Driver Analysis: Todd Gilliland

Todd Gilliand had an interesting 2017 racing season across all series. Just like his teammate Harrison Burton, he made full time starts in the K&N Pro Series East and West as well. On the West side, Gilliland collected six wins and the 2017 series championship. For the east, however, he won four races and finished second to Burton in the point standings. While all that was going on, Gilliland made his first ever Truck Series start at the tough concrete track of Dover International Raceway.

They say Dover is the “Monster Mile.” Well, it was a monster of a problem for the 17-year-old in his first start in the series. He qualified 15th, ran as high as first and averaged a 13th running position throughout the race. He even placed in the top 10 in both stages until lap 118 when a caution came out for Gilliland who spun in Turn 2. The damage was too severe to continue the race.

Troubles followed him into his second start of the season at Gateway. He placed his best career qualifying position of fourth, but his night ended on Lap 112 when Gilliland had transmission problems thus regulating him to a 21st place finish. It was not the greatest of back to back starts.

However, things began to turn around at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park where he finished 11th. Gilliland continued to turn in impressive results at Loudon with the best finish of his career, third. In the final two races of his 2017 season, Gilliland finished fifth at Martinsville and seventh at Phoenix. A seventh-place finish at Phoenix locked in the No. 51 Truck for a shot at the owner’s championship, which Kyle Busch Motorsports ended up winning at Homestead.

The final stats show two top fives and three top 10 finishes, an average start of 9.2, an average finish of 11.2 and two DNF’s.

Gilliland describes his Phoenix race. “It was a rough night, but we kept fighting the entire race,” he said. “I am still really proud of everyone at Kyle Busch Motorsports, as well as PEDIGREE® for being on board. My team gave me an opportunity to have a good finish and that was the goal. It’s big to just finish the race and log more laps in my memory bank for the future.”

You can follow Todd Gilliland on Twitter and on Instagram.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SpeedwayMedia.com

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

RacingJunk.com and Leaf Racewear Safety Equipment Giveaway

Latest articles

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course announces 2025 racing schedule

The 64th season of racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will feature five major spectator events next summer beginning in early June.

YOUNG STANDOUTS IN PRO STOCK READY FOR CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENT AT IN-N-OUT BURGER NHRA FINALS

Aaron Stanfield leads Dallas Glenn by 32 points as both aim for first Pro Stock world title in Pomona; Veteran Greg Anderson lurks 56 points back

NHRA AT POMONA 2: Team Chevy Race Advance | Notes & Quotes

The final event of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season sees Team Chevy heading west to the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstri

ARCA Menards Series Pre-Race Practice at Daytona Set for January 9 and 10

The ARCA Menards Series opens its 2025 season with a two-day Pre-Race Practice session at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday and Friday, January 9 and 10.

Best New Zealand Online Casinos