One would think that being a rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, Todd Gilliland would be more than happy to relax during the series’ only off-weekend in 2022.
That, however, will not be the case, as Gilliland revealed on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s Manifold Destiny that he’ll be competing in Saturday’s Clean Harbors 150 at Knoxville Raceway.
“I’m going to run that same Knoxville truck race again this year,” Gilliland said. “My dad just called me, I’m going to run the No. 17 [David Gilliland Racing] truck.”
Saturday’s event at Knoxville will mark Gilliland’s first race in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, since graduating to NASCAR’s top-level full-time this season.
“I’m really excited about it,” Gilliland continued. “I love dirt racing, at least in a stock car, I haven’t really done anything else, so I don’t really know if that is classified as real dirt racing, but it’s always fun to me just sliding the trucks around, especially at Knoxville.”
Despite the 22-year-old’s family ties to David Gilliland Racing’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series program, Gilliland will be making his first start with the organization in NASCAR’s top-three series.
“They didn’t have a driver for this one and as a race car driver you can’t say no to a great opportunity like that,” Gilliland said about Saturday’s opportunity. “I’m excited to count the weeks, when it comes to the end of the season at Phoenix to know that I raced, probably 40 weeks in a row, from February to November, so gonna be a lot of fun, I’m really looking forward to it.”
In four NCWTS events on the dirt, Gilliland has recorded an incredible three top-five finishes, including a fourth-place result in the inaugural Corn Belt 150 at the half-mile dirt track last season.
Full Interview:
ICYMI: @ToddGilliland_ is getting dirty at @knoxvilleraces on Saturday!
The @Team_FRM rookie joined #ManifoldDestiny last night and revealed he'd be returning to the @NASCAR_Trucks with @dgr_racing.
? "Pretty cool to be able to run for my dads team." pic.twitter.com/hWQWxhoaEA
— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) June 14, 2022
