Many members of the nation’s NASCAR media will have a chance to talk to Ryan Gifford today, and what they will find is a drastically different driver, and person, than the one they met for the first time a year ago.
The Winchester, Tenn., native is part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Program for the second consecutive year and will join nine other minority drivers in the announcement today in Charlotte as part of the annual Media Tour.
The 21-year-old weathered the poor economy and some bad racing luck for a promising rookie campaign in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Driving for Max Siegal’s Revolution Racing team, Gifford posted four top-five finishes in 10 races and became the first black driver to earn a pole.
He views this second season as a chance to take a serious step forward.
“It’s just a blessing to be chosen for the program again,” Gifford said. “There are a lot of good drivers in the K&N Series, and I learned so much last year. The biggest thing is to take care of the car. If you aren’t there at the end of the race, you aren’t learning anything. The experience is invaluable, and I have a better idea of what it will take to get to the next level.”