,and I really need those points.- Call Matt Field.Yeah, couple of notes.Falken asked me to come out,make sure everything's running smooth.They both did reallywell in the last event.They were thinking maybe a little Pumphmagic might be whattakes them over the tophere in Seattle.(laughing)Okay, so next time I want you to try this.- The track in Seattleis a long straight awayto the first outer zone.This is one of the longest outer zonesin all of Formula Drift.And as you start comingoff the outer zone,you have to push wide to driver's leftwhich is the touch andgo, the edge of the track.Once you hit the touch and go,snap the car as hard as you possibly can,downshift into outer zone two.Soon as you're done with outer zone two,you have to pull off immediatelybecause there's inner clip onethat you must get, rightin front of the judges.You transition the caras hard as possible,hit inner clip two, andfinish to driver's leftnice and wide.(rock music)- If you qualify well,you have an easier time in abracket, especially top 30.Sometimes that's thatlittle bit that it takesto get on the podium.Kinda put a lot of pressure on myselfto do well here because,well, I've done it beforeI've gotta do that again.- Oh yeah, guys I've got this one.- What's that set to?Eight?- 80, 80 is perfect.- 100.- 325.There goes two of thebravest men I've ever met.(upbeat rock music)(engine revving)- Went pretty good actually,got a 93 on my first runwhich I'm very happy about.Watching the rest of thedrivers on the livestreamwith Dai.I tied for first, then bumped to second,I think I'm sitting in third.This is an important one,James Deane right here.(groaning)(rock music)(engine revving)- So going into qualifying,I saw a bunch of people flying off,approaching the touchand go, so I was likealright, maybe there's not a lot of grip.I was a little bit too safe there,and because of that Iwas only scored a 90.Good, but the top ten were sitting on 90s,time to throw down.(rock music)- We're upon the roof of the trailer,Matt's about to go for hissecond qualifying round.(engine revving)Tried to go off for a yank,run number two, got a 90,trying to improve.- I'd initiated intothe bank, I was on the wall,probably closer than I'd been all weekend,I was like this is just perfect, yes!I tried to rotate the car,I didn't quite get therotation that I wanted,And as soon as I pulledthe handbreak, womp.(engine revving, tires screeching)Rear ended the wall.(crowd cheering)- Hey, got a zero! (groans)- Just terrible.- Womp, womp.- I'm convinced you justwanna stay at the tracklate tonight.- The more weight youloose during the run,the faster you'll go,so I think Matt trieddoing that a little earlierbut he knocked too much weight off,and he wasn't used to being that light.- Oh, I was in it on the walljust dialed.Soon as I added angle, I was- Oh yeah.- Felt the wheel touch the wall.Never good.- Yeah, Matt's crash,probably just a littlebit of lack of experiencedriving outside of his skill set so,gotta keep up with the big dogs.(laughing)- Fortunately it's all cosmetic,we're sitting 12th going into tomorrow,I really wanna do well here.The car can, and it's just up to me.(guitar music)- Sick lift.This is the Falken lifestyle.Whoah, whoah,slow down Aaron.- Be right back,just dropping the babes off.(rock music)- I might have touched the wallbut I have a coloring book.(laughing)Odi where's your coloring book?- You know, Odi's daughter--- How many qualifyingruns did you complete?- Odi's daughter specifically askedfor a coloring book.She's gonna be there sittingin the pits, coloring,Odi's gonna be staring at it.- So all them parts youmopped up off your car?Those going winched?- I make a killing, man!(rock music)Top 32 we have Dean Kearney.- This guy Dean?Well he's an animal if he's pissed off,and he's pissed off right now so.Last time thesetwo went together wasthe worst crash I've been involved in.- Now, Dean and Ihave had our fair share of tussles.(crashing, crowd yelling)Dean smashed into me, mademe crash into the wall.If you guys don't rememberthe crash in Montrealthat led to my carfalling off the tow truck,Dean told me straight to my face,"I'm gonna wreck you intothe wall, you pikey!"- I always tellhim, don't talk to Deanbefore you go with him,because you guys areknuckleheads, both of you.They're both the same people.- They are, hotheads.- Alright,Matt Field, Dean Kearney,all American vehicles.Send it fellas.Matt Field, the beastfrom the bay, initiates,look at Matt Field high on the bank.- Fortunately enough,the car's fast enoughthat we were able to stay clear.