Ryan Gifford

Ryan Gifford
Nationality American
Born (1989-03-10) March 10, 1989
Winchester, Tennessee, U.S.
NASCAR K&N Pro Series East career
Debut season 2009
Starts 70
Wins 1
Poles 1
Best finish 9th in 2010
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
2 races run over 2 years
2014 position 67th
Best finish 63rd (2013)
First race 2013 U.S. Cellular 250 (Iowa)
Last race 2014 Get To Know Newton 250 (Iowa)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0
Statistics current as of September 28, 2014.

Ryan Gifford is an American professional stock car racing driver. A former development driver for Richard Childress Racing and a former member of NASCAR NEXT. he last drive the No. 2 Toyota Camry for Rev Racing in the regional K&N Pro Series East as a member of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity, and has made starts in the national Xfinity Series for RCR and Biagi-DenBeste Racing. Gifford is the first African-American driver to win a pole in the K&N East series, and works in the shop of Team Dillon Racing .

Early life

Gifford is the son of Allen Burnette and Michelle Gifford, who died in 2012. Ryan also has a half-brother, Jabryle Hill. Ryan's grandfather Farrell Gifford was a drag racer, who introduced him to racing at age six. Gifford graduated from Franklin County High School and attended Middle Tennessee State University.[1][2]

Gifford began his career in go-karts at the age of eight, competing in the World Karting Association from 2000 to 2004 and winning two track championships and finishing 3rd in national standings in his final season. In 2005 at age 15, he began the transition to stock car racing in dirt late models, earning 3 poles and four top 5's in his first season. In 2006, Gifford was noticed by Mike Dillon, the son-in-law of Richard Childress and RCR's general manager. Gifford would move into the Dillon's North Carolina household in 2008 to compete for RCR and Team Dillon Racing on both dirt and asphault, registering 3 wins and 20 top 10's in 29 starts that season. In 2009, Gifford made four starts in the K&N Pro Series East and one in the West Series in a #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet for RCR. Gifford scored four top 5's including two second-place finishes.[3][4][5]

K&N Pro Series East

Gifford's winning car at Richmond in 2013.

In 2010, Gifford one of eleven young drivers selected for NASCAR's recently revamped Drive for Diversity program, and would pilot the #2 Chevrolet in the K&N Pro Series East. Gifford raced alongside future national series drivers Darrell Wallace, Jr. and Paulie Harraka.[6] Gifford earned 4 top fives in the 10 race schedule, finishing 9th in points. Gifford also won a pole at Martinsville Speedway, the first pole by an African American in the series' history. Gifford returned in 2011 and 2012, posting a total of 7 top 10's in 26 races, and finishing 10th and 11th in points respectively.

In 2013, Gifford was named part of the NASCAR NEXT program.[7] Gifford was also joined by a new crew chief, veteran race car driver Mark Green.[8] He won his first race, the Blue Ox 100, on April 27 at Richmond International Raceway. Gifford started 11th and worked his way to the front, beating Brandon Gdovic and Cole Custer on a late-race restart.[9][10] Gifford would finish 11th in points with 4 top 5's and 6 top 10's.

After the race at Loudon, New Hampshire in July 2014, Gifford was fined $1,000 for an altercation with another driver. Gifford was also placed on probation for the rest of the year.[11]

NASCAR Nationwide Series

In August 2013, Gifford made his national series debut at Iowa Speedway for Richard Childress Racing in their #33 Menards Chevrolet, coming from the 23rd starting position to finish 9th.[12] In 2014, Gifford was signed to run two races for Biagi-DenBeste Racing at Iowa in May and Kentucky in June.[13] Gifford finished 20th in his only appearance at Iowa.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Nationwide Series

References

  1. ↑ McCarter, Mark (February 12, 2013). "Ryan Gifford aiming for victory lane through NASCAR's 'Drive for Diversity' program". Al.com. Winchester, Tennessee: Alabama Media Group, Advanced Digital. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "Michelle Gifford". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Winchester, Tennessee: Chattanooga Times Free Press. April 7, 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "Bio". Ryan Gifford Racing. Ryan Gifford Racing, Terso. 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "Ryan Gifford". Hometracks.NASCAR.com. NASCAR. 2014. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Thompson, Paula (June 17, 2014). "Fast Facts: Ryan Gifford". Skirts and Scuffs. Skirts and Scuffs. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  6. ↑ Official Release (February 9, 2010). "Drive For Diversity Introduces 2010 Driver Lineup". Hometracks.NASCAR.com. Daytona Beach, Florida: NASCAR. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  7. ↑ Associated Press (June 21, 2013). "Winchester, TN native on NASCAR's NEXT roster". wrcbtv.com. Newtown, Iowa: WRCB, AP. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  8. ↑ Meredith, Luke (August 1, 2013). "GIFFORD READY FOR LONG-AWAITED NATIONWIDE DEBUT". AP.org. Des Moines, Iowa: The Tampa Tribune, Associated Press. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  9. ↑ Kerchner, Mike (April 27, 2013). "Short-Track Roundup: Ryan Gifford, 15-year-old Gray Gaulding turn heads at NASCAR K&N Series race". Autoweek. Autoweek. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  10. ↑ "Gifford Gets First Win". MRN.com. Motor Racing Newtork. April 25, 2013. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  11. ↑ Long, Dustin (July 16, 2014). "Gifford Ready to Race After Fine Paid". MRN. Mooresville, North Carolina: Motor Racing Network. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Cavana, Alan (August 19, 2013). "News: Meet Nascar's Ryan Gifford". BET.com. BET, NASCAR. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  13. ↑ Eddinger, Mark (May 1, 2014). "Ryan Gifford Will Drive Two NASCAR Nationwide Series Races for Biagi-DenBeste Racing". MOTORSPORTS 101. Sports Media 101 Inc. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
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