When you talk about blending professional passion with grassroots authenticity, Turn 14 Distribution’s own Sport Compact Account Manager, Geoff Stoneback, is the real deal. A former Formula DRIFT pro and a full-time team member at T14, Geoff still finds time to shred tires and represent in one of the country’s most respected community-based drifting series: Final Bout. After the recent Final Bout event at Summit Point, we caught up with Geoff to talk about his experience, what makes this team-based event so special, and how working at Turn 14 Distribution supports his continued involvement in the sport.

ABOUT THE EVENT & EXPERIENCE

Turn 14: Can you tell us a little about the Front Street Club Team and how it all began?

Geoff Stoneback: Front Street Drift Club is a vibe! It started with a group of guys that met at the 50/50 Skate Park in Staten Island in 2014. Some were into BMX, others into skateboarding, and drifting brought us all together. I met Tom in 2015 at a Club Loose event. He was fresh out of high school, and I was still running in Formula DRIFT. We became friends, built a skatepark in my shop, and eventually, I got the nickname “FS Dad” for keeping everyone organized and on grid on time, LOL. A few years later, Jimmy Oakes started driving with us, and we just kept on going from there! The entire point of Front Street Drift Club is to have fun with your friends and have good-looking cars.  

T14: What sets your team’s cars and driving style apart?

GS: Most of the guys are running SR20s, except me :(, but I’m working on fixing that! Josh usually helps dial in our setups so we’re running the same gearing, etc. That’s the best part about drifting: Everyone has their own style, and together we just make it work. The cool thing is we have our own colors, but we all run the same livery from Design Shop React, which brings us all together. 

As far as driving styles go, we all drive aggressively! We like to run doors as much as possible and work on having close but consistent transitions. That can be tough since we destroy a lot of Aero, haha. People typically talk about their biggest expense in drifting, and we all agree aero is probably the top one besides tires, but that’s a given, haha. People usually put a percentage of their paycheck in their savings account, so I created a separate savings account for my aero, LOL. By now, my wife has read this, and I’m in trouble! 

T14: How does the atmosphere at Final Bout compare to the intensity of Formula DRIFT competitions?

GS: The atmosphere at Final Bout is FUN! While we are all trying to get that number one spot to go to the finals, we are all genuinely stoked to watch each team drift. We’re all friends, which makes it a super fun event that we always look forward to. Even this year, there are some groups I have never met in person, but it’s cool to high-five, see their cars, and drive on track. The best part about Final Bout is driving with everyone after the main competition. Everyone steps it up a notch since the competition is over and is willing to risk messing up their pretty cars for it, LOL.  

Formula DRIFT competitions are a totally different atmosphere. It is not a team event; everything relies on your driving crew and spotter working as a unit. It’s different mentally as well. Every run, every zone, and proximity matter, where Final Bout is about more style and flow.  Don’t get me wrong, Formula DRIFT is like that too, but it’s juiced up and a lot more rides on that line of winning or not. All the blood, sweat, and money can be made or broken by one small mistake. The weekends are over like that, and it’s back to the drawing board for the next event.  

T14: What made Summit Point stand out compared to other Final Bout tracks?

GS: Summit Point is a beautiful race track. The amenities it offers are of a pretty high standard. You drive in and see six different circuits, which is wild. The course we ran is super smooth and flowy, and easy on tires. We got 28 laps in, and tire wear was manageable. That’s always nice because it’s a game of conserving tires and fuel, but Summit Point will not disappoint you there. Overall, it’s a place people need to visit!

WORK-LIFE-DRIFTING BALANCE 

T14: As a father of three working full-time at Turn 14 Distribution, how do you balance work, home life, and drifting?

GS: Great question, haha. Honestly, it’s a constant battle. Late nights and early mornings are how I make it all work. I’m super lucky to have an amazing wife, Linda, who supports me and helps manage the schedule. Without her, none of this would be possible. 

The biggest joy after a long day of work is hanging out with my kids. My typical day starts with work from 8 to 6. I get home around 6:30, spend time with the kids until about 9:30, and get them ready for bed. After that, I head to the shop and wrench on cars until midnight or so. Then it’s rinse and repeat.

