{"id":34423,"date":"2021-05-22T15:48:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-22T20:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=34423"},"modified":"2021-05-22T15:49:20","modified_gmt":"2021-05-22T20:49:20","slug":"gilliland-overcomes-early-penalty-to-win-inaugural-nascar-camping-world-truck-series-race-at-cota","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2021\/05\/22\/gilliland-overcomes-early-penalty-to-win-inaugural-nascar-camping-world-truck-series-race-at-cota\/","title":{"rendered":"Gilliland overcomes early penalty to win inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at COTA \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Todd Gilliland, driver of the #38 Crosley Brands Ford, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 225 at Circuit of The Americas on May 22, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

Todd Gilliland was so fast and so determined out front in Saturday\u2019s Toyota Tundra 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race his own team had to remind him to slow down and take care of his tires in the closing laps of the series debut at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) race.<\/p>\n

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Todd Gilliland, driver of the #38 Crosley Brands Ford, drives during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 225 at Circuit of The Americas on May 22, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Despite receiving the cautionary advice, Gilliland, 21, did not ease off and raced to a hefty 7.941-second margin of victory to earn his second career series win and first since 2019. His No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford set the fastest lap of the race with two laps remaining.<\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely did a lot of stuff wrong but that\u2019s what I love about road course racing, there\u2019s 20 turns here, 20 opportunities to pass but also make mistakes,\u2019\u2019 Gilliland said, thanking his Front Row Motorsports team.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast year we didn\u2019t quite have the season we knew we could and just to come out here and win early, we\u2019ve been building momentum and for my team to get this win is just amazing.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Todd Gilliland, driver of the #38 Crosley Brands Ford, and father, David Gilliland celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 225 at Circuit of The Americas on May 22, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Gilliland and the rest of the field ran wet tires flag-to-flag, so his team kept reminding him to be careful and look for wet spots on the track since the rain stopped mid-race. He hit his marks on the 3.41-mile 20-turn circuit and he hit the puddled water just enough to carry on to the victory \u2013 leading the final six laps and earning an extra $50,000 incentive in the second race of the series\u2019 Triple Truck Challenge.<\/p>\n

Kaz Grala finished runner-up, followed by pole-winner Tyler Ankrum, Grant Enfinger and Sheldon Creed, who led a race-best 14 of the 41 laps.<\/p>\n

Seventeen year-old driver Sam Mayer, rookie Carson Hocevar, Zane Smith, Austin Hill and Ben Rhodes rounded out the Top-10. Championship points leader John Hunter Nemechek finished 12th.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Todd Gilliland, driver of the #38 Crosley Brands Ford, and father, David Gilliland celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 225 at Circuit of The Americas on May 22, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Gilliland actually won Stage 1 \u2013 his first stage win of 2021 \u2013 and was first out during the ensuing pit stops during that caution period. But NASCAR ruled one of his pit crew members was over the wall too soon and Gilliland was penalized \u2013 sent to the rear of the field on the restart.<\/p>\n

With Gilliland now forced to play catch-up, defending series champion Sheldon Creed led most of Stage 2, pitting just before it ended and allowing Ben Rhodes to instead take his first Stage win of the year.<\/p>\n

Creed and Ankrum battled one another up front \u2013 at one point passing each other three different times on one lap \u2013 before Gilliland \u2013 who methodically worked his way forward was able to take the lead for good with five laps remaining. Grala passed Ankrum with two laps remaining to tie his best ever series finish.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the #4 ROMCO Toyota, drives during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 225 at Circuit of The Americas on May 22, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The victory marks Gilliland\u2019s fifth Top-10 showing in the last six races and as he told his team on the victory lap, \u201cI know we can do this [win races] a lot.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

Gilliland becomes the fourth full-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver to win this season \u2013 joining two-race winners John Hunter Nemechek and Rhodes, and last week\u2019s winner Creed.<\/p>\n

The series races next Friday night in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (8:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).<\/p>\n

