Gilliland Scores Top-Five Finish at the Monster Mile

Todd Gilliland, No. 38 The Pete Store Ford F-150
Start: 17th (based on qualifying formula)
Finish: 4th

• Stage One: 10th
• Stage Two: 6th
• Stage Three: 4th

• Todd Gilliland fired off 17th Friday at Dover (Del.) International Speedway in his No. 38 The Pete Store Ford F-150 based on NASCAR's new performance-based qualifying formula. He was loose in and tight off early in the race, but wasted no time moving up through the field. He was up to 13th by lap 20 when NASCAR planned a competition caution. While some drivers pitted, he opted to stay out and wait to pit until the stage break. When Stage One ended on lap 45, Gilliland was in 10th to gain valuable stage points. He pitted for four tires, fuel and just an air pressure adjustment.

• When the second stage began, Gilliland was 15th. He quickly moved back up to 10th and toward the end of the stage he told the team he felt like the right-front tire was going away, so he did not want to push it. Stage Two ended a few laps early due to a caution for an accident and Gilliland was up to sixth. He pitted for tires, fuel and no adjustments, and a quick stop by the Front Row Motorsports team helped him pick up a spot on pit road.

• When the final stage began, Gilliland was fourth. He moved into second after the restart, but let a few faster trucks by who he was not racing for points. He settled into fourth until the field began to cycle through green-flag pit stops. Gilliland brought The Pete Store Ford to pit road on lap 166 for the final time and was back in fourth once everyone had pitted. A caution with eight laps remaining set up a three-lap shootout to the finish. Gilliland held his ground and finished the race fourth for his fourth top-five finish of the season. He is now four points above the playoff cut line in 10th place.

Gilliland on Dover: "It was really cool to have The Pete Store on our truck and get a top-five finish. We're right on the bubble and we need to have these good days, but the guys around us are stepping up too, so we just have to maximize every race. I'm really proud of this Front Row Motorsports team and the race we ran today. We needed that as a team. We're pretty close and getting closer. I can't wait to get to Gateway next week."