By Sarah Handy, Staff Writer
In this week’s edition of Flashback Friday, Kickin’ The Tires relives David Gilliland’s 2006 Busch Series win at Kentucky Speedway.
It was June 17, 2006 and NASCAR Rookie David Gilliland was making his 7th career start in the NASCAR Busch Series (now the Xfinity series).
Prior to the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway, Gilliland hadn’t finished better than 29th in the series.
However, that was about to change, and Gilliland would be the driver to shock the field.
There were eight NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers (now the Monster Energy Cup Series) in the field that night but they weren’t enough to stop Gilliland from claiming his first and only victory in the series to date.
Gilliland started the event in the fourth position and would eventually drop back as low as 19th in the field.
As Gilliland continued to try and race his way to the front, JJ Yeley in his No. 18 Vigoro Chevrolet opened nearly a five-second lead on second place Mike Wallace in the No. 1 Miccosukee Dodge before a caution would wave.
Gilliland restarted second on lap 188 in his No. 84 Hype Manufacturing Chevrolet and would take the lead two laps later as he passed Yeley in Turn 1.
A caution would come out with seven laps to go but Gilliland was able to hold off a charging Yeley on the restart for the victory.
(Photo: James Crisp/AP)
“When they ask me about racing against these cup guys, I tell them ‘I love it’ because it makes me better. This is an awesome race car. We came here having never seen this track before yesterday. Now we’re here in victory lane, I can’t believe it, it’s a dream come true, said Gilliland after the race.”
Career Update: David currently competes part-time on occasion in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and has run races for both Kyle Busch Motorsports and the team he co-owns with Bo LeMastus, DGR-Crosley Racing.
Gilliland last competed in the MENCS in the 2018 Daytona 500 when he drove the No. 92 Black’s Tires Service / Carquest Auto Parts Ford for Ricky Benton Racing to a 14th place finish.
As far as the NASCAR Xfinity Series goes, Gilliland hasn’t competed in that series since the 2010 season in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Gilliland is also the father of 19-year old Todd Gilliland who currently competes full-time in the NGOTS in the No. 4 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.