Making his debut in the 2011 Monster Energy / Falken Tire Ford Mustang GT – a carbon fiber work of art Michelangelo would have proud of – 29 year old Gittin “was in the zone” (his words) all day long, simply knocking off one competitor after another as he slashed and burned his way straight to the finals.

And in a display of totalitarian rile, that’s just where he ended up. Paired against Rhys Millen in the RMR Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe in the final round title fight, when it all went green, Gittin mashed the gas pedal into the metal floorboard of the Ford and all 650 mustangs came to life (that’s a witty way to say “horsepower”) and the Supercharged 5.0L V8 launched the car off the line like a bat out of hell, filling the otherwise azure blue skies of Long Beach with the melted rubber tire smoke of his Falken tires. Full-lock right, full-lock left, Gittin used a blend of aggression, style and complete control to dominate the showdown.

“I knew I won before it was even announced,” Vaughn said later while walking back to pits, trophy in one hand and a Sharpie in another, signing countless autographs for adoring fans who were, on the day, both in awe of Vaughn and his hot rod Ford.

“During the off-season there was a lot of business going on and did not get to do as much testing as I hoped for,” Gittin added later. “So I did a lot of testing in my head before this event – I drove the car probably a couple of times a week in my head. For Long Beach here today I was really relaxed and focused. I was 100% in my zone today.”

Yes, Vaughn Gittin was certainly in the zone in Southern California and now holds the championship lead as the Formula Drift series prepares to head east for round two at Road Atlanta.