Wikipedia

Vaughn Gittin

(redirected from Vaughn Gittin, Jr.)
Vaughn Gittin Jr.
Vaughn Gittin Jr. 2013.jpg
Gittin in 2013
BornSeptember 20, 1980
Baltimore, Maryland
NationalityAmerican
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Formula Drift career
Current teamRTR Motorsports
Car number25
Championships2
Ultra4 Racing career
Current teamFun-Haver Off-Road
Car number25
Websitewww.vaughngittin.com

Vaughn Gittin Jr. (born September 20, 1980), commonly known as JR or Gittin, is an American, self-taught, professional drifter from Maryland who currently competes in Formula D behind the wheel of his 2021 Monster Energy Nitto Tire Ford Racing Mustang RTR. One of drifting's most iconic figures, Gittin has won the Formula Drift Championship in 2010 and is the most recent champion having won again in 2020. Additionally, Gittin competes in the Ultra4 Racing series in his 4400 Class Ford Bronco and is the creator of RTR Vehicles which is his vision for the Mustang, F-150, Ranger and one of a kind Fords.

Motorsports Career

Formula Drift

Gittin's Spec 5 in 2018

Gittin began his career as a professional driver in 2004 when he drove his personal Nissan S13 in Formula Drift. In 2005, he switched to a new Ford Mustang.

In 2010 Gittin made the podium in 6 out of the 7 Formula Drift events that year on his way to his first Formula Drift Championship in the series, a goal that had eluded him the previous seven seasons since the series' inception. Gittin would return to the podium in 2012 with a 2nd place overall finish in the Formula Drift Championship with two wins and three podiums.

Gittin would find himself ending the 2014 season and the 2016 in third place overall in the Championship.

In 2017, Gittin expanded RTR Motorsports to include a second Ford Mustang piloted by Chelsea DeNofa and in 2020 the work put in by the duo would finally pay off with Gittin winning the Championship, his second, and DeNofa finishing the year on the podium for the first time in second.

The successes of RTR Motorsports in 2020 helped earn both Ford and Nitto Tire their first Auto Manufacturer's Cup and Tire Manufacturer's Cup, respectively.

Ultra4 Racing

Gittin would find success off the drift track, and off-road, in 2018 taking home the Ultra4 East Coast Championship with three wins for Gittin behind the wheel of his custom Ford Bronco #Brocky. In 2019, Gittin would announce the formation of the Fun-Haver Off-Road team pairing himself with veteran off-road driver Loren Healy.

In his fourth year at King of The Hammers Gittin would finish 7th becoming the first crossover driver to score a top 10 finish in the famed race. In 2021, Gittin would finish a career best 5th at Hammers to begin the Ultra4 Racing season.

World Drift Series (WDS)

Gittin would compete in, and win, the WDS, China's premiere drift league in 2011.

D1 Grand Prix

In 2005, Gittin became the first non-Japanese winner of a D1GP event at the D1 USA vs Japan Allstar Exhibition in his Ford Mustang. In 2007 he would repeat as winner of a D1GP event, this time in the All Star Duel.

NASCAR

On August 4, 2014, Gittin announced he would make his NASCAR Canadian Tire Series debut at Circuit Trois-Rivières in the No. 9 for Micks Motorsports.[1] Qualifying 32nd and the only American in the field, Gittin spun in turn six on lap 7, but finished on the lead lap in 14th.[2]

RTR Vehicles

Gittin launched RTR Vehicles, an OEM+ performance vehicles company, in 2010 for a very specific group of car and truck owners who wanted a little more. The collaboration between RTR Vehicles and Ford Performance, has not only created consumer cars such as limited edition Series 1 Mustang RTR Powered by Ford Performance, but one of a kind halo vehicles like the all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E 1400. Additionally, RTR Vehicles helped build the iconic Hoonicorn RTR popularized in Ken Block's Gymkhana franchise.

Achievements

Gittin drifts in 2013

In 2018, Gittin would become the first person to drift the entirety of the Nurburgring in the viral sensation, "Drift King of the Ring."

He helped Ford launch their "Octane Academy" in 2011 alongside fellow featured drivers: Ken Block, Brian Deegan, and Tanner Foust. That same year he would also have the opportunity to travel to Saudi Arabia, to share drifting with the Middle East where he also created his video "Drifting in the K.S.A".

Gittin became the new face of the Ford Mustang in 2009, as he introduced the 2010 version to the world by drifting it onstage during its live reveal on Speed TV. That same year He had the opportunity to tour Japan with a 2010 Mustang while drifting legendary tracks.

