10 17 12

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Updated: 12:27 am UTC, 09/12/2025

Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes 2nd place in the 2012 Formula Drift Championship and reveals hit viral video 2nd SHIFT DRIFT

BALTIMORE, Md. (October 17, 2012) – Another Formula Drift season has come to an end, and there is no doubt that this season was a victory for Vaughn Gittin Jr. and his team. From a not-so-ideal start of the season to working their way to the top of the standings coming into the finals, Vaughn and his team have proven that passion and hard work can overcome any obstacle as they claimed a 2nd place finish in the Formula Drift Championship, as well averaging as the top qualifying driver/team for the season. Vaughn also released his biggest video project of the year – 2nd SHIFT DRIFT – that was filmed at Ford’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant. Watch this viral VIDEO sensation.

Vaughn started off the season fresh at Round 1 in Long Beach in his 2013 Monster Energy Falken Tire Ford Mustang RTR, which was decked out in it’s updated livery designed by Hoonigan.

Vaughn would make a mistake in the top 32 during his lead run, which could not be made up for even when he threw down a perfectly aggressive chase run. He was however able to make up a few points with his 3rd place qualifying run out of an outstanding 61 drivers. Watch the VIDEO recap from Round One.

Moving on to Round 2, Vaughn was on top of his game all weekend at Formula Drift Road Atlanta. Friday night, Vaughn qualified 2nd out of over 50 competing drivers, and would go on to drive top-notch during Saturday’s sold-out main event, only to be knocked out in the top 8 when driving against current series Champion Daigo Saito. Watch the VIDEO recap from Round Two.

Vaughn slide into Palm Beach International Raceway for Round 3, the second time Formula Drift would compete at this Florida venue. With a new course design, Vaughn and the Monster Energy Falken Tire Ford Mustang RTR qualified in 1st place, and fought hard to take 5th place overall, slowly creeping his way more and more up the Formula Drift points ladder. Watch the VIDEO recap from Round Three.

Next up was Formula Drift Round 4 at Wall Stadium in New Jersey, a track not far from where Vaughn and the rest of Drift Alliance began their drifting careers. He came into the event with hopes of success in order to gain some more crucial points in the chase for the FD Championship. Not only did Vaughn accomplish that goal, but he also drove his Mustang all the way to 1st place after many extremely tough battles against fierce competitors. With the points earned from his 1st place finish and 2nd place qualifying, Vaughn moved up to 4h place overall in the Championship with three rounds still to go! Watch the VIDEO recap from Round Four.

Vaughn Gittin Jr. slid into Round 5 at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Washington with intentions of another podium finish just as he had done at the previous round. Vaughn persevered to obtain not just a podium finish, but the very top spot upon the podium and also gained crucial points by qualifying first, allowing him to surge into the 1st place position overall in the Formula Drift Championship standings! Watch the VIDEO recap from Round Five.

Formula Drift Round 6 was up next in Las Vegas, and Vaughn was hoping for a third consecutive podium finish. By the end of the night after many tough battles, Vaughn not only finished 3rd overall, but also gained even more Championship points, surging him farther ahead in 1st place overall in Formula Drift standings. Watch the VIDEO recap from Round Six.

With a very close Championship race in effect, Vaughn made his way to Irwindale Speedway for Formula Drift Round Seven. Vaughn qualified in the top 10 and made it all the way to the top 16 main event, but after a perfect lead run, he was blinded coming off the bank and unfortunately spun, ending his day earlier than expected. All Vaughn could do from this point was wait to see how his fellow competitors finished the event. With Daigo Saito’s win of the event, it was enough to push Vaughn into 2nd place overall in the Championship, still a very respectable finish in the Formula Drift circuit.

“Overall I am pumped with our performance during the 2012 Formula Drift season,” says Vaughn Gittin Jr. “We worked flawlessly together as a team and our Ford Mustang performed one-hundred percent every round. Given the fact we had a rough start to the season, our second place finish in the Championship is a true testament to us never giving up! While we are content with our second place overall finish in the Championship, we are not satisfied. You can guarantee there is not going to be an ‘off-season’ for us as the work for chasing down the 2013 Formula Drift Championship begins now. Thanks to all my partners, supporters, and family for the unconditional support this year – I could not have done it without you!”

The “off-season” will be a busy one for Vaughn Gittin Jr., as he heads to the Monster Energy Cup in Las Vegas this weekend to perform demos with fellow Hoonigan Ken Block, then he’s off to London to compete in Gymkhana Grid, then he heads back to Las Vegas for the 2013 SEMA Show, then he will be participating in the Baja 1000 with the Monster Energy family, and then finally he heads back to China to compete in WDS.

For more information, please visit Vaughn’s Facebook Page or casino-uden-rofus.us.com

For your convenience, a text-only version of this release can be found HERE

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ABOUT VAUGHN GITTIN JR.

Vaughn Gittin Jr. has become one of drifting’s most iconic figures and his machine, the Monster Energy Falken Tire Ford Racing Mustang, one of the sport’s most identifiable cars. Vaughn is known best by his aggressive, foot to the floor, big smoke driving style. Being such a fierce competitor, Vaughn is known as the only American to win a D1 Grand Prix event, not once – but twice. In 2005 Vaughn stunned the world when he won the D1GP USA vs. Japan. In 2007, he brought America home the gold once more by winning the D1GP World Championship. In 2010, Vaughn earned his first Formula Drift Championship, becoming the second-ever Champion with a strictly-drifting background. Overall, he has achieved four wins and multiple podiums throughout his Formula Drift career. He also earned the title as the 2011 WDS Champion after taking the win in China’s premiere drifting series.