Event: Digital Ally 250 (Race 7 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series
Location: Kansas Speedway in Kansas City (1.5-mile tri-oval)
Format: Three Segments; 40 laps/40 laps/87 laps
Start/Finish: 5th / 3rd (running, completed 167 of 167 laps)
Winner: Ross Chastain of Niece Motorsports (Chevrolet)
In his first start at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Todd Gilliland and the No. 4 JBL/SiriusXM team earned their first top-five finish of the season with a third-place finish in the Digital Ally 250. Gilliland earned the fifth starting position in one round of single-vehicle qualifying, after posting the eighth and seventh fastest speeds in practice respectively. The teenager fired off with a loose handling Tundra, and reported that his right-front tire felt glazed over and needed grip, so crew chief Marcus Richmond and the No. 4 team went to work making adjustments and soon had the machine adjusted more to his liking. The young driver marched his way into the top five and began posting lap times faster than the leaders, but several late race cautions prevented him from capitalizing and he brought home a third-place finish.
Stage One Recap:
- In one round of single-truck qualifying, Gilliland put his No. 4 Tundra in the fifth starting position.
- During the first stage of the Digital Ally 250, Gilliland fell back in the top-10.
- Gilliland was able to give feedback on his Tundra during the first caution on lap 26 for teammate Brandon Jones, and reported that his Tundra was loose, and his right front tire felt glazed over.
- When the caution flag flew for the conclusion of the stage Richmond made the call to bring the No. 4 to pit road for four fresh tires, fuel and a wedge adjustment.
- Gilliland finished the first stage in the seventh position.
Stage Two Recap:
- Gilliland restarted the second stage in the 11th position after several competitors took only two tires.
- The young driver reported that his Tundra was handling much better, but the tires were spinning in first gear.
- By lap 63 the No. 4 was scored within the top 10 and Gilliland finished the second stage in seventh.
- Richmond called the No. 4 to pit road for four tires and fuel following the second stage.
Stage Three Recap:
- Gilliland began the final stage in the seventh position, and soon Richmond reported that he was the fastest truck on the track.
- By lap 109, Gilliland was back within the top five.
- On lap 129, the No. 4 JBL/SiriusXM team pit for the final time for four fresh Goodyear tires and fuel.
- When the caution flag flew on lap 140, Gilliland had worked his way into the third position. He battled for the lead, but fell back on the final two restarts.
- The second-generation driver took the checkered flag in the third position in his first start at Kansas Speedway, earning his first top-five finish of the season.
Todd Gilliland, driver of the No. 4 JBL/SiriusXM Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
How would you describe your race tonight?
“Uneventful, so that was a good thing. We worked really hard all through practice, got the truck a lot better. Me and my crew chief, Marcus Richmond, really were on the same page all weekend. That’s what it’s all about is putting together just solid weekends like this. We qualified fifth and finished third, that doesn’t sound overly spectacular, but when we have been qualifying in the teens and finishing there too, this is a big difference. Just a big confidence booster and hopefully something we can carry into Charlotte and put our JBL Tundra up front again.”
Digital Ally 250 Recap:
- Ross Chastain won the race by 0.483 seconds followed by Ben Rhodes, Todd Gilliland, Austin Hill and Brandon Jones rounded out the top-five finishers.
- The race featured six cautions for 29 laps and 22 lead changes among nine drivers.
How Gilliland’s KBM Teammates Fared:
Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 18 Toyota Tundra, finished 10th
Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 46 Toyota Tundra, finished 9th
Brandon Jones, driver of the No. 51 Toyota Tundra, finished 5th
NGOTS Championship Standings:
Gilliland and the No. 4 team remain ninth in the Gander Trucks Driver Championship Standings following the seventh race of the season, 74 points behind the leader, Grant Enfinger.
Next Race:
Todd Gilliland and the No. 4 team will be back on track Friday, May 17 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Live coverage of the N.C. Education Lottery 200 begins at 8:30 p.m. EST on FS1.
