Vaughn Gittin Jr. began his racing career after quitting his job in information technology.
Gittin began racing in the inaugural 2004 Formula D season, driving a self-built Nissan 240SX (S13) sponsored by Falken Tire. In 2005, he moved to Team Falken and began driving a Ford Mustang GT (S197).
In 2010, Gittin partnered with Monster Energy as his title sponsor and won his first Formula Drift title, securing 2 event wins. He formally launched his own RTR Drift Team in 2013, retaining Monster Energy sponsorship while switching tire sponsorship from Falken Tire to Nitto Tire. That same year, he was awarded the Ace Driver of the Decade title, recognizing his record of tandem battle victories in Formula Drift history. Gittin finished third in the 2016 Formula Drift Championship, with two victories during the season. He finished fourth in 2017, campaigning a new engine program and running a two-car team. Ten years after his first championship, Gittin won the 2020 Formula Drift championship with 2 wins and 2 podium finishes.
Gittin won the USA vs Japan event in the D1 Grand Prix All Star exhibition matches in 2005, and the All Star Duel event in 2007. In 2014 and 2015, he competed in NASCAR Canada, finishing 14th out of 32 drivers in Québec in 2014. He also finished 5th in his first Trans-Am race at Road America in 2015. In 2023, Gittin returned to Formula Drift in a part-time capacity, driving for half the season and sharing a car with Adam LZ, scoring an event win at Round 2.
In 2016, Gittin began competing in the Ultra4 USA racing series, finishing in the top 10 at the King of the Hammers in his first appearance. He won the East Coast Championship in the Ultra4 4500 Class in 2018, and finished 7th in the 4400 class in 2019, the highest finish of any crossover driver in series history.
Gittin started RTR Vehicles in 2009, with RTR standing for "Ready To Rock". RTR launched a collaborative special edition Ford Mustang, the Mustang RTR-C, at the 2009 SEMA Show, limited to 10 vehicles. RTR has since created aftermarket accessories, customization packages, and special models for the Ford Mustang, and in 2025, announced an official Ford Mustang RTR production model in partnership with Ford, followed by a Ford Bronco RTR production model in 2026. Gittin stated the purpose of launching RTR was to reinvigorate interest in the Ford Mustang among younger generations. In 2023, Ford partnered with Gittin and RTR Vehicles to develop a "Drift Brake" feature for the seventh-generation Mustang.
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