(engine revving)- You gotta get up on him, bud.He was no slouch.Do your thing, throw the jab.(engine revving)- Dean up front,Matt field in the chase position,the beast from the bay,and just look at this guy,just ripping through that bank.- He has a fastcar, but ours is too.And it almost made myjob a little bit easier,because I could push hard behind him.All I needed to do was apply a little bitof pressure around the bank,stick with him throughoutthe rest of the track,and we're gonna get the win.We cross the finish line,it goes to the judges,all three judges goes in our favors.- Matt Field gets the victory.- I don't see whereit says Bakchis, Bakchis.- He's got that one.- Vankirk?- Think Vankirky's got that?- I dunno, Vankirk gavehim a good run last time.- He'll do fine.- I dunno, Odi might have a tough battle.(rock music)- It's been a lot of Vankirk this year.Beat him that other time,I gotta make sure I do that again.Statistics,sometimes kinda worry mewhen that happens, so.(engine revving)This is my third time battling Vankirk.He drives an S13, fairly mild build,but he's been getting better and better.- Vankirk,a Formula Drift rookie,Odi Bakchis,both of these guys with the LS.- I led cause I qualified higher- Odi very dominant,very comfortable in this S-chassis,- I just set a really good pace.- Odi Bakchis,out to the touch and go,Bang, switches it up,gets out to the second outer zone,tight to the front clip.- When it was myturn to follow Vankirk,just kinda played it safe,stuck it to his door,but left myself a little bit of cushion.Coming off the bank, I could feel that hehad a lot of momentum,maybe a little too much,and he went a little too deep.- Big anglethere from Vankirky,- I kept mycomposure, tucked behind himand finished up the rest of the course.I got the win.- Odi advances on.(rock music)- All the guys areready, they're feeling good.This is as far as I can take them.It's go time.It's time to let these baby birds fly.- Now Odi and myself areboth going into the top 16,and I have a pretty tough battle.It's against Fredric Aasbo.(rock music)Fredric Aasbo is a previous champion.He's a high-caliber driver,and he's fast, he's drivingon point this weekend,we knew the battle wasgoing to be difficult.I had to pull everything out, drive hard,not make any mistakes.- Yeah there you go, thereyou go, there you go.Yeah, yeah.- Just in case something happens,- Gotta run out there.- Yeah.- Yeah, be prepared.Be limber.Yeah, you're pretty flexible!Oh, you're bending your knees.- I think in the speedarena, we're a little faster.We've just gotta play it cool,Matt's got his head onstraight this round,I believe in him, I think we could doa real, real, real good job against Aasboand possibly take the win, I hope so.- Fredric Aasbo, Matt Field,seven times going against each other,Matt Field's only won one of those times.Alright here we go, Aasboinitiates into the wall,Matt Field right there,that's just what we were expecting.(dramatic rock music)- I know when I initiateI need to be right there,right on his door, applypressure immediately.- The beast from the bay,his claws are out, the fangs are out,- Coming off the bankis where things got a little messy.- Fangs are out,And he is knocking on the door- He's two tires off the track,I kinda just gave him a chest bump,but he took the hit like a man,was able to close backup, finish up the run.- From the video itlooks like he bumped himwith the left rear.- The judges actuallydeemed the hit Fredric's fault,since he was flying off the track,and gave us ten minutesto look over the car.But, honestly, the cartook the hit really well.We realign it, move somepanels out of the way,and go back out for our lead run.(upbeat music)- Here we go.- At this point,I don't need to run away from anybody,I don't need to fly off thetrack and do anything stupid,Just hit my marks.I ran outer zone one allthe way out to the wall,came off the bank in the right place,zone two was on point, hit inner clip one,hit inner clip two,finished off the run.And it went to the judges.Unanimously, us.- Matt Field gets the win!Make some noise, Seattle.- We won!I just got Carlos torepaint all this stuff,and now it's just thrashed,but it's okay, cause we're moving on.- That was really good- Woo-hoo!- I didn't see ya, but Isaw your shift past in and--- Oh yeah.Chest bump Tom!- It's still greasy out there?- Yeah, I'm not tellingyou to slow down earlier,but I'm saying it's not anymore grippy than practice.- Okay, that's all I need to know.- Kill it dog.- For top 16, I battled Matt Coffman.And I qualified higher,I'm very confident when I have to go upfor top 16 with Matt.