Second generation race driver Todd Gilliland has to like racing at north Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway. That’s because he’s 2-for-2 in the NASCAR Pro East Tour at that track. (Credit:Todd Gilliland photo.)
Third-generation racer Todd Gilliland could not have scripted a better start to his own NASCAR career.
After the fifteen-year-old reached Victory Lane in his NASCAR K&N Pro Series West debut last fall at Phoenix International Raceway, Gilliland made it 2-for-2 in the series with a win in Sunday’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series East opener at New Smyrna Speedway in the Jet Tools 150.
Gilliland, the son of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran David Gilliland, ended up the winner Sunday evening after some late-race drama. Gilliland’s No. 16 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota led at the start-finish line at the completion of Lap 150, the scheduled distance of the event, but racing continued for a subsequent lap due to a delay in displaying the proper flags from the flag stand.
In the ensuing circuit, Ronnie Bassett Jr. crossed the finish line first after contact with race leaders Spencer Davis and Gilliland. However, per the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Rule Book, the official finish of the race reverts to the completion of Lap 150, the advertised distance of the event.
Davis was scored as the race runner-up with Bassett in third. Kyle Benjamin and Justin Haley brought home the top five followed by Noah Gragson, Ryan Preece, Tyler Dippel, Riley Herbst and Dominique Van Wieringen.
A native of Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, Gilliland recorded the 21 Means 21 Pole Award by Coors Brewing earlier in the evening while the Canadian Van Wieringen qualified third, the highest mark for a female driver in the series’ 30 years of competition.
The Jet Tools 150 will be telecast by NBCSN on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 11:30 p.m. ET.
The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will return to action on Saturday, March 12 with the inaugural Mobile 150 at Mobile (Alabama) International Speedway.
NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES EAST-Jet Tools 150 Results
Sunday
At New Smyrna Speedway
New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Lap length: 0.48 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
1. (1) Todd Gilliland, Sherrills Ford, N.C., Toyota, 150 laps.
2. (2) Spencer Davis, Dawsonville, Ga., Chevrolet, 150.
3. (13) Ronnie Bassett, Jr., Winston-Salem, N.C., Ford, 150.
4. (12) Kyle Benjamin, Easley, S.C., Chevrolet, 150.
5. (11) Justin Haley, Winamac, Ind., Chevrolet, 150.
6. (8) Noah Gragson, Las Vegas, Nev., Ford, 150.
7. (21) Ryan Preece, Berlin, Conn., Chevrolet, 150.
8. (5) Tyler Dippel, Wallkill, N.Y., Chevrolet, 150.
9. (17) Riley Herbst, Las Vegas, Nev., Toyota, 150.
10. (3) Dominique Van Wieringen, Amherstburg, Ont., Ford, 150.
11. (10) Collin Cabre, Tampa, Fla., Toyota, 150.
12. (16) Gracin Raz, Lake Oswego, Ore., Ford, 150.
13. (9) Harrison Burton, Huntersville, N.C., Toyota, 150.
14. (24) Trey Hutchens, Lexington, N.C., Chevrolet, 150.
15. (6) Kaz Grala, Westborough, Mass., Toyota, 150.
16. (29) David Calabrese, Toms River, N.J., Ford, 150.
17. (18) Reid Wilson, Huntersville, N.C., Chevrolet, 150.
18. (28) John Holleman, IV, Winston-Salem, N.C., Ford, 150.
19. (26) Codie Rohrbaugh, Petersburg, W.Va., Chevrolet, 150.
20. (25) Ali Kern, Fremont, Ohio, Toyota, 150.
21. (20) Ruben Garcia Jr., Mexico City, Mexico, Toyota, 150.
22. (23) Sarah Cornett-Ching, Summerland, B.C., Chevrolet, 149.
23. (7) Jairo Avila Jr., Alhambra, Calif., Toyota, 149.
24. (4) Austin Theriault, Fort Kent, Maine, Toyota, 148.
25. (22) Clayton Green, Marble Falls, Texas, Toyota, 147.
26. (27) Christian Celaya, Caborca, Mexico, Toyota, 147.
27. (15) Dillon Bassett, Winston-Salem, N.C., Ford, 147.
28. (19) Ulysse Delsaux, Troyes, France, Toyota, 144.
29. (14) Hunter Baize, Bremen, Ky., Chevrolet, 97, accident.
Race Statistics
Time of Race: 0 hours 0 minutes 0 seconds
Margin of Victory:
Fastest Qualifier: T.Gilliland * (94.333 mph, 18.318 seconds)
Caution Flags: 4 for 26 laps.
Lead Changes: 4 among 3 drivers.
Lap Leaders: S. Davis 1-15; K. Grala 16-24; T. Gilliland 25-114; S. Davis 115-149; T. Gilliland 150.
Standings: 1. T. Gilliland, 48; 2. S. Davis, 43; 3. R. Bassett,Jr., 41; 4. K. Benjamin, 40; 5. J. Haley, 39; 6. N. Gragson, 38; 7. R. Preece, 37; 8. T. Dippel, 36; 9. R. Herbst, 35; 10. D. Van Wieringen, 34.
Source: NASCAR K & N Series PR