Formula Drift Driver Matt Field Challenges Vaughn Gittin Jr. at Evergreen Speedway
- 6 Sept 2012
Field and his crew spent several hours dialing in his car on practice day, and his confidence level was high. Misfortune had reared its ugly head at this venue during the previous season. Due to bad fuel and a faulty fuel pump the driver wasn't able to qualify. But things appeared to be different in 2012. A solid practice and qualifying in the thirty second-position lent to the feeling that a positive outing was on its way. With the pressure of qualifying behind, him, the driver was then able to focus on his first race of the event. "The key to success at Washington is running the bank," he recalled; "Not just running the bank, but being high on the wall and fast. If you can't be up on the bank, you will not get a good score. Evergreen Speedway is an awesome facility," he continued. "They take care of the track." Field and his crew managed to get the car fine-tuned and ready to roll, prior to the beginning of the race. Granted all was well mechanically, and the driver knew what he must do to experience a successful run. There was one other obstacle, on the other hand, that he could not control. Field was scheduled to go up against Vaughn Gittin Jr., who's driving had proven superb throughout the earlier stages of the event. When his first tandem battle was deemed underway, Matt Field showered down on it. He challenged his fellow driver for a while, but the 800 horsepower of muscle under Gittin's hood was more than his car could handle. That said, before long, the opposing driver pulled away, and held a three-car lead throughout the remainder of the race.
Embarking upon his second run, Matt Field experienced one of his best performances of the weekend. The driver had done his best, and given Gittin a run for his money. Although shy of a victory, Field earned a top-eight spot at the end of the day. "I was glad I made it to the top eight this season," explained Field, "but I will never be happy until I am on the podium." When asked if he was resected by his fellow competitors, he continued, "I would certainly hope so. I am one of the drivers who has the least amount of horsepower out there. I am currently doing better than a few big teams and a few guys with way more horsepower and car than I have. I make what I have work. I feel that some people look to my car to see what I am doing, and what I am making work, so that feels good." Of course, Matt Field's driving skills are essential in his quest for success, but the driver will be the first to credit his team for the role they play. "My crew is everything," he explained. "Without them, I wouldn't even be able to run. I need them for mental reassurance, mechanics and to tell me what I am doing wrong, I can't jump out and change my tires every few runs," he continued. "I need them." The driver is also acutely aware of the importance of keeping his car in tip-top running condition. "Maintenance is huge in drifting.The cars take such abuse that we need to know what is going to fail. We get things replaced, serviced, and fixed before each round. I have a long check list of "things-to-do" to make sure the car is as good as it can be." As one might suspect, Matt Field is an advocate of keeping the internal components of his engine contaminant free. That in mind, he depends upon K&N products for his filtering needs. "I have used K&N products my entire life,from my quarter-midgets to my ATV," he explained. "Now I use K&N air filters and air filter socks, as well as the awesome K&N pro-series oil filters. These oil filters are a must if I want to protect my engines. I use them in everything from my daily driven car to my tow rig, and of course, my race car." Looking forward to future races, Matt Field said, "I think the key to success will be getting more horsepower. If I even had 100 more, I would be in business. The crew and I have something planned for the last round of the season. This should help us make it to the top." Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
