Hübinette and Cook Focus on a Summit Point

SAMUEL HÃœBINETTE AND CHRIS COOK ARE FOCUSED ON A RETURN-TO-FORM AT SUMMIT POINT

• Hübinette has the Mopar® Dodge Charger SRT8 dialed in as he heads into Round Three
• It’s a Top 16 or bust for Team Mopar drifting rookie Chris Cook
• Event details

Center Line, Mich. — Team Mopar® drifter Samuel Hübinette enters the Round Three event at Summit Point Raceway in West Virginia focused on one goal—posting one of the strong outings that have earned the “Crazy Swede� a reputation as one of the premier drifters in the sport.

Following May’s Road Atlanta event, the two-time Formula Drift champion owned a new and most unwelcome career statistic—his first-ever DNQ. With the sting of that outing fresh in his memory, Hübinette is aiming for a return to the podium this weekend.

Hübinette’s Team Mopar teammate, Chris Cook, will also look to get on track at Summit Point. A rookie to the sport of drifting, Cook debuted a new Dodge Viper SRT10 at the Road Atlanta event and just missed making the field of the top 32 drifters. With two Formula Drift events now under his belt, Cook will look to advance to his first Saturday main event this weekend.

HÃœBINETTE HAS THE MOPAR DODGE CHARGER SRT8 DIALED IN AS HE HEADS INTO ROUND THREE
The switch from the Dodge Viper SRT10 that he took to the 2006 Formula Drift championship to the new Mopar Dodge Charger SRT8 drift machine has been a challenging one for Samuel Hübinette. A driveshaft problem prevented Hübinette from qualifying for the Road Atlanta event. With the help of team director and NuFormz Racing owner Shaun Carlson, the bugs appear to have been worked out of the Mopar Dodge Charger SRT8.

“We had a problem with the rear axle at the first event in Long Beach,� explained Carlson. “Sam complained that there was a vibration. It turned out when the axle broke, it broke the driveshaft as well. For Atlanta, we had to upgrade the axles, which we did. We also upgraded the driveshaft to an ‘unbreakable carbon fiber driveshaft.’ Well, that unbreakable driveshaft broke within thirty minutes of practice time. For Summit Point, we’ve switched back to a steel, two-piece driveshaft with a heavy-duty carrier bearing. We’ve already gone out testing with the car, and Sam said there were no vibrations, no problems. We haven’t had any driveshaft problems or axle problems, so we are looking very good for this West Virginia event.�

“We’ve been spending quite a lot of time to make the car as competitive as possible,� said Hübinette. “Drifting is a pretty rough sport, as you put a lot of stress on the vehicle. Now that we have straightened out the driveline problems, we can start focusing on the performance. It’s an exciting process to be a part of this with the Charger, which is one of the first racecars based on the LX platform.�

The West Virginia stop is a new one for the Formula Drift series. Hübinette enjoys the opportunities to bring drifting to a new audience.

“It will be fun to try the Summit Point track,� said Hübinette. “It’s always exciting to come to a new area. It helps to grow the sport of drifting.�

The new track won’t distract Hübinette from his objective of a podium finish at Summit Point.

“We are definitely in race mode,� Hübinette said. “We are focused on getting up on the podium, where we are used to being. We are looking to get on top again. I’m optimistic. We’ve had to work through some issues, but I think they have been solved.�

IT’S A TOP 16 OR BUST FOR TEAM MOPAR DRIFTING ROOKIE CHRIS COOK
Chris Cook, driver of the Mopar/BFG/ShiftIntoGear Dodge Viper SRT10, has two Formula Drift events to draw upon entering the Round Three Summit Point event. With that race experience, as well as a number of test sessions since the Road Atlanta event, Cook knows he has the tools to advance to his first ever Top 16 at Summit Point.

“The car, the tires, the people—the team has been great,� said Cook, a veteran NASCAR Busch Series and Nextel Cup driver in his first year on the Formula Drift circuit. “We’re ready and we’re very capable. We’ve got the ability. It’s a matter of me just sticking it.�

The test sessions have given Cook what he needs most right now—seat time in his new Dodge Viper SRT10.

“The biggest thing has been getting time in the car,� he said. “It’s just a matter of everything clicking. Being able to test, we learned a heck of a lot. Like any driver, you’ve got a little bit of a jump when you get a chance to test.�

Cook had the opportunity to test on the Summit Point track. The challenging course should play right into the hands of Cook, known as “Wild Thing� during his days driving in the Late Model Series in Nashville.

“It’s going to require an awful lot of discipline and at the same time a lot of ‘go for it’ mentality,� Cook said. “The course is going to be a challenge, especially turn one.�

When all is said and done, the only way Cook will be happy is if all the time and testing pays off with a berth in the Top 16 on Saturday.

“The bottom line is qualifying into the Top 16, and having a shot at progressing from the Top 16,� Cook said. “That’s what we want to do. We just hope the judges like what they see. The more I do this, the more I learn what they want. I want to have a shot at the podium. I don’t like watching the damn event. I want to be out there. I’m excited and looking forward to it.�

EVENT DETAILS
Hübinette and Cook will drift the Summit Point Raceway course in Summit Point, West Virginia on Saturday, June 2. The media day and practice is June 1. For ticket and event information, visit Formula D’s new Web site.