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Fast & Furious star Sung Kang returned to Barstow, California to film his passion project, “Drifter.”The film, part of the “Legends of Drift” competition, features car culture icons and was shot at various locations in Barstow, including the former Lake Dolores waterpark.While in town, Kang connected with the community, visiting local businesses and interacting with fans.Kang, a Barstow High School graduate, has starred in numerous films and television series, including the Fast & Furious franchise, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Power.
Former Barstow Mayor Julie Hackbarth recently worked as an extra in a film featuring and directed by Sung-Ho Kang of the Fast & Furious movie franchise.
Kang’s return to the High Desert was a reunion of sorts for the 53-year-old, who moved from his native Georgia to Barstow, where he graduated in 1990 as a Barstow High Aztec before attending the University of California, Riverside.
Kang was recently on Main Street and other parts of Barstow, filming, directing, shopping and hanging out with fans.
In an Instagram post on July 21, Kang appeared at the shuttered Lake Dolores waterpark near Barstow to oversee a “drift stunt” for his film “Drifter.”
Kang called the film a “passion project” that will feature Adam LZ, Brian Scotto, James Pumphrey, Rutledge Wood and more icons of car culture.
Kang’s movie is part of the “Legends of Drift” competition in August, a New Jersey-based live-action celebration of drift culture, the car community and cinematic storytelling.
Event organizers said ticket holders to Legends of Drift can expect non-stop, tire-shredding action, an epic car show, fantasy battles, vendor booths and crowd giveaways.
Kang connects with community
While in Barstow, Kang spent time connecting with fans and frequenting local businesses such as Crave Kaffee Haus, owned by Yvonne Butticci.
“Sung came by the coffee shop on Saturday for our Cars and Coffee event,” Butticci told the Daily Press. ”I wasn’t expecting a meet-and-greet, but Sung decided to hang out, meet with fans and hand out toy cars to kids.”
Butticci connected with Kang after she met his film crew and later delivered free coffee to the set.
Later, she was on the phone with her cousin, who was with Kang at Burger King. The three FaceTimed, and the road was paved for Kang and his crew to visit Crave Kaffee, Butticci said.
“When I met Sung, he excitedly told his crew, ‘You’re the coffee girl,’ which really surprised me,” Butticci said. “He was such a casual and friendly guy.”
Since then, Kang’s crew has made Crave Kaffee a remote work location and told Butticci that, “Barstow is a small town with a big heart.”
Kang and his crew also visited The Pit Stop Bar & Grill, owned by Frank and Tiffany Hilarides, located near Interstate 15 and 40.
From Barstow to stardom
After graduating from Barstow High, Kang attended college and later became an actor, producer and director, with his first major acting role as Han Lue in the Fast & Furious franchise. His character was also featured in Better Luck Tomorrow.
In the film “The Motel,” he played Sam Kim. He also acted in Raya and the Last Dragon, Pearl Harbor, Ninja Assassin and Disney’s Obi-Wan Kenobi series. He also played John Mak in the television series “Power.”
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz