Gilliland Comes Up a Short on Fuel While Leading at Texas

Date:         November 2, 2018
Event:         JAG Metals 350 (Race 21 of 23)
Series:        NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Location:   Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth (1.5-mile oval)
Format: Three Segments; 35 laps/35 laps/74 laps
Start/Finish: 12^th / 4^th (running, completed 147 of 147 laps)
Winner:      Justin Haley of GMS Racing (Chevrolet)

Todd Gilliland was a lap away from capturing his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win when he ran out of fuel at Texas Motor Speedway Friday night on the final lap. Gilliland led a race-high 60 laps and would go on to finish fourth.

Stage One Recap:

• Gilliland started from the back after scraping the wall during qualifying forcing the team to fix the right rear corner and bumper.
• He pitted on lap 16 for four tires since the set he had on from qualifying were not as good as the team hoped.
• Stage One ended early after a caution on lap 32 with Gilliland rebounding to 10^th place.
• He pitted during the stage break for left-side tires.

Stage Two Recap:

• When Stage Two began Gilliland was 11^th.
• He moved back into the top 10 by lap 50.
• Gilliland pitted under caution before the second stage ended on lap 64 for four tires to gain track position by staying out when the next caution came.
• He was 15^th when the stage ended, but in the lead when the final stage began.

Stage Three Recap:

• Gilliland restarted the final stage in the lead.
• He was passed with 40 laps to go and pitted for fuel only during a green-flag pit cycle on lap 116.
• Once the field cycled through the pits, he was back in the lead with 23 laps remaining.
• It looked as though Gilliland was going to win his first Truck Series race, until he saw the fuel gage drop coming off turn one on the final lap.
• His JBL/SiriusXM Tundra was out of fuel costing him the win, but he was able to coast across the finish line to salvage a fourth-place finish.

Todd Gilliland, driver of the No. 4 JBL/SiriusXM Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:

Did you run out of gas?

“I had no idea how we were on fuel. I thought we were good. I am very disappointed but very proud at the same time. My team gave me a great JBL/SiriusXM Tundra and I wrecked in qualifying. We were still able to come out here and contend for the win. We win and lose as a team. I made a mistake in qualifying and then we ran out of gas. It is what it is. I am so proud of everyone at Kyle Busch Motorsports. We tried a completely different package this weekend. It definitely shows that we were better. We’re here to gain on it every week. As disappointed as we are tonight, to come from the back and almost win was a solid night.”

JAG Metals 350 Recap:

• Justin Haley won the race followed by Ben Rhodes, Brett Moffitt, KBM’s Todd Gilliland and Austin Hill rounded out the top-five finishers.
• The race featured seven cautions for a total of 36 laps. There were 12 lead changes among eight drivers. Gilliland led 60 laps and Noah Gragson led two.

How Gilliland’s KBM Teammates Fared:

• Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished 10^th
• Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished 6^th

NCWTS Championship Standings:

The No. 4 team remains 11^th in the Truck Series Owner’s Championship Standings, while Gilliland remains 10^th in the Driver Championship Standings.

Next Race:

The Truck Series returns to action on Friday, Nov. 9 at ISM Raceway in Phoenix. Live coverage of the race begins at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1.