Background
Gifford is the son of Allen Burnette and Michelle Gifford, who died in 2012.
Gifford is the son of Allen Burnette and Michelle Gifford, who died in 2012.
Gifford graduated from Franklin County High School and attended Middle Tennessee State University.
He last drive the Number. 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 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 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.
In 2010, Gifford one of eleven young drivers selected for National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing"s recently revamped Drive for Diversity program, and would pilot the #2 Chevrolet in the Gifford raced alongside future national series drivers Darrell Wallace, Junior. and Paulie Harraka.
Gifford earned 4 top fives in the 10 race schedule, finishing 9th in points. 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 National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing NEXT program
Gifford was also joined by a new crew chief, veteran race car driver Mark Green.
Gifford started 11th and worked his way to the front, beating Brandon Gdovic and Cole Custer on a late-race restart. Gifford would finish 11th in points with 4 top 5"s and 6 top 10"son
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.
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.
In 2014, Gifford was signed to run two races for Biagi-DenBeste Racing at Iowa in May and Kentucky in June. Gifford finished 20th in his only appearance at Iowa.
A former development driver for Richard Childress Racing and a member of National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing NEXT. 2 Toyota Camry for Rev Racing in the regional as a member of National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing"s Drive for Diversity, and has made starts in the national Xfinity Series for RCR and Biagi-DenBeste Racing.