It’s definitely a grind right now, but I know it’ll get easier once the babies are a little older. When they’re four and up, I can’t wait to start taking them to the track so we can hang as a family. That’s the dream. By then, Ari and I should be tandeming! I’ve even started looking at RVs and open car trailers to make that vision a reality, haha.

T14: Do you take advantage of any T14 perks to help with the expense and time of drifting?

GS: I’d be lying if I said it didn’t help. The benefit of out-of-office time is a major help. One of the best parts about working at Turn 14 Distribution is that a lot of my customers, who’ve become more like friends over time, are at the same events I attend. It’s a great way to stay connected, hang out, and enjoy motorsports together. It kind of feels like the modern version of old-school business guys playing golf, except we’re out there tandeming and having fun. Plus, the employee discount on parts makes it easier to keep the car dialed in and stay active in the scene.

CAR SETUP & PERFORMANCE

T14: Did you or any of your teammates have to complete any crazy work on the cars before the event? 

GS: YES, TOM DID! LOL Tom’s always working on his car, so it’s proper for events and pays off. Mike at One Motion Garage and I thoroughly review my car before events. There are always fresh fluids and a nut-and-bolt check. All the guys do it because we want to drive with each other as much as possible and not sit in the pits fixing stuff. Most of our cars are simple street cars, like stock transmission and differential, so it’s pretty easy, unless you’re Tom! 

T14: Did the team have to make any adjustments during the event to adapt to the track?

GS: Yes! We usually go in order: Josh, then Tom, then Jimmy, and I’m the caboose. Tom was having power issues, which threw things off, so he tried leading, and suddenly everything clicked. We laid down some solid runs until my differential broke. I had to sit the rest of the competition out, as we were replacing it with only 20 minutes left.

COMMUNITY & CULTURE

T14: What was the most memorable moment for you during the event?

GS: Besides having a good time with the team and everyone at the event, the most notable memory is that my daughter Ari was riding as a passenger in the car the entire time I drove. Having her hype me up was the absolute best.  

T14: Final Bout is known for its strong community vibe. How does it feel for Front Street to be part of that atmosphere?

GS: It feels the absolute best. I think that’s what’s super cool about the Final Bout: everyone is trying to get their name on the trophy, but the real reason everyone is there is to have a damn good time. You can’t get that anywhere else with that caliber of cars and drivers. 

T14: How would you describe the connection between the drivers at Final Bout compared to your competitive Formula DRIFT days?

GS: I’ve made lifelong friends from Formula DRIFT. A lot of people are very genuine. Even though we’re after each other’s throats on track, they are solid people. I’ve also encountered some crappy drivers, but that’s like .0001%, LOL. Usually, everyone will lend spare parts or a hand out, even in battles. At Final Bout, everyone will help, no questions asked. That’s why I like drifting and why it is the most popular motorsport today.

LOOKING AHEAD

T14: Has driving at Final Bout reignited any desire to compete more seriously again?

GS: Yes and no, haha. Final Bout is a fun competition. I miss the mental aspect of Formula DRIFT, but not the time away from family. Who knows, you might see me back there sooner than you think.

T14: What advice would you give to up-and-coming drifters who want to experience Final Bout?

GS: Have fun, make a cool-looking car, and drive with your friends. That’s what Final Bout is about: having fun, sharing the culture, and driving your heart out.  

T14: Can we expect to see Front Street at the Final Bout Special Stage Central at USAIR?

GS: ALWAYS! Even though it’s a fun comp, I know the guys want to see the F/S name on the trophy. To be honest, it’s a really cool accomplishment to have as a team. Drifting in competition as a single driver is hard enough, haha, adding a team in there makes it even harder but more rewarding!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Geoff Stoneback proves you don’t have to hang up your helmet when the pro days are behind you. By blending professional experience with grassroots authenticity, he continues to shape the drifting scene in meaningful ways. We’re proud to have true enthusiasts like Geoff on the team. To learn more about our culture and the people behind Turn 14 Distribution, follow us on social or explore career opportunities at turn14.com/careers.