Date: Feb. 15, 2019
Event: NextEra Energy Resources 250 (Race 1 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series
Location: Daytona (Fla.) International Raceway (2.5-mile Tri-oval)
Format: Three Segments; 20 laps/20 laps/60 laps
Start/Finish: 3rd / 19th (accident, completed 88 of 111 laps)
Winner: Austin Hill of Hattori Racing Enterprises (Toyota)
Eighteen-year-old Todd Gilliland made his first NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series start at Daytona International Speedway, starting in third and remaining within the top-10 for most of the night before accidental contact with teammate Harrison Burton ended his evening early, resulting in a 19th-place finish in the No. 4 JBL Audio Toyota Tundra.
Stage One Recap:
- After starting from third, Gilliland, fighting a tight handling condition, dropped back in the pack and finished the first stage in the 10th position. Following the first stage, he visited pit road and crew chief Marcus Richmond for fuel and adjustments.
Stage Two Recap:
- Gilliland began the second stage in the fifth position. The eighteen-year-old reported that his JBL Audio Toyota Tundra was much better and he was leading coming to the stage end, but was shuffled back on the final lap and was in the eighth position at the end of the second 20-lap stage. He pitted on lap 45 for fuel and two right-side tires.
Stage Three Recap:
- As the final 60-lap stage began, Gilliland reported that his Tundra was much better and the handling was mainly neutral.
- He began the final stage in the fourth position, but was shuffled back to midpack.
- After contact with another truck in the infamous “Big One,” on lap 55, Gilliland sustained slight damage to the right side of his vehicle, requiring a pit stop to attempt to clear the tires. After another pit stop on lap 80, Gilliland reported an issue with his machine, which turned out to be a loose left rear wheel.
- With 10 laps remaining in the scheduled distance, Gilliland made contact with Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate Harrison Burton in an effort to provide a push to the front, and both drivers lost control. The No. 4 sustained damage, ending his night.
TODD GILLILAND, driver of the No. 4 JBL Audio Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
What ended your night?
“Just over-aggressive there, I guess. I was trying to make something happen. I still had quite a few laps to go – just a little too impatient I guess. It’s hard when the top lane is working like that. I tried to give my teammate, Harrison (Burton) a push and I don’t know. We were going in opposite ways and I just hooked him in the wall. Not how I wanted to end. Obviously, I was looking forward to working with Harrison there and go to the front. Just trying to help, but messed up both of our nights.”
NextEra Energy Resources 250 Recap:
- Austin Hill won the race, followed by Grant Enfinger, Ross Chastain, Spencer Boyd and Matt Crafton rounded out the top-five finishers.
- The chaotic race featured eleven cautions for a total of 55 laps. There were 15 lead changes among 10 drivers. Gilliland led once for one lap and KBM teammate Christian Eckes led once for one lap from the pole.
How Gilliland’s KBM Teammates Fared:
- Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished 18th
- Christian Eckes, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished 22nd
NGOTS Championship Standings:
The No. 4 team leaves the first race of the season with Gilliland ranked 18th in the Truck Series Driver Championship Standings, 22 points behind the leader.
Next Race:
Todd Gilliland and the No. 4 JBL Audio team return to action February 23 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. Live coverage of the Atlanta 200 begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
