Vaughn Gittin Jr.

Driver Bio

World champion drifter, off-road racing champion, and Professional Fun-Haver, Vaughn Gittin Jr., is best known for his aggressive, foot-to-the-floor, big-smoke driving style from behind the wheel of arguably the most recognizable cars in the sport: the 2024 Monster Energy Ford Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD used in the Formula Drift Pro series.

In the United States, Vaughn won his first Formula Drift title in 2010 and most recently won the 2020 Formula Drift Championship, cementing his place as one of the best drift drivers in the history of the sport. Vaughn is also a three-time World Drift Series champion (2011-2013). In 2005, he became the first American ever to win a D1 Grand Prix event when he stood atop the podium in the 2005 USA vs. Japan competition. Vaughn again brought the title home for the USA in the 2007 World Championship.

In Vaughn’s 2023 return to Formula Drift competition, after a season hiatus, despite only competing in a half season he still came out swinging with a perfect round in Atlanta capturing both the race’s pole and win. A feat which would help contribute to Ford’s 2024 Formula Drift Manufacturer’s Championship, a first for the all-new seventh-generation Mustang.

2026 Events

• Jan 29th - Feb 7th: King of the Hammers // Johnson Valley, CA
• Jan 22nd - 25th: St. Louis Auto Show // St. Louis, MO
• March 3rd - 8th: Mint 400 // Primm, NV
• March 23rd - 28th: Ponies in the Smokies // Sevierville, TN
• March 28th - April 5th: Easter Jeep Safari // Moab, UT
• April 10th - 11th: Formula Drift Round 1 // Long Beach, CA
• April 14th - 18th: Mustang Week Texas // Galveston, TX
• May 7th - 8th: Formula Drift Round 2// Road Atlanta
• May 14th - 17th: HyperFest VIR // Virginia International Raceway
• June 3rd - June 7th: Baja 500 // Ensenada, MX
• July 24th - 26th: GridLife Summer Apex // Watkins Glen International Raceway
• Aug 24th - Aug 29th: Mustang Week North Carolina // Charlotte, NC
• August 28th - 31st: Ultra4 Crandon // Crandon, WI
• Oct 2nd - 3rd: Holley Ford Fest // Bowling Green, KY
• Oct 23rd - 24th: Formula Drift Round 8 // Long Beach, CA
• Nov 9th - 15th: Baja 1000 // Ensenada, MX