Date: June 16, 2019
Event: M&M’s 200 (Race 10 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series
Location: Iowa Speedway in Newton (7/8-mile oval)
Format: Three Segments; 60 laps/60 laps/80 laps
Start/Finish: 11th/10th (running, completed 200 of 200 laps)
Winner: Brett Moffitt of GMS Racing (Chevrolet)
Todd Gilliland and the No. 4 JBL/SiriusXM team earned another top-10 finish on Sunday at Iowa Speedway in Newton. The young driver posted the 10th and 15th fastest laps in two practices respectively on Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon, qualifying was rained out, and the field was set by owners’ points, giving Gilliland the 11th starting position.
The race was delayed by rain until Sunday morning. Gilliland maintained a position in the top 15 for most of the race, but his JBL/Sirius XM Tundra was lacking rear grip and he was unable to gain track position. Ultimately, he finished in the 10th position after the winning vehicle of Ross Chastain was disqualified.
Stage One Recap:
- Qualifying was rained out and Gilliland began the race in the 11th position.
- Gilliland fell back on the start, stating he was loose on entry to the corner and tight on the exit.
- Interim crew chief Michael Shelton brought Gilliland to pit road under the first caution on lap 55 for four tires and fuel.
- Gilliland finished the first stage in 11th.
Stage Two Recap:
- Gilliland started the second stage in 13th and maintained that position for most of the second stage.
- Following the second stage, Shelton brought Gilliland to pit road for four tires and fuel.
Stage Three Recap
- The young driver began the final stage in 11th and worked his way into the top 10.
- Gilliland reported that his Tundra was getting tighter and tighter through the corners.
- Ultimately, the 19-year-old crossed the finish line in 11th, but after the winning vehicle was disqualified, Gilliland claimed a top-10 finish.
Todd Gilliland, driver of the No. 4 JBL/SiriusXM Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
What happened this weekend?
“This weekend, we didn’t have the weekend we wanted. We unloaded really bad and just could never get a handle on our JBL Tundra. We battled really, really tight and in the race the front end was really tight and we just kept freeing up the back and made it a little more raceable, but still just really free on exit then and just total loss of grip. Just no grip anywhere I went. It’s very frustrating, but we’ll just keep taking the positives and keep clicking off finishes, no matter what they are, it’s better than wrecking every week. I still think there’s some stuff we can take away from it, hopefully we’ll just move on and be better next week.
M&M’s 200 Recap:
- Brett Moffitt won the race followed by Ben Rhodes, Harrison Burton, Grant Enfinger and Stewart Friesen rounded out the top-five finishers.
- The race featured four cautions for 25 laps and three lead changes among four drivers.
How Gilliland’s KBM Teammates Fared:
Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 18 Toyota Tundra, finished third
Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 46 Toyota Tundra, finished 15th
Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 51 Toyota Tundra, finished eighth
NGOTS Championship Standings:
Gilliland and the No. 4 team rank ninth in the Gander Trucks Driver Championship Standings following the 10th race of the season, 135 points behind the leader, Grant Enfinger. Gilliland is now 32 points out of the eighth and final playoff spot.
Next Race:
Todd Gilliland and the No. 4 team will return next week at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, on Saturday, June 22. Live coverage of the Gateway 200 begins at 10 p.m. EST on FS1.