Date: June 22, 2019
Event: CarShield 200 presented by CK Power (Race 11 of 23)
Series: NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Ill. (1.25-mile oval)
Format: Three Segments; 35 laps/35 laps/90 laps
Start/Finish: 11th/2nd (running, completed 160 of 160 laps)
Winner: Ross Chastain of Niece Motorsports (Chevrolet)
After a rainy start to NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race day at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, Todd Gilliland and the No. 4 Mobil 1 team put together a solid race to earn Gilliland’s best finish of the season with a second-place finish in the CarShield 200. The young driver posted the second-fastest lap in one practice on Saturday afternoon, after both first practice and qualifying were washed out. The field was set by owners’ points standings as per the NASCAR Rule Book, so Gilliland rolled off from the 11th position.
The CarShield 200 began as scheduled despite inclement weather through the early afternoon. Gilliland began the race near the back of the top-10, but crew chief Michael Shelton made adjustments to the Mobil 1Toyota Tundra and the driver was able to work his way toward the front, eventually powering his way to the second position in the closing laps.
Stage One Recap:
- Qualifying was rained out and Gilliland began the race in the 11th position.
- Gilliland reported that his Tundra was free into the corner and tight off the corner.
- Interim crew chief Michael Shelton brought Gilliland to pit road after the completion of the first stage for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment.
- Many teams opted for only two tires, so Gilliland lost several spots on pit road.
- Gilliland finished the first stage in 11th.
Stage Two Recap:
- Gilliland started the second stage in 15th after taking four tires between stages.
- The four fresh tires enabled him to climb into the top-10 within three laps, where he reported that his Tundra was free and feeling “edgy.”
- The young driver finished the second stage in seventh.
- Following the second stage, Shelton brought Gilliland to pit road for two left side tires and fuel.
Stage Three Recap
- The No. 4 began the final stage in fourth after the two-tire pit stop, and was as high as third before the final green-flag pit stop.
- Gilliland quietly and persistently worked through traffic in the top-10 and Shelton brought him to pit road with 30 laps to go for two right-side tires and fuel under green flag conditions.
- After stops cycled through, Gilliland was again in the top-five.
- On lap 149, Gilliland restarted in in fourth, and quickly jumped to third at the green flag, threatening teammate Christian Eckes for second.
- On the final lap, Gilliland got by his teammate for second and the No. 51 was spun out by the fourth-place vehicle.
- Gilliland took the checkered flag in second-place, equaling his career-best finish in last year’s event at Gateway. This is his second top-five finish of the season and sixth top-10.
Todd Gilliland, driver of the No. 4 Mobil 1 Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports:
How was your race tonight?
“In practice I thought this was going to be our night. Starting in the back didn’t help us there. We had to do some pit strategy. We executed a really good race, so that’s one thing I’m really proud of and I felt like I drove a good race. Overall, like I said, just a well-executed weekend, really smooth. This is a brand new Mobil 1 Tundra so a good job to everyone at Kyle Busch Motorsports. This is one of the fastest Tundras I’ve had yet, and we just need to keep this momentum rolling.”
CarShield 200 Recap:
- Ross Chastain won the race with Todd Gilliland, Stewart Friesen, Chandler Smith and Brett Moffitt rounding out the top-five finishers.
- The race featured five cautions for 30 laps and 14 lead changes among eight drivers.
How Gilliland’s KBM Teammates Fared:
Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 18 Toyota Tundra, finished 16th
Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 46 Toyota Tundra, finished fourth
Christian Eckes, driver of the No. 51 Toyota Tundra, finished 14th
NGOTS Championship Standings:
Gilliland and the No. 4 team rank eighth in the Gander Trucks Driver Championship Standings following the 11th race of the season in a tie with Sheldon Creed, 147 points behind the leader, Grant Enfinger.
Next Race:
Todd Gilliland and the No. 4 Mobil 1 team will return next week at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., on Friday, June 28. Live coverage of the Camping World 225 begins at 9 p.m. EST on FS1.