Other Appearances

Gittin appears in the racing game Shift 2: Unleashed, as he is guiding the player through his career and teaching the player how to drift. He is also one of the rivals the player have to beat in two career modes, Drift and Muscle and if they beat him in the two story modes, they could earn his Monster Energy Falken Tire Ford Mustang in drift mode and his RTRX in muscle mode. In the game, the most important thing that Gittin wants is that the player reaches the FIA GT1 Championship. He also appeared alongside his Formula Drift teammate Chelsea DeNofa in Driving Line's Hangtime video.[3]

He also appears in 'Need for Speed: The Run with his team Need for Speed Ford Mustang RTR-X in 2011.

Motorsports career results

Formula D achievements

2020

  • Formula Drift Champion
  • 1st-place winner at Formula D Rd. 3, Evergreen Speedway, WA
  • 1st-place winner at Formula D Rd. 4, Evergreen Speedway, WA
  • 3rd-place at Formula D Rd. 5, Texas Motor Speedway, TX
  • 2nd-place at Formula D Rd. 6, Texas Motor Speedway, TX

2018

  • 1st-place winner at Formula D Rd. 8, Irwindale Speedway, CA

2016

  • 1st-place winner at Formula D Rd. 2, Midway Raceway Road Atlanta, GA
  • 1st-place winner at Formula D Rd. 4, Wall Stadium Speedway, NJ

2014

  • 1st-place winner at Formula D Rd. 2, Midway Raceway Road Atlanta, GA
  • 1st-place winner at Formula D Rd. 3, Homestead-Miami Speedway, FL

2013

  • 2nd-place at Formula D Rd. 1, Streets of Long Beach, CA
  • 3rd-place at Formula D Rd. 3, Palm Beach International Raceway, FL

2012

  • 1st-place winner at Formula D Rd. 4, Wall Stadium Speedway, NJ
  • 1st-place winner at Formula D Rd. 5, Evergreen Speedway, WA

2011

  • 2nd-place at Formula Drift Rd. 3, Palm Beach International Raceway, FL
  • World Drift Series Champion, Tianjin, China

2010

  • 1st-place winner at Formula Drift Rd. 1, Streets of Long Beach, CA
  • 2nd-place at Formula Drift Rd. 2, Midway Raceway Road Atlanta, GA
  • 2nd-place at Formula Drift Rd. 3, Wall Stadium Speedway, NJ
  • 1st-place winner at Formula Drift Rd. 6, Las Vegas, NV
  • 2nd-place at Formula Drift Rd. 7, Irwindale Speedway, CA
  • Placed a podium finish in 6 of 7 events
  • 2010 Formula D Champion

2009

  • 2nd-place at Formula Drift Rd. 3, Wall Stadium Speedway, NJ

2008

  • 1st-place winner at Formula Drift Rd. 7, Irwindale Speedway, CA

2007

  • 1st-place winner at D1 Grand Prix USA All-Star World Championship, Irwindale Speedway, CA
  • 2nd-place at Formula D Rd. 5, Infineon Raceway, CA
  • 2nd-place at Formula D Rd. 4, Evergreen Speedway, WA

2005

  • 1st-place winner in the D1 Grand Prix America vs. Japan Competition
  • 3rd-place at Formula D Rd. 4, Infineon Raceway, CA
  • Finished 4th place overall in the Formula D series

Ultra4 Racing

2020

  • 3rd-place at Ultra4 Nationals

2018

  • Ultra4 East Coast Champion

International

  • 2005 D1GP Winner
  • 2007 World Championship of Drifting
  • 2011, 2012 and 2013 World Drift Series Champion
  • 2014 King of Europe - Spain Winner

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Canadian Tire Series

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rank Points
2014 Micks Motorsports 9 Ford MOS ACD ICAR EIR SAS ASE CTR
14 		RIS MOS2 BAR KWA 48th 30

Partners

  • Monster Energy
  • Nitto Tire
  • Ford Performance
  • Pennzoil
  • K&N Filters
  • Power Stop
  • MAHLE
  • Forza
  • BC Racing
  • HPI Racing
  • RTR Vehicles
  • Alpinestars
  • SCT Performance
  • TYPE S
  • NGK Spark Plugs
  • VP Racing Fuels

References

  1. ^ Cunningham, Jason (August 4, 2014). "Canadian Tire Series News & Notes: GP3R". NASCAR Home Tracks. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
  2. ^ "2014 JuliaWine.com Le 50 Tours". Racing-Reference. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
  3. ^ "The Ultra4 Drift Jump You've Always Dreamed of: Hangtime! World Premiere". Driving Line. Nitto Tire. Retrieved 21 January 2020.

External Links

This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia® - the free encyclopedia created and edited by its online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of Wikipedia® encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information, please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.

Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.