Interviews:<\/h3>\n

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Post-Race: Second-place finisher Kaz Grala (No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet), race winner Todd Gilliland (No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford)<\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/NCWTSCOTAPostRace052221-1.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

Photo gallery: Click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race – Inaugural Toyota Tundra 225<\/b><\/p>\n

Circuit of The Americas<\/b><\/p>\n

Austin, Texas<\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday, May 22, 2021<\/b><\/p>\n

                   1. (5)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 41.<\/p>\n

                   2. (2)  Kaz Grala, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   3. (1)  Tyler Ankrum, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   4. (23)  Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   5. (3)  Sheldon Creed, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   6. (21)  Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   7. (17)  Carson Hocevar #, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   8. (15)  Zane Smith, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   9. (9)  Austin Hill, Toyota, 41.<\/p>\n

                   10. (11)  Ben Rhodes, Toyota, 41.<\/p>\n

                   11. (26)  Paul Menard, Toyota, 41.<\/p>\n

                   12. (6)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 41.<\/p>\n

                   13. (13)  Parker Kligerman, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   14. (28)  Hailie Deegan #, Ford, 41.<\/p>\n

                   15. (4)  Matt Crafton, Toyota, 41.<\/p>\n

                   16. (29)  Austin Wayne Self, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   17. (16)  Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 41.<\/p>\n

                   18. (8)  Parker Chase, Toyota, 41.<\/p>\n

                   19. (24)  Camden Murphy, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   20. (12)  Ryan Truex, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   21. (19)  Derek Kraus, Toyota, 41.<\/p>\n

                   22. (27)  Johnny Sauter, Toyota, 41.<\/p>\n

                   23. (32)  Lawless Alan, Toyota, 41.<\/p>\n

                   24. (22)  Timmy Hill, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   25. (30)  Tate Fogleman, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   26. (14)  Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   27. (31)  Chase Purdy #, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   28. (33)  Jack Wood, Chevrolet, 41.<\/p>\n

                   29. (25)  Michele Abbate, Toyota, 41.<\/p>\n

                   30. (34)  Cory Roper, Ford, 41.<\/p>\n

                   31. (36)  Tanner Gray, Ford, 40.<\/p>\n

                   32. (18)  Timothy Peters, Chevrolet, 40.<\/p>\n

                   33. (20)  Chandler Smith #, Toyota, 39.<\/p>\n

                   34. (35)  Roger Reuse, Chevrolet, 38.<\/p>\n

                   35. (10)  Christian Eckes, Toyota, Suspension, 36.<\/p>\n

                   36. (7)  Cameron Lawrence, Chevrolet, 34.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  70.79 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  1 Hrs, 58 Mins, 30 Secs. Margin of Victory:  7.941 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  2 for 2 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  8 among 6 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   K. Grala 1-11;T. Gilliland 12-13;S. Creed 14-23;B. Rhodes 24-26;M. Crafton 27;S. Creed 28-31;T. Ankrum 32-35;T. Gilliland 36-41.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  Sheldon Creed 2 times for 14 laps; Kaz Grala 1 time for 11 laps; Todd Gilliland 2 times for 8 laps; Tyler Ankrum 1 time for 4 laps; Ben Rhodes 1 time for 3 laps; Matt Crafton 1 time for 1 lap.<\/p>\n

Stage #1 Top Ten: 38,02,26,88,99,32,52,4,2,56<\/p>\n

Stage #2 Top Ten: 99,88,19,2,26,02,45,32,38,11<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service Todd Gilliland was so fast and so determined out front in Saturday\u2019s Toyota Tundra 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race his own team had to remind him to slow down and take care of his tires in the closing laps of the series debut at the Circuit […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":676,"featured_media":34426,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[39,16,160,268,600],"class_list":["post-34423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-circuit-of-the-americas","tag-nascar","tag-nascar-camping-world-truck-series","tag-ncwts","tag-todd-gilliland"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/GettyImages-1319498270-scaled-e1621715952513.jpg?fit=640%2C427&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-8Xd","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/676"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34423"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34423\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34433,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34423\/revisions\/34433"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}