Hubinette, NuFormz Pay Tribute to Carlson, Earn Fourth-Place Finish in Final FD Standings
The Mopar(R)-powered NuFormz Racing Formula DRIFT (FD) team and driver Samuel Hubinette ended their 2009 season with a Great 8 finish, the fourth spot in the final point standings and a poignant tribute to their fallen team owner and leader, Shaun Carlson, at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 17. Carlson, NuFormz Racing team owner and a former Team Mopar driver, passed away suddenly on Oct. 4.
Hubinette's Dodge Viper SRT10(R) was wrapped with special "red Camo" graphics, donated by Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Competition Graphics, that featured an image of Carlson with his trademark Mohawk haircut. The beloved and respected racing icon and innovator was also saluted with a moment of silence and a special FD video tribute prior to the Irwindale main event.
The NuFormz team and Hubinette did Carlson proud, qualifying in the ninth spot and drawing Frederic Aasbo in the Round of 32. Hubinette defeated Aasbo and moved on to the Top 16 main event in a close race with the FD newcomer.
Hubinette then faced the formidable Joon Maeng in the Top 16. Hubinette followed on the first tandem run, bringing the crowd to its feet as he stuck his Mopar-powered Viper to Maeng's door. Hubinette led on an evenly matched second tandem run with Maeng, prompting the FD judges to call for a "One More Time" (OMT). Hubinette came away with the win in the OMT after Maeng made a correction during the run, prompting a passionate celebration from Carlson's family and friends, who turned out in large numbers to witness the event.
Unfortunately, the team's luck ran out in the Great 8 round, losing a close battle to Tyler McQuarrie. Hubinette, winner of two FD titles (2004 and 2006) and nine career events, a series-high, with Carlson, took special comfort in the team's fourth-place finish in the final standings. Hubinette and Carlson never finished worse than fifth in the final FD season standings since the series was formed in 2004.
"It was a good ending to the season for us," said Hubinette. "We lost our team owner and friend, Shaun Carlson. Formula DRIFT did a great video tribute to him. I think it was really cool and I know his family was very pleased.
"We had some close battles in the Top 32 and Top 16, and I felt we got some extra strength from Shaun above. We wanted to win for him, and I'm bummed we didn't, but we made the Great 8, which I think is remarkable given all the things the team has been through. I'm so proud of the NuFormz team, and I know Shaun would have been, too."