Gilliland: Tire Test Key for Front Row
Teams Take New Knowledge to Fast Atlanta Track
STATESVILLE, N.C. (August 27, 2013) – David Gilliland wasn’t on site for the Goodyear tire test at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway three weeks ago, but he firmly believes he’ll benefit from it. Teammate David Ragan participated in the test and brought back some knowledge about how the Gen-6 car runs on the 1.5-mile oval that can help the entire Front Row Motorsports organization.
The No. 38 Long John Silver’s team is prepping for the Sprint Cup Series’ once-a-year visit to the fast Atlanta track, where the AdvoCare 500 will be run on Sunday night of Labor Day weekend.
Gilliland has 11 career starts at Atlanta with a top finish of 20th (2010).
Comments from Long John Silver’s team driver David Gilliland heading to Atlanta:
“Atlanta’s a special place. It’s unique. It’s a mile and a half, and we race at a lot of other mile-and-a-half tracks, but Atlanta is its own animal for sure. Thankfully, my teammate David Ragan was able to go to a tire test there a couple weeks ago and he learned some valuable information. I think that’s going to be key to us going there and unloading close to where we need to be.
“The track is still wore out but obviously still very fast on new tires. I think that’s a track where you go through one of the biggest swings, as far as time goes, where you start and where you finish as far as how much you slow down. So tire management is going to be key.
“There’s lots of options on that track. As a racer, that’s what you want – to go to a racetrack where you have options where you can move around a race and make a difference. And Atlanta is definitely that type of track. You’ll see guys running right up on the wall and guys running down low and more in between.”
About Front Row Motorsports:
Front Row Motorsports fields the No. 34 of David Ragan, the No. 38 of David Gilliland and the No. 35 of Josh Wise in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team is owned by Bob Jenkins and is headquartered just outside of Charlotte, N.C. In 2012, FRM was named to INC Magazine’s “INC 5000” list, recognizing the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., earning a rank of 800. Its partnership base is representative of more than $200 billion of the U.S. economy and includes organizations such as Ford Motor Company, CSX Transportation, Love’s Travel Stops, McCall Farms, Taco Bell and Long John Silver’s. For sponsorship inquiries, contact Robin Johnson at rjohnson@frontrowmotorsports.com or Mike Laheta at mlaheta@frontrowmotorsports.com.
