Gilliland first started driving when he was three years old; his parents purchased a pink (later repainted to black) Barbie Corvette with modified pedals and an additional battery to increase its speed.[3] Afterwards, he began driving a quarter midget on a neighborhood dirt track. Two years later, he started racing competitively,[4] but stopped for two years at the decision of his father. In 2012, he won championships in the North Carolina Quarter Midget Association, USAC World Formula National Quarter Midget Championship and on the West Coast; he concluded his quarter midget career with 34 wins. The following year, he started limited late model racing, running three races. In 2014, he won his first limited late model race from the pole position at Ace Speedway.[5] Later in the year, he won his first late model race at Southern National Motorsports Park.[6]
2015–2017: First ARCA win and K&N West championships
On May 17, two days after his fifteenth birthday, Gilliland became the youngest driver to compete in the ARCA Racing Series when he made his debut at Toledo Speedway with Venturini Motorsports.[7] After leading the race weekend's practice session and qualifying fifth, he held off Tom Hessert and Josh Williams to win, becoming the youngest winner in ARCA series history.[8]
On November 12, Gilliland ran his first race in the K&N Pro Series West for Frontline Enterprises and Bill McAnally Racing[9] at Phoenix International Raceway, taking the lead with five laps to go after J. J. Haley's tire went down and defeated William Byron on the green–white–checker finish to win.[10] The win made Gilliland the youngest race winner in track history.[11] In postrace inspection, Gilliland's car was found to have the lubrication oil reservoir tank cover bolted improperly. As a result, his team received a P5 penalty (the second-worst in NASCAR) and was docked thirty points, although Gilliland was allowed to keep the victory.[10] On January 29, 2016, Gilliland joined Kyle Busch Motorsports' Super Late Model team.[12]
On February 4, 2016, McAnally announced that Gilliland would compete for full-time in the series, driving the No. 16 Toyota Camry.[13] Gilliland also made a start in the K&N Pro Series East at New Smyrna Speedway. After winning the pole,[14] he won the race in controversial fashion, as Ronnie Bassett Jr. was originally declared the winner since the flagman failed to wave the white flag in time after lap 150 and unintentionally extended the race by a lap.[15] The race was subsequently declared official after 150 laps.[14] On March 19, 2016, Gilliland went on to win his second Pro Series West race and his third Pro Touring series race at Irwindale Speedway.[16] After winning at Kern County Raceway Park, the victory marked his fourth K&N Series win in four starts, tying the record set by Dan Gurney 50 years earlier.[17] In May, he was named a member of the 2016–17 NASCAR Next program.[18] Gilliland clinched the Pro Series West championship on October 15.[19]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2020)
Gilliland with his KBM teammates Harrison Burton and Noah Gragson at Dover in May 2018Gilliland made an East Series start at Dover in October 2018Gilliland's No. 4 for Kyle Busch Motorsports at Martinsville in October 2018Gilliland's No. 38 for Front Row Motorsports at Pocono in 2020
On October 25, 2019, Gilliland won his first career Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway.[27]
On January 13, 2020, Front Row Motorsports announced that Gilliland would drive the newly opened No. 38 Ford F-150 for the full 2020 Truck season.[28] Gilliland recorded ten top-ten finishes and four top fives to qualify for the playoffs.[29]
Gilliland returned to the No. 38 in 2021.[29] Todd Gilliland won his second career Truck Series at Circuit of the Americas, his first win for Front Row Motorsports.[30] With his win at COTA, Gilliland qualified for the playoffs and was eliminated after the Round of 10.
On November 30, 2021, Front Row Motorsports announced that Gilliland would bypass the Xfinity Series to drive Front Rows No. 38 Cup Series ride and compete for NASCAR Rookie of the Year.[31] His first Cup Series race was at the 2022 Daytona 500. Gilliland started 29th and finished 33rd after being eliminated in an incident on lap 190.[32] On December 15, 2022, Gilliland returned to the No. 38 car for his second full-time season in the Cup Series with new crew chief Ryan Bergenty. However, on February 7, Gilliland was demoted to a part-time ride since Zane Smith will be in the No. 38 car for six races.[33] Gilliland however was able to sign a deal with Rick Ware Racing for five races; one in the No. 15 and four in the No. 51. On March 2, Front Row Motorsports announced that Gilliland will race at Talladega in the No. 36 to complete his full season.[34] He ended up finishing the season 28th in points, scoring four top tens with a best finish of eighth.
On August 9, it was announced that Gilliland would return to Front Row Motorsports in the No. 38 in 2024, which would mark his third season in the NASCAR Cup Series.[35]
Gilliland's early season performances showed improvement to the previous two years, as he led a then career-high 16 laps at the Daytona 500 prior to being collected in a late-race incident, before surpassing that stat by leading the most laps at Atlanta with 58, though he would fall out of win contention late on with a broken toe link.[36][37] On June 5, 2024, Gilliland signed a multi-year extension with Front Row. On November 19, 2024, FRM announced that Gilliland would move to the No. 34 in 2025.[38]
Personal life
Gilliland's father David formerly competed in the NASCAR Cup Series. His grandfather Butch, the 1997 NASCAR Winston West Series champion,[39] formerly competed in the Cup and Truck Series.[40]
Motorsports career results
NASCAR
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
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