- Well we've seen Coffmanhave some success here,almost got a podium a few years back,Odi Bakchis fighting for a championship,this is a pinnacle event for him.Bakchis, eye on the bank,nice job by him.- The first round,everything went pretty smooth,I felt good.(engines revving)- Sticking itclose to old transitionsinto that second outer zone,(engines revving)All out there, flex in closer,Odi Bakchis, whoah,wide swing by Odi and Coffman.- Except for the last turn,and I went a little wide,but I kept my composure.I was feeling overallhappy about the first run.(rock music)When we switched, he was smoothwhich allowed me to just charge hardand keep an even proximity to his car,all the way around the track.I got on his door at the bank,and I just kept that sameproximity throughout,and the last transition I actually incheda little closer to his car,tapped my front bumperjust a tiny little bit,that's as close as I'd ever wanna get,and I just finished off the run.Me and Matt Coffman aresitting there at the line,waiting for the judges' verdict,I was feeling pretty confident.I'm just focused about moving on.And it's taken a littlewhile for the decision,and I go, oh man, I hopeit's not a one more time.- Ryan says Matt Coffman.- Andy says one more time.- And, Brian saysMatt Coffman gets the win taking outOdi Bakchis.- I really thought I had that one.- I guess we're all surprised.I didn't even second guess that you werelow on the bank at all.- Really?- Like, zero.- Okay.Well we'll look at the videoand see what it looks like, so.Bummer.Was feeling really good today.- Yeah.(groans)- Hey this is drifting,anything could happen.From inside the car, itdidn't feel that bad.From the outside of the car it could bea whole different story, soI'll have to replay some of that footageand hopefully learn something from here.(engines revving)- Got the W.James Deane time.(rock music)- Going into thegreat eight, this is it.This might as well be the finals,that's how hard I'm driving.What can you say about James Deane,except for he is just on point.Last year's champion,driving like a beast,and obviously coming right from Jerseybeating me and I got second place.There's only one way to look at this.Follow hard, be up in their business,then when you switch positions,lead fast, lead hard,and do your thing.- We are seeingJames Deane, Matt Field.We saw some amazing battlesfrom them in New Jersey.Here we go.(engines revving)Field initiates, right there in that wish,Falken tires, Corvette- Coming off thebank is really where thingsgot a little bit interesting.He slowed down and pulled off the bank,so I did the same,but then he immediatelygrabbed the handbrakeand moved onto a higher line.So then I'm just kindastuck on a lower line.Finish out the run, overall pretty good.- Matt Field will lead,James Deane will give chase.- When we switched positions,it's almost the exact same run.He initiates right on my door,- MattField, great angle there,James Deane mimicking that angle,look at the hands on the wheel.- I kinda stayed high coming off the bankso he didn't have anyof the drop down stuff- Matt Fieldthrowing down some power,Deane right there.- Finished solid,no major mistakes from me,none from him.- And man, wow!- Went to the judges,the judges put so muchemphasis on the main bank,as they do at a lot oftracks that have a bank.I watched the runs, I'm like,ah, I could've done this,should've done that.Went to the judges,they favored James.- James Deane gets the win.James Deane advances on.- It was like dead even.Freaking follow run was awesome.I dunno how they gave it to Deane.- After watching the round I think he won.I just was a little bitshallower following than he was.- That was awesome initiation.(groans)- So close, again.This time, knocked out in the great eight.Honestly, I'm happy,gotta remember we got good points,the car is performing flawlessly,it's fast, it's drivable,so there's a lot of goodthings to take out of it.- We lost. (chuckles)It was pretty darn close,we were getting readyfor a one more time there,and a little bit ofproximity maybe in zone twowas the issue.But car ran great, Mattdrove like an animal,and we'll get 'em next round.- Matt and I, we both run Holley products.I love them, they're simple.He makes it not so simple.Matt, what is all this stuffyou got going on over here?- Odi, I need some complexity in my life.I run EGT sensors, I run drive-by-wire,progressive nitrous,I do all of those things.That's really the beauty of Holley.It's quality stuff, you buy the product,you put it on your car,you go perform.(electrical humming)