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JR Gittin
Loud, brash and just doesn't give a f-k, but damn, this boy can drift. JR Gittin, the first American driver to win at a D1 event and one of the leaders behind Drift Alliance, is thinking about making the switch from corporate slave to professional drifter. Can he pull it off? The Magic Eight Ball says "all signs point to yes."
Living the Dream!br>In case you didn't know, I've been an IT manager since the beginning of my drifting career. It's a great paying job and I enjoy all the challenges that technology and business have to offer, but the last four years of my life have become so much more, it's insane. On the one hand I'm responsible for a large firm's technical needs, which keeps me busy, no doubt. On other hand, I'm also handling a drifting career, which includes sponsor and media relations, driving at least 20 events a year, interviews, Drift Alliance's business needs, practice, maintenance on cars, traveling worldwide, plus tons of other things that I'm not going to bore you with.
That means for the last four years I have been working my ass off handling two full-time jobs. My phone never stops ringing, my brain never relaxes and I'm completely overwhelmed with everything. I find myself constantly struggling with these thoughts: Do I continue going crazy and keep a stable, well-paying job or do I just go all out? I am at the forefront of an amazing opportunity that most can only dream about. Why the hell am I second guessing myself? Have I grown so dependent on a white-collared job that I have been holding onto it like my Spiderman security blanket?
If you told me five years ago that one day I would be able to pay my bills for beating the hell out of other cars, traveling the world, helping the growth of drifting and meeting awesome people, I probably would have told you to stop smoking crack and punched you in the nose for messing with me. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of hard work and sacrifice that goes into being a driver, but the negative aspects that go along with it still are better than a two hour daily commute to fix computer problems all day.
So...I've decided to throw all my button-up shirts away, tell the D.C. commute to go to hell and "work" in my racing suit! I've worked so hard to get here, but I do realize how fortunate I am to have this opportunity. Thanks so much to my fans, my family, my sponsors and everyone close to me who have supported me over the years. You are a big part of this and I will not let you down!Vaughn "JR" Gittin Jr.