This is the Statt Mann Baby!! Time to Scatt a little bit.

Stupid fun this weekend watching the Formula Drift Finals at Irwindale Speedway. The competition in Formula D is raised with each event. The crowds are more knowledgeable. The judging is becoming more consistent.

And when it was all done last night, the winner was a new face. Sam Hubinette or Rhys Millen won the first three championships in Formula D but the King of the Hill now is Tanner Foust. He won the X Games Gold Medal in Rallying this year and was a contender in the Rally America championship until he took a couple events off to chase the Drift title that’s now his.

It was equally fun for me to be a generational bridge between two racing industry icons from very different worlds.

I was talking with Tuner legend RJ de Vera, a design specialist who has created several accessory lines including the American Racing Wheels Motegi and RoJa brands.

While admiring RJ’s Mercedes, up walks J.C. Agajanian Jr., promoter of Turkey Night at Irwindale and son of the man who launched racing careers taking drivers to Indy from his legendary Ascot Race track in Gardena.

When I introduced the two I noticed neither knew of the other and both were equally impressed when I dropped a quickie resume in their respective laps.

Don’t believe the stereotypes you may hear, the Tuner landscape includes the young AND their parents. It’s one of the few motorsports realities that can brag about that.

I hope the industry itself finds a way to embrace that fact.

Peace.