MEDAL FAVORITE TANNER FOUST STRIKES OUT AT X GAMES

June 15, 2015 by Rockstar Energy Drink

AUSTIN, Texas (June 6, 2015) - Rockstar Energy Drink driver Tanner Foust set a great pace this weekend at X Games but found himself out of podium contention after a crash in blinding dust.

The four-time gold medalist qualified the Rockstar Energy Drink Volkswagen Beetle second in the competitive field and showed a strong pace as he fought into the main event. There, he lined up in the second row, prepared to battle for a medal. But as six cars charged into the dusty first corner, a car crossed directly in front of his bumper and Foust had to maneuver off-line to avoid a crash.

The move slotted him into the middle of the pack. As he crossed onto the dirt on his next lap, he encountered a wall of dust that reduced visibility to near zero. Foust lined up for the left-hander toward the course's imposing jump feature -- and missed the turn.

'I couldn't see anything so I took a guess about how much steering angle I needed,' said Foust. 'Until I hit the tires on the outside, I didn't even know where I was on the track.'

He was able to regain the course but had to settle for a fifth-place result. Even though it wasn't the finish he had hoped for at X Games, Foust said he was encouraged by the performance shown by his Rockstar Energy Drink Volkswagen Beetle.

'This was a win for the team,' said Foust. 'Volkswagen put in some great work over the winter in the off-season and we're going to be able to find an advantage at any track.'

Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross teammate Scott Speed took the gold medal, Steve Arpin was second and Sebastian Eriksson finished third. Saturday's X Games rallycross race was a standalone event that did not score points toward the Global Rallycross championship.

Even so, it's a popular stop for teams. In addition to rallycross, the four-day action sport event features competitions in BMX, skateboarding, and motocross. 'X Games is such an amazing experience,' said Foust. 'This is my tenth year here and it gets better every time. The fans are incredible.'

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. It is sometimes described as an action motorsport and is emerging as the top youth-market motorsport in the world.

Next up for Foust and the Rockstar Energy Drink Volkswagen Beetle is the Global Rallycross doubleheader weekend in Daytona, Florida, June 20 and 21.

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 also 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 also 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.

A dominant driver in the sport of rallycross, Foust is the only American driver ever to win a round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship. He made his rallycross debut overseas in 2010 with a select campaign and finished both 2011 and 2012 ranked in the top three. At home, Foust has been a leading driver in the sport since it was first introduced to the United States in 2010, and in 2014 won the New York round of the Global Rallycross Championship for the new Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team.

His varied competition experience includes multiple years of open wheel racing, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, rally racing, off-road truck competition, 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. Episodes of his online documentary series, Life in the Foust Lane, are available on the Rockstar Energy Drink YouTube channel.

Foust also handles stunt driving in numerous popular films, TV shows and commercials. He is featured as a stunt driver in the Need 4 Speed film, 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 movies.

ABOUT ROCKSTAR

Rockstar Energy Drink is designed for those who lead active lifestyles -- from athletes to Rockstars. Available in over 20 flavors at convenience and grocery outlets in over 30 countries, Rockstar supports the Rockstar lifestyle across the globe through action sports, motor sports, and live music. For more information visit: www.RockstarEnergy.com

Photo credit: Rockstar Energy Drink
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