Today, drifting is an organized competition, with drivers piloting rear-wheel-drive cars to see who can keep sliding sideways the longest. Winners in drifting competitions are judged on the angle, line, speed and show factor of the drift.

"Angle" is the angle the car takes around the track; the more the rear end hangs out, the better. "Line" refers to taking the correct line around the track and is usually determined beforehand by the judges. "Speed" consists of the car’s speed entering, going through and exiting a turn. "Show factor" actually is judged by a variety of factors, such as the amount of tire smoke, closeness of the car to the wall and reaction of the crowd.

Gushi’s Ford Racing Mustang, sponsored by Toyo Tires and the Gushi Auto team, competes in the Need for Speed Formula D (for "drift") Championship, and looks to improve on the driver’s third-place finish in 2005. The 2006 Mustang GT Toyo Tires/Ford Racing drift car is powered by a 600-horsepower, supercharged, 4.6-liter V-8 from the Ford Racing Performance Parts crate-engine catalog. The engine teams up with a T-56 six-speed transmission, which is also available in the catalog.

"Rear-wheel drive and a powerful V-8 make the Mustang a great car for competing in drifting events," says Andy Slankard, engineering supervisor, Ford Racing.

At the most recent Formula D competition — June 10 at Soldier Field in Chicago — Gushi drove the 2006 Mustang GT drift car to a sixth-place finish.

"There are four more events, and we are still in a position to do well," says Slankard. "We continue to dial in the car, and we are confident we’ll be on the podium at the finals in Irwindale, California, in October."