Danville, Va. (Feb. 12) – Drifting is the hottest new form of motorsport for young enthusiasts, and VIRginia International Raceway will be offering back-to-back weekends of smoky, sideways excitement for fans on VIR’s 1.1-mile Patriot Course in February.

On Saturday, February 17, the Drift Fury organization will hold a NOPI Qualifier event. The event is open to both experienced and non-experienced drivers, and drivers will be able to qualify for future NOPI drift events. The day will feature a Tandem Battle, open to the top eight cars in qualifying, where pairs of cars take to the course to compete against each other. The winner will take home a $500 cash prize, with $300 for second place and $100 for third.

The following Saturday, February 24, the NASA U.S. Drift organization will take over the VIR Patriot Course to hold its “Smoke ‘Em if You Got ‘Em” practice event. Although there will be no cash prizes, it will be a great opportunity for drivers to get some valuable track time and for fans to see the best drifters in the region sharpening their skills for the upcoming season.

Fans are invited to come out for both events and experience the excitement of drifting, where drivers test the limits of car control and tire adhesion as they pitch their cars sideways in long, controlled slides and are judged on technique and style. Tickets will be priced at $10 per person for each event, and the Pagoda restaurant will be open for business as will the Plantation Valley Kart Track. The on-track action will start at 8:30 am and last until 5:30 pm for both events.

“Based on the huge response we got last year with the GT LIVE event, we are happy to welcome the Drift Fury and U.S. Drift organizations to VIR to kick off the year with some tire-smoking entertainment,” said VIR general manager Josh Lief. “We love all forms of motorsport at VIR, and we encourage everyone to come out and see for themselves why we are ‘America’s Motorsport Resort.’”

VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River outside Danville, Virginia. In addition to its 3.27 mile natural-terrain road racing circuit, VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsport country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; Plantation Valley Kart Track, a 5/8-mile paved karting circuit; The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room trackside hotel; the new VIR Paddock Suites and Garages, with 18 dual-purpose hospitality/lodging units and garages; the new Villas at South Bend, a 60-unit residential villa complex; Camp Motorsport, a motorsports-themed summer camp for young people aged 10-16; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse.

For more information on VIRginia International Raceway, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or telephone 434-822-7700. To learn more about Drift Fury, visit their website at www.driftfury.com, and for more information on U.S. Drift, visit their website at www.usdrift.com.