Vaughn Gittin Jr. returned to the House of Drift, better known as Irwindale Speedway, this past weekend to defend his title as the highest ranked American drifter in the world. Not only did he defend his title, but he karate-chopped, high-kicked, and body-slammed his competition until everyone in the grandstands recognized him as one of the best drifters on the face of the earth!
The D1 Grand Prix World Championship was an event consisting of 26 of the world’s best drifters invited to compete from USA, Japan, Sweden, Malaysia, Thailand, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Canada, Vietnam, and France.
JR’s first battle was against Jayitr Sritongkham from Thailand. On their first run Sritongkham put his Skyline into the wall while JR maneuvered around him on the inside line barely missing him. Due to car damage, Sritongkham was forced to forfeit the second run.
JR moved on to battle Japan’s Toshiki Yoshioka in his speedy AE86 Corolla. Yoshioka’s engine blew just prior to the run and he was forced to forfeit to JR. JR says, “I was disappointed about his unfortunate situation. He is a great, fast, technical driver and I was looking forward to running with him.�
The third match-up for JR was against one of Japan’s star drivers and winner of last year’s World Championship, Ken Nomura. The first battle was fairly even, so the judges called for a “One More Time.� In their first run, JR stepped it up a notch and stayed on Nomura’s back bumper closely, earning the immediate advantage. When it was JR’s turn to lead, Nomura tried to stay close to mimic JR’s perfect line and angle, but ended up hitting the wall instead. JR was moving on to the finals!
For the finals, JR was paired up with 2006 D1 champion, Nobushige Kumakubo, who he had battled in the USA vs. Japan 5 on 5 “Dream Match� earlier in the day. Kumakubo had won that battle, and JR wasn’t about to let that happen again.
The first two runs were too close to call for the judges, so they decided to have the drivers perform another battle to show who the winner truly was. JR led on the first run and quickly pulled away after the bank creating a large gap. This forced Kumakubo to overdrive and speed up to close the gap. However, this also caused him to hit JR causing them both to spin. JR was given the advantage 10-0.
With such an advantage going into the next run, JR knew he had this in the bag and could have proceeded with an easy run. But we all know that is not the way Vaughn Gittin Jr. ends a competition! Instead, he decided drift the Falken Tires right off of the Monster Mustang and made it clear to the judges, the crowd, and anyone with a glimpse of doubt in their minds that he had won this battle and the World Championship!
This was the first time in history JR had battled Kumakubo, and now with this victory under his belt, he has battled and defeated every single crowned D1 champion from the last five years – quite a remarkable title to have.
When JR was announced the winner, the crowd erupted with cheer as JR jumped onto the Falken Mustang and waved the American Flag for all to see. “I am so proud to represent USA and prove once again to the world that myself, my fellow American drifters, Team Falken, and Drift Alliance are forces to be reckoned with,� says JR.
Earlier in the day, Vaughn Gittin Jr. had participated in the USA vs. Japan Dream Match which paired 5 of the best American drifters up against 5 of the best Japanese drifters. JR was chosen as team captain for the American team, leaving them in very capable hands. The USA team wasn’t fairing out too well against the competition, as most of the Americans were taken out in round one.
JR was forced to battle four of the Japanese drivers consecutively; a challenge he was ready for – after all, he was eager to wave the American flag in the winners circle! Finally it was time for JR to battle Ken Nomura, team captain for the Japanese team. JR quickly took him down and then single-handedly took down Ueno and Imamura as well.
Next JR was paired up with Kumakubo. After a close first battle, the judges called for a “One More Time.� After the next pair of runs, Kumakubo was awarded the win over JR. Even though JR did not win, his persistence and consistence in so many consecutive battles proved how strong JR is as a driver, especially in the finely-tuned Falken Tire Mustang.
“It was such an amazing challenge,â€? says JR. “I was able to run through eight battles in a row and was pretty much perfect through all of them. Even though we didn’t win, I am happy knowing that myself and the rest of Team USA gave one-hundred percent representing our country in these battles.”
Sunday only took up half of the event, however; Saturday was the actual final round of the D1 Grand Prix Series. During qualifying, JR was on fire! He scored 100 points on his first run and 120 on his second run just to dot the exclamation point! Overall, JR qualified third and was excited to move on to tandem.
In the top 16, JR went up against Kazuhiro Tanaka from Team Orange. On their first run, the judges called it even – 5 to 5. On the second run, JR knew he had to push hard. Tanaka led as JR stayed as close as possible. He was so close, he accidentally tapped Tanaka’s bumper, causing the Falken Mustang to spin. JR was eliminated from the competition.
