- Specially prepared Dodge Challenger and Dodge Viper SRT10 are set for new season of drift competition
- Samuel Hübinette Racing welcomes European ProDrift champ Dean Kearney as second driver
- 2011 Formula DRIFT season kicks off at the Streets of Long Beach (Calif.) April 8-9
- Hübinette and his Dodge Challenger drift machine will be available for demo rides from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 26, at the Sixth Annual Spring Festival at Orange County Great Park (ex El Toro Marine base)
Two-time champion Samuel Hübinette is set to unleash a one-two Dodge punch on the Formula DRIFT (FD) Series in 2011.
The “Crazy Swede,” who returns for a second year of dual owner and driver
roles, will drive his own Samuel Hubinette Racing (SHR) Dodge Motorsports
Dodge Challenger, while new teammate, European ProDrift champ Dean Kearney
will pilot the SHR Dodge Viper SRT10, sponsored by V-LEDS-Federal.
Dodge Motorsports will again serve as primary sponsor for Hübinette’s
Challenger. V-LEDS will take the primary sponsorship role on Kearney’s Dodge
Viper SRT10, while veteran Brad Manka will return as crew chief for both SHR
machines.
“We’re very excited about the upcoming season and can’t wait to get to Long
Beach,” said Hübinette, who earned two FD championships in his first three
seasons, including the series’ inaugural year in 2004. “The SHR Dodge
Challenger should be even more formidable with a year of competition under
our belt, and Dean Kearney is a talented, young driver who will surely be
competitive right out of the gate in the SHR Dodge Viper SRT10.
“I’m also very grateful to continue important relationships in 2011 with
sponsors such as Dodge, BFGoodrich, and welcome in new sponsors, including
Discount Tire and V-LEDS. We intend to repay their support by putting on the
best drift show we can and by bringing home some victories and competing for
a championship,” Hübinette added.
Kearney is more than ready to join Hubinette in the SHR spotlight. The
22-year-old native of Waterford, Ireland, nicknamed “Karnage” is an
accomplished driver, having captured the 2009 European Pro Drift
Championship.
“This is a perfect fit for me, and I feel right at home with Samuel and the
whole SHR family,” Kearney said. “With driver nicknames ‘Crazy Swede’ and
‘Karnage,’ fans are going to quickly see SHR as one of the most exciting
teams in all of drifting this season.”
Dodge is looking forward to another successful season of drift competition.
“Samuel brings a ton of passion and experience to everything he does for
Dodge, so we’re excited to be back with Samuel Hübinette Racing in 2011 and
look forward to the arrival of a second champion, Dean Kearney in the SHR
Dodge Viper,” said Bryan Viger, Head of Dodge Motorsports. “We can’t ask for
a better team to represent Dodge and Dodge Motorsports in the Formula DRIFT
Series.”
Jake York, president and CEO of new team sponsor V-LEDS, one of the largest
automotive LED replacement bulb retailers in the world, shares the
enthusiasm as the 2011 season opener approaches. “We can’t wait to see our
logo on the SHR Dodge Viper SRT10,” York said. “Dean is sure to quickly let
loose on the Streets of Long Beach and we look forward to the start of the
season and developing a long-term relationship with SHR.”
Hübinette, Kearney and SHR kick off their season in the 2011 FD Round One
event on the Streets of Long Beach, Calif. on April 8-9. The season
continues at Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga., May 6-7; Palm Beach International
Raceway, Palm Beach, Fla., June 3-4; Wall Speedway, Wall, N.J., June 17-18;
Evergreen Speedway, Monroe, Wash., July 22-23; Las Vegas Motor Speedway,
Aug. 26-27; and Irwindale, Calif., Oct. 7-8.
About Samuel Hübinette
A native of Jokkmokk, Sweden, Samuel Hübinette is a two-time drifting
champion and also a Rally Cross X Games bronze medalist. He has competed in
various offroad races including the Baja 1000 and also has a history in road
racing. When he isn’t competing professionally, Hubinette rides motorcycles
and works as a stunt driver in car commercials and in Hollywood productions.
Hübinette developed a taste for speed in his native Sweden, where he earned
a reputation for pushing snowmobiles, motorcycles and cars to their limits.
He competed in Touring Car with Volvo from 1997 through 2000 and worked for
Volvo Cars for nine years as a test driver in product development. He has
also worked as a performance driving instructor including a three-year stint
at the Skip Barber Racing School, where he was a member of the elite Special
Product Group.
Hübinette and his wife Stina recently welcomed baby daughter Stella into
their household in Newport Beach, Calif.
Follow Hübinette, Kearney and SHR on: www.samuelhubinette.com,
www.facebook.com/samuelhubinette, www.twitter.com/samuelhubinette,
www.dodgemotorsports.com, www.hubinetteracing.com, www.deankearney.com,
www.twitter.com/deankarnage, www.facebook.com/deankarnage and
SPONSORS
Dodge Challenger: Dodge, BFGoodrich, , Discount tire, Magnaflow, Sparco,
Royal Purple, AIT, AEM, K&N, Weld, APR, Meguiars, Ignite, Amp Research,
Stack Performance, Braille battery, V-Leds, Mopar, Tilton
Dodge Viper: V-LEDS, Federal, Dodge, Paxton, APR, Eibach, Royal Purple, AEM,
K&N, Meguires, Ignite, Braille Battery, Magnaflow, Sparco, Vipair,
driver.ie, Tilton
About the Dodge Brand
Dodge is a full line of cars, crossovers, minivans and SUVs that are agile,
daring, sensible and inventive. The brand is on a tear for the 2011 model
year, redefining itself with six all-new or significantly redesigned new
vehicles, introducing new lifestyle packages designed to better meet the
needs of its customers, launching catchy new ads that have started
conversations with owners and potential owners, actively participating in
new events and sponsorships and developing relationships with its long-loyal
enthusiast base, as well as reaching out to customers who want cars that
leave them wanting more.
For the 2011 model year, the Dodge brand is filling dealer showrooms with a
vast array of new and updated products. The Dodge product line includes the
all-new Dodge Durango and Dodge Charger, significantly revamped Grand
Caravan, Journey, Avenger and Challenger, and the Dodge Caliber and Dodge
Nitro.
Follow Dodge and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on:
Chrysler Connect blog: http://blog.chryslergroupllc.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chrysler
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo
Streetfire: http://members.streetfire.net/profile/ChryslerVideo.htm
