Storm Chaos Hits Formula Drift at Englishtown – Jeff Jones’ 370Z Damaged in the Aftermath

Formula Drift’s stop at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, also known as “The Gauntlet”, took a wild turn this weekend. What was supposed to be a packed Friday of drifting action quickly turned into a weather emergency, as high winds swept through the facility, knocking over tents, tearing down signage, and forcing FD officials to cancel the day’s scheduled activities.

The winds were described by some on-site as tornado like. Whether or not it met that technical definition, one thing’s for sure, it left a trail of chaos across the paddock.

With safety as the priority, Formula Drift made the call to suspend Friday’s PRO and PROSPEC competition and move the remaining events to Saturday. The revised schedule has packed everything into one long day of drifting.

Among the biggest stories to come out of Friday’s storm was the damage to Jeff Jones’ Nissan 370Z. A tree fell in the paddock area, reportedly landing on the car and causing significant damage to its bodywork and windshield. The team has been working to assess and repair what they can, but it’s a brutal blow for one of the sport’s longtime privateers.

In true FD fashion, the community came together quickly, teams helping each other stabilize tents, clean up debris, and get cars prepped under pressure. It’s not the first time weather has disrupted a motorsports event, and it won’t be the last, but it’s a reminder that the drifting world runs on grit, hustle, and resilience.

Today’s action at Englishtown will be a full program, with qualifying and eliminations all taking place within the same window. Drivers and teams are working under tight timelines, and fans are expecting a show.

Despite the chaos, the spirit of the series is still intact. What happens on track today will define not just Round 4, but how this season shapes up going into the second half.