“Tanaka is a great driver,� says JR. “I misjudged his speed on the bank in comparison to mine. I gave him a little love tap that upset my car and I was unable to bring the monster back under control.�
JR’s elimination from Saturday’s competition was compensated for by his undeniable victory Sunday. “I would like to thank Team Falken Tire for their hard work all year and all of my sponsors, friends, family, and fans for their unconditional support. WE DID IT!!!�
nice…Keiichi is very “FOND” of J.R……….Great for business…
U.S market= $$
****read between the lines***hint.hint.
Exhibition= fun
Comment by heather — November 29, 2007 #
HAHAH watch the videos..JR drove his ass off and deserved the win. Why is everyone always so unbelieving when something out of the normal happens in drifting. Sam and Rhys werent on the podium in FD near as much as they usually are this year…I guess FD is up to some tricks too. Your hilarious
Comment by your an idiot — November 29, 2007 #
I knew this would happen…That’s why I posted this comment. I control you…All of you are pawns in my game. Howz it feel to be controlled by an idiot? I also thought J.R rocked some ass…Who else can smoke it from one end of the course to the other without letting off the throttle…I would like to see how he does on the J courses…Autopolis, Sugo, Suzuka, etc. He is a great driver. Now you have to ask yourselves if I am being sincere or not…Hmmmmmmmm. Feed into it buddy.
Comment by heather — November 30, 2007 #
If you really look at it, it can be seen in both ways. D1 has a good reason to make JR loose or make JR win
JR looses, the japanese look good. Once again proving D1 is the superior drifting series with the superior drivers
JR win, the US market has something to come back too watch for. We stay tuned, we feel we still have a chance. Next year we all come back looking forward too Vaughn whoopin some ass.
I dont really think D1 as a whole really wanted Vaughn to win. Maybe KT, no matter what anyone says he still likes good driving at the end of the day. But most def not Dai… why did Dai have to judge that world all star finale? Why did he have to shows his face during the USA vs JP dream match… He owns the series, it doesent mean he has to be everywhere all the time, doesent he pay enough personal for that? Was I the only one who noticed the judges look at the end of the kumo vs jr battle, they didnt looked stunned, they just looked disappointed and a little scared. Not a smile, not a smirk, nothing that showed gratitude.
But as far as JR doing good at some japanese D1 courses…. honestly I dont know. Hes a good drive, I seen him rip high speed courses in his S13 back in the day. And the mustang has way more grip and a much broader power band then those things have. I see him doing much worst at some of the old school D1 courses (old kart tracks) because they took a lot more finest and a lot more technique then these old school ones. The newer course rely more on traction, who can squat on their line the longest and the fastest. FD hasn’t had too many courses like that yet, they take some of the fastest tracks in the USA (sonoma, road atl,summit point) and use the most slowest parts of them. Summit point being the fastest, and JR blew his motor on that one. And when a driver blows a motor in this sport 8/10 that means he is ripping it, he feels conferable going 110% on the course.
Even though this was a good event, probably the best event ever at irwindale and one of the best they had in the states, I really think D1 needs major help for next year. And I personally feel no one can save them… but thats just my opinion.
Vaughn…. keep doing your thing.
Comment by Cam — December 1, 2007 #
Do you guys know nothing of Japanese honor? Even if they hated JR with a passion, they’d judge him fairly. Even favorites like Nomuken don’t win all the time. I’ve watched the Option videos for years and have never seen any favoritism in judging.
Comment by Ryan — December 3, 2007 #
Ok. Where is my pic of Kuma eating lunch? Not cool.
Comment by heather — December 4, 2007 #
Let’s try this again…HOPEFULLY “THE MAN” DOESN’T REMOVING IT! A nice pic of Kuma eating and American cheese burger!
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2067758998&context=set-72157603308967059&size=o
Comment by heather — December 6, 2007 #
Like my accent?
Comment by heather — December 6, 2007 #
I have been noticing a theme around here lately that’s disturbing….”American Muscle” I guess the old dudes have to get there 2 cents in :)
Comment by heather — December 6, 2007 #
Hey!
I’m not that old…
:)
Comment by Geoffrey Chandler — December 6, 2007 #
” Even if they hated JR with a passion, they’d judge him fairly. ”
Yea, tell that too Taniguchi, Orido, Haraguchi, Miki, and a whole list of others D1 snubbed in the last 6 years.
Comment by Cam — December 9, 2007 #