This is big. Off the Richter scale big. We've laughed at the drifting vs. NASCAR comparisons on the CNN and CBS news segments on drifting, but apparently others have been taking it seriously. Mopar has just announced a Mopar D1 All-Star Duel that will effectively put the top drifters vs. some of NASCAR's biggest stars on the famous Irwindale oval at the same time.

The setup has eight top drifters, including 2003 Formula D champ Samuel Hubinette and top D1 Grand Prix drifters Yasuyuki Kazama and Ken Nomura, matching up with eight NASCAR stars, featuring Kasey Kahne and racing legend Bill Elliot, at the Irwindale bullpen on August 31. Proceeds from the event, which was designed as lead-in to that weekend's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at the nearby California Speedway in Fontana, will benefit the Kasey Kahne Foundation, which raises and donates funds to charitable organizations that care for chronically ill children and their families.

While the actual "competition" aspects haven't been announced, drifting takes specialized skill for most - let alone the top drifters of the world; so we wouldn't expect ol' Bill to be clutch-kicking a Charger side by side against the Crazy Swede. In fact, that's probably why it's an "exhibition".

Still, the Monday headlines will still be generated and it's the hat-tip from stars of the biggest wheeled phenomenon (love it or hate it, that's NASCAR) on the North American continent that is the most exciting bit of news for drifting fans. Drifting underground? If FF3 hasn't taken it to the mainstream by August 31, this event will. That might be bad news for drifting's most hardcore fans, but plenty of others are ready to watch and ride drifting's shooting star.

Book your tickets now.

Full release follows.

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DRIFTING AND NASCAR STARS SET TO MAKE HISTORY IN 'MOPAR D1 ALL-STAR DUEL'

In what will amount to a tire-smoking, sideways battle between drivers from two vastly different motorsports disciplines, Team Mopar's Samuel Hubinette, along with some of the hottest names in the D1 Professional Drift Grand Prix Series including Yasuyuki Kazama and Ken Nomura, will take on Dodge Motorsports' Kasey Kahne, Bill Elliott and several of their NASCAR friends in the "Mopar D1 All-Star Duel presented by ShiftIntoGear." The event is the first-ever exhibition pitting drifting and NASCAR stars in head-to-head battle.

The "Mopar D1 All-Star Duel presented by ShiftIntoGear" is slated for August 31 at California's Irwindale Speedway, known as the "House of Drift," and the site of the first U.S. D1 drift event in 2003. The sport of drifting, created in Japan, is a judged competition. Judges take into account the technique, style and flair with which contestants slide their cars around specially-configured tracks at speeds up to 130 miles per hour, all the while billowing great clouds of tire smoke.

The exhibition event pits eight headliners from America's most recognized form of racing, the Nextel Cup stock car series, against an equal number of pro drifters. Fans in attendance will have the chance to get autographs during the event.

"We've conducted some of the most exciting NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series short track racing and D1 Drifting here at Irwindale Speedway," said Bob DeFazio, COO and General Manager of Irwindale Speedway. "It's an absolute honor to host a showdown between the giants these two forms of motor sports competition and help contribute to a great cause on what will be one heck of a fun night!"

Proceeds from the event, a natural lead-in to that weekend's NASCAR Nextel Cup race at the nearby California Speedway in Fontana, will benefit the Kasey Kahne Foundation, which raises and donates funds to charitable organizations that care for chronically ill children and their families. The Foundation is also committed to positive cultural changes by focusing on diversity awareness and providing at-risk youth ample opportunities for success.

"I'm very thankful that D1 has not only worked with us to create their first series All-Star event, but also agreed to earmark all of the event proceeds to the Kasey Kahne Foundation," Kahne said. "I know that we as NASCAR drivers are going to have our hands full trying to compete with the best D1 drifters in the world, but we'll definitely be ready to duel."

Hubinette has led Mopar's drifting efforts. Also known as, the "Crazy Swede," Hubinette has scored top ten spots in two D1GP point series events competing against the world's top D1 drivers in the past. The wildly popular Kahne is one of this season's hottest NASCAR stars, with three Nextel Cup victories thus far in 2006, and is fifth in the Nextel Cup points race.

"Drifting is really starting to take its place in the mainstream," said Kevin Miller, Senior Manager, Mopar Brand, Performance & Motorsports. "Mopar was there at the ground level, helping to grow the sport, and were proud to help continue that growth by sponsoring this ground-breaking event and teaming up with NASCAR stars such as Kasey Kahne."

Mooresville, N.C.-based ShiftIntoGear, Inc., is one of the world's premier personal training and coaching resources for established racing professionals and young, up-and-coming development drivers alike. Development drivers receive instruction in all skills from track and sponsor etiquette to how to win races, and through the ShiftIntoGear program are exposed to the top NASCAR teams. Its client roster features top drivers from all forms of racing, including current NASCAR Nextel Cup regulars Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer.

Jointly owned by Pennsylvania businessman Chris Evans and longtime driving instructor and professional racer Chris Cook, the company offers both east- and west-coast fleets of purpose-built high-performance race cars enhanced for coaching and testing. Cook and his team of world-class instructors conduct training at racing facilities throughout North America.

Cook will compete in the NASCAR Busch Series race at Kentucky Speedway this weekend and will carry the "Mopar D1 All-Star Duel presented by ShiftIntoGear" logo on his No. 43 Dodge. He will also be training the NASCAR drivers in drifting technique prior to the event.

Tickets for the event can be purchased online at www.irwindalespeedway.com.

For info on Hubinette, Kahne, D1, Irwindale Speedway, Mopar, ShiftIntoGear, or the "Mopar D1 All-Star Duel presented by ShiftIntoGear," log on to www.samuelhubinette.com, www.kaseykahne.com, www.d1gp.com, www.irwindalespeedway.com, www.shiftintogear.com, www.christinemariemotorsports.com, www.motorsportsmanagement.com, www.mopar.com or www.moparspeed.com.

Mopar is based in Center Line, Mich., and is the exclusive original equipment supplier of parts and accessories for Chrysler, Dodge and JeepR vehicles.