2010 Formula Drift Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. came to Formula Drift Round 1 in Long Beach, California pumped to get back in his Monster Energy Falken Tire Ford Mustang, but knew that he would be defending his title with a bullseye on his back. Every one of his competitors was looking for their chance to take out the Champ, but unfortunately wouldn’t have the possibility, as Vaughn would take himself out of the competition with a big mistake in each of his qualifying runs.
“This definitely is not how I was expecting to start the season,” says Vaughn. “I had an awesome car and our team was Ready to Rock. Drifting is a sport where anything can happen and mistakes like the ones I made in qualifying are unforgiving. While it is a very tough pill to swallow, I have to accept that I am human and I made mistakes behind the wheel.”
Handling his defeat like a true Champion, Vaughn spent the rest of his weekend hanging out with fans and signing autographs, co-hosting the event with “The Voice of Formula Drift” Jarod DeAnda, and cheering on his friends and teammates on the track.
“Hanging out with all my fans, while I should have been on the track, made me realize that the unconditional support I am fortunate to have, coupled with watching JTP [Justin Pawlak] in his Mustang and our team take the win, definitely made my weekend,” says Vaughn Gittin Jr. “The season is far from over and just as Long Beach proved anything can happen, I am fully beyond the mistakes I made at Round One. On paper I might be down, but I sure am not out! I look forward to clawing my way through the field in Atlanta!”
Although Vaughn was not in the main show on Saturday, that didn’t stop the normal media and fans from surrounding and supporting this Champion driver. Click HERE to see what kind of media attention Vaughn received surrounding FD Round One.
