Tanner Foust third at Global Rallycross Dallas
Rockstar Energy Drink Driver extends podium streak to three
DALLAS, Texas (June 5, 2016) — Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust extended his Global Rallycross podium streak to three in a row on Saturday with a third-place result on a tight and technical Dallas track.
“We proved we were fast on the power tracks at the last round and this was a rough and technical track that really gave us the opportunity to showcase the handling capabilities of the Volkswagen Beetle rallycross cars,” said Foust. “The Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team proved this weekend that we can be fast on any track the series throws at us.”
After qualifying at the top of the leaderboard and winning both heats and his semifinal race, Foust looked set to repeat the perfect weekend that saw him score a double victory in Phoenix last month. But in a mis-step during the final, he swung wide as he charged into the loose, off-camber second corner and he and teammate Scott Speed briefly made contact as rival drivers sped by.
“When you’re starting side-by-side on the front row, the best strategy is usually to play follow-the-leader through the first corner and look for a passing opportunity later,” said Foust. “That backfired a little bit for us this weekend when I misjudged the grip into the first tight corner and went to the brakes too late. I exited wide and Scott had nowhere to go.”
Foust was able to claw his Rockstar Energy Drink Volkswagen Beetle back into third place with a perfectly timed Joker lap and he battled to the finish line to bring down the leaders. Although Foust had a faster pace than the car in front of him, he couldn’t find a good way past and opted to play it safe and settle for third on the podium behind second-place finisher Steve Arpin and winner Patrik Sandell.
“I pushed hard to get around Steve but I didn’t want to make a big move and risk everything on this tricky track,” said Foust. “it’s a long season and I’m racing for the championship.”
Next, Foust and the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team head into a Florida doubleheader June 18-19. The two-time series champion has a 25-point lead in the standings and says he is confident his team will have the car for the fast and smooth course at Daytona. Foust won the first doubleheader race at Daytona International Speedway last season.
A two-time series champion, Foust is the most winning in Global Rallycross Championship history with a record of nine wins and 20 podium finishes.
Rallycross is a blend of circuit racing, off-road racing and rally competition. It promises intense crowd-pleasing action in a fan-friendly track environment. As many as 10 drivers line up to start at once, piloting high-horsepower compact cars through race traffic over a challenging short course that features jumps, unbanked turns, hills and transitions between pavement and gravel.
Full coverage of Global Rallycross Championship action airs live on NBC and is available online live and on-demand.
ABOUT TANNER FOUST
Tanner Foust is a versatile and multi-talented driver known for his supreme car control and a proven track record of podium placements, national championships and world records. He is a three-time U.S. rallycross champion (2012, 2011, 2010) who has also won four X Games gold medals (2013, 2010, 2007), and two Formula Drift championships (2008, 2007).
He has held multiple world records including for the astonishing Hot Wheels Double Loop Dare, which saw Foust drive a car through a 66-foot loop-the-loop. He scored the indoor speed record for TV’s Top Gear USA, and set a distance jump record with Hot Wheels when he made a 332′ ramp-to-ramp leap in a truck at the Indy 500.
His varied race experience also includes multiple years of open wheel competition, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, rally racing, various types of sports car racing and the SCORE Baja. He has represented the USA in the annual Race of Champions three times, teaming with NASCAR star Carl Edwards in 2008, Travis Pastrana in 2009, and Mick Doohan in 2010.
When he isn’t racing, the professional driver also performs in films and on television. He is an on-air host for the U.S. version of the seminal BBC auto show Top Gear, produced by BBC Worldwide Productions and airing on the HISTORY channel.
Foust also handles stunt driving in numerous popular films, TV shows and commercials. He is featured as a stunt driver in Need 4 Speed, as well as other major releases including the Bourne Legacy, Bourne Ultimatum, Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, Dukes of Hazzard, Red Dawn and Iron Man 2.
ABOUT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state -of-the- art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. VWoA sells the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, CC, Eos, e-Golf, Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan and Touareg vehicles through approximately 652 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.
ABOUT ANDRETTI AUTOSPORT
Based in Indianapolis and led by racing legend Michael Andretti, Andretti Autosport boasts a wide racing portfolio rooted in tradition and designed for success. Together with Andretti Formula E and Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross, Andretti Autosport fields multiple entries in the IndyCar Series and Indy Lights, along with entries in the FIA Formula E Championship and Global Rallycross. The company boasts four IndyCar Series championships (2004, 2005, 2007, 2012), two Indy Lights titles (2008, 2009), one Pro Mazda championship (2013) and one USF2000 championship (2010) and has captured victory at the famed Indianapolis 500 three times (2005, 2007, 2014). Additionally the team holds two X Games Gold Medals and one Global Rallycross championship (2015). To share in the Andretti story, please visit online at AndrettiAutosport.com and follow along on Twitter via @FollowAndretti.
ABOUT ROCKSTAR
Rockstar Energy Drink is designed for those who lead active lifestyles – from athletes to rockstars. Available in over 25 flavors at convenience and grocery outlets in more than 30 countries, Rockstar supports the rockstar lifestyle across the globe through action sports, motor sports, and live music. More at www.RockstarEnergy.com
