As one of just a handful of racers who have participated in Formula Drift since its inception, Vaughn Gittin Jr. has become one of the most recognizable faces on the drifting circuit. Last weekend though the famed drifter tested his mettle on a different kind of race track, competing in the TA2 class of the Trans Am racing series and taking fifth place in his debut.

Gittin is no stranger to the Road America race track, but for a guy who’s primary mission was to get sideways as much as possible, the Trans Am series is a much different beast. But as you can see from the video above, the die-hard drifter handled the corners with aplomb, coming across the finish line before more than 20 (presumably) more experienced road racers.

Competing against a field comprised mostly of other Mustangs, as well as Chevy Camaros and a smattering of Dodge Challengers, Gittin handled his 600 horsepower Trans Am racer on the super-fast Road America track. On straightaways, Gittin says he approached speeds of 160 to 170 MPH before having to come down hard on the brakes to make the tight turn.

Gittin actually gives us a really great overview of the track and what it’s like to race on it. He’s become quite polished on camera since his earliest days, and he just seems so comfortable and natural in front of a camera now. That said, having been a professional drifter and motorsports guy for more than a decade, it seems like he’s finally looking to branch out from Formula Drift and into more traditional contests of speed.

As the most prominent face of the Ford Mustang in motorsports right now, it would make sense that he might want to branch out beyond just drifting, and maybe we’ll even catch him on a drag strip sooner rather than later.

It’s all just a part of the life of a professional racer.