Date: June 8, 2018
Event: PPG 400 (Race 8 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Location: Texas Motor Speedway in Ft. Worth (1.5-mile oval)
Format: Three Segments; 40 laps/40 laps/87 laps
Start/Finish: 2nd / 6th (running, completed 167 of 167 laps)
Winner: Johnny Sauter of GMS Racing (Chevrolet)
After celebrating his high school graduation during pre-race ceremonies, Todd Gilliland led a race-high 62 laps (of 167) in his Mobil 1 Tundra in his first appearance at the 1.5-mile Texas Motor Speedway. His sixth-place finish was the highest-finishing Toyota driver in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and was Gilliland’s third consecutive top-10 finish this season.
Stage One Recap:
- Gilliland started second after missing the pole by just two one-hundredths of a second.
- He remained second until a pit stop under caution shortly before the end of the stage for right-side tires and a track bar adjustment to free-up his Mobil 1 Tundra.
- He was 11th when the race resumed and ended the stage in ninth. Once the trucks which hadn’t pitted earlier came to pit road, Gilliland moved up to third.
Stage Two Recap:
- Gilliland started the second stage from third place on lap 47. By lap 50 he took the lead and stayed there until he pitted under caution on lap 75 before the end of the stage.
- He pitted for four tires and no adjustments since he was pleased with his truck.
- He was eighth when the race resumed since six trucks opted to stay out. He was fifth when Stage Two ended.
Stage Three Recap:
- Once the remaining trucks cycled through the pits, Gilliland returned to the lead to start the final 87-lap stage.
- He held off series veteran Johnny Sauter for several laps, but eventually fell back to fourth as the Tundra tightened-up.
- He was third with 20 to go, but would have to pit again since he could not make it on fuel. A much-needed caution on lap 150 brought him to pit road for fuel and a wedge adjustment and he returned to the track in seventh place.
- He was sixth with 10 to go, but a lengthy caution slowed his forward progress. In the few remaining green-flag laps he was not able to advance and finished sixth.
Todd Gilliland, driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
What can you take away from another strong run at a 1.5-mile track:
“I think just how much it changes once you get into traffic compared to the lead. We had such a strong Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra tonight and that’s what it’s about – bringing fast trucks out here, giving me the opportunity. We put on two tires there and we just got them so tight behind – I don’t know if it’s traffic or tires or what, but still very, very proud of everyone at Kyle Busch Motorsports. They gave me the truck I needed and now we just need to keep working together.”
PPG 400 Recap:
- Johnny Sauter won the race followed Stewart Friesen, Justin Haley, Grant Enfinger and Matt Crafton rounded out the top-five finishers.
- The race featured nine cautions for a total of 44 laps. There were 12 lead changes among nine drivers. Gilliland led the most laps with 62, while KBM teammates Noah Gragson led 19 and Spencer Davis led seven.
How Gilliland’s KBM Teammates Fared:
Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished 10th
Spencer Davis, driver of the No. 51 Toyota, finished 9th
NCWTS Owner Championship Standings:
The No. 4 team is now fourth in the Truck Series Owner’s Championship Standings, 77 points out of first.
Next Race:
The Truck Series returns to action Saturday, June 16 at Iowa Speedway in Newton. Live coverage of the race begins at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.
