More than 2,000 fans attended the inaugural ULTRA4 MetalCloak Nor Cal Stampede held at the Prairie City State Park near Sacramento, CA last weekend.  Over the course of two days and multiple heats, 48 ULTRA4 cars waged battle on a brutal two mile course that left only 29 vehicles running by the final two races. Drivers pushed their cars to the limit in this first race of the 2013 ULTRA4 Trail Gear Western Regional series in pursuit of both a podium finish and a chance to qualify for the 2014 Griffin King of The Hammers Presented by Nitto Tire.  Ultimately, two former Kings and the son of a King claimed the podium.  2009 King of The Hammers, Jason Scherer took the checkered flag followed closely…

Vaughn Gittin Jr. and the RTR Drift team traveled to Georgia for an action-packed weekend of Formula Drift fun on Saturday and a signature Smoke Show at Fort Gordon on Sunday. The monumental success of the event at Fort Gordon was only icing on the cake after Vaughn and the Monster Energy Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR supported by ASD Motorsports placed 3rd at Round 2 and moved into 1st place overall in the Formula Drift Championship. Formula Drift returned for the 10th consecutive season to Road Atlanta. Known for it’s die-hard fans and spectacular drifting under the lights, Round 2 did not disappoint despite the intermittent rain, the fans in Atlanta came out in force and stayed through to the end of the event….

Vaughn Gittin Jr. places 2nd in the season opener for the 2013 season of Formula Drift in his Monster Energy / Nitto Tire / Ford Mustang RTR, Chelsea DeNofa places 4th after struggling with a broken clutch, Matt Powers finishes 16th! Watch the video highlights at http://youtu.be/-meaO2j9ou4

To compete in any sport, an athlete must have a considerable amount of moxie and fearlessness. But the drifters who competed Saturday in a special competition on the streets of Long Beach might have more guts than most other athletes. Most drifters look forward to courses like Long Beach, where split-second decisions determine whether they crash into a wall or earn high marks from judges. “There are a lot of walls,” said driver Matt Powers, who went on to win the event. “Some tracks, you can’t stand out because there’s nothing hard or dangerous about them. But if you do this course well, you can stand out.” In qualifying Friday, Powers earned the second seed in Saturday’s Super Drift Challenge, which featured two eight-driver brackets….

Vaughn Gittin Jr. and the RTR Drift team slid into the Streets of Long Beach over the weekend with the Monster Energy Nitto Tire 2014 Ford Mustang RTR ready to rock and battle it out for a podium finish. Drift fans traveled from near and far to help Formula D kick off their 10th season at this sold-out and bigger-than-ever event. After five epic battles with some fierce competition, Vaughn Gittin Jr. landed himself on the podium in 2nd place overall. “I am so pumped!” says Vaughn. “For us to walk away with a second place finish – especially with the launch my new team and our brand new car – is amazing! It really shows the passion and hard work of everyone supporting the…

Last weekend’s WIDIA Rausch Creek Qualifier proved to be one of the coldest, wettest races in ULTRA4 history. Heavy rains on Friday produced thick fog and low-visibility conditions, prompting race organizer, Dave Cole to move qualifying to Saturday morning just two hours before the main race.  2010 Rausch Creek Champion, Derek West qualified 4th for the main race behind two former Kings of the Hammers, Shannon Campbell and Erik Miller, as well as 2012′s Rausch Creek winner, Bill Baird. By the second lap, West had worked his way past all three competitors to claim the lead and never looked back. After just three hours and eighteen minutes, Derek West in his Nitto Tire ULTRA4 car had completed all five grueling laps and claimed the checkered…

Formula Drift Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. is excited to announce the formation of the RTR Drift Team, their tentative 2013 worldwide schedule, and the reveal of his Monster Energy Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR livery. This year marks the beginning of a new era for Vaughn coming into his tenth season of professional drifting with the formation of the RTR Drift Team. He is focused on his duties as RTR Team owner and driver, and is also taking full advantage of the freedoms that come along with being a team owner – as portrayed by his unique new livery. Check out the official VIDEO revealing the Monster Energy Nitto Tire 2014 Ford Mustang RTR. “I’m really pumped on this years’ livery and overall aesthetics surrounding our efforts,”…

Nitto Tire, a leading innovator in high performance tires, has announced its sponsorship of three top-notch competitors for the 2013 Formula Drift racing season. All three will be taking to the track on Nitto NT05 competition radials, a max performance tire that provides precise and responsive handling. Matt Powers will be in his third season as a Nitto-sponsored driver, while Chelsea DeNofa and Vaughn Gittin Jr. are beginning their first full season with the team. Round 1 of the 2013 Formula Drift season is set to take place April 12-13 on the Streets on Long Beach. . Recognized as North America’s professional drifting championship series, Formula Drift attracts fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life. This high-skilled, high-powered motorsport demands that drivers maneuver…

Nitto Tire, a leading producer of high performance tires, announced a new partnership with Formula Drift Champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. Nitto Tire has its roots in the enthusiast community and the sponsorship of Gittin Jr., a self-taught drift extraordinaire, is a perfect match. Vaughn is one of Monster Energy’s premier athletes and a Ford factory driver. He is an icon of the sport of drifting, having competed every year since the existence of Formula DRIFT, dating all the way back to 2004. Gittin Jr. will also represent Nitto Tire in China’s World Drift Series and make appearances at a variety of exhibitions worldwide. Vaughn Gittin Jr. stated, “I am pumped to be working with Nitto Tire! As I enter this new chapter of my career,…