Gilliland Takes Speedy Cash Ford Mustang to Eighth
McDowell Finishes 11th in Love's Travel Stops/Speedco Ford Mustang
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) scored another top-10 finish Easter Sunday on the dirt at the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. Todd Gilliland led the way with an eighth-place finish, his second top-10 of the season and fourth consecutive top-15 finish. Michael McDowell finished 11th and has finished 13th or better in four out of his last five races.
Gilliland had a tough start in the Speedy Cash Ford Mustang. He was sent into the wall on Lap 12 during the first caution of the race. The team made repairs and Gilliland made some progress toward the front. He finished Stage 1 in 21st. In Stage 2, Gilliland was speedy in his Speedy Cash Ford. He picked off spots to finish 14th.
In the final stage, Gilliland did not pit and restarted fourth. For over 50 laps, Gilliland was in the top-five before finishing eighth on older tires.
Michael McDowell and the Love's Travel Stops Ford Mustang team began Sunday's race from the 13th spot and had a really strong Ford Mustang in Stage 1. McDowell battled for a top-10 spot and ended the stage in 11th. Stage 2 was entertaining for the team. McDowell did two 360 degree spins and still ended the stage 18th.
The Love's Travel Stops team also elected not to pit at the end of Stage 2 and began the final 100 laps in sixth. McDowell fell out of the top-10, but was strong at the end to come back and dead heat for 10th. He lost the position by one thousandth of a second to finish 11th.
Todd Gilliland, Driver No. 38 Speedy Cash Ford Mustang:
"I think our car was good when it was really tacky. I got in that very first wreck and when I was a lap down it was so fun. I passed like 10 to 15 cars, so I think we were more just set up for when it was tackier. We didn’t really have the entry grip or the exit grip we needed when it got really slick. That’s how this place goes, though. It goes through such a big swing. I feel like for a majority of the race we were okay. Frustrating because I thought we could have got a better finish, but that’s racing sometimes.”
Michael McDowell, Driver No. 34 Love's Travel Stops Ford Mustang:
“I don’t know how you could do that. I literally had two 360’s without hitting anything. The first one was on my own. I just went full lock and ran out of steering to the right and I just stayed in it and it was straight and I’m like, ‘Oh, man. I only lost two spots.’ And then on the last one I’m not sure. I think there was probably some contact below me. I think it was maybe the 16 and the 38 and I saw one just turn right like he got knocked off into me and spun around and didn’t hit anything again. That is a very fortunate night when you can do two 360s and not get clobbered by the field. But we lost track position with that, so we had to stay out there on tires after that and not quite good enough at the end. We just lacked drive, but coming away with an 11th after two 360s is okay.”
FRM races at the Martinsville (Va.) Speedway this weekend. The NASCAR Cup Series race is scheduled for Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET on FS1.\
ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
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CONTACTS:
Michael McDowell
Mac MacLeod
Email: mac.macleod@fastlanemediainc.com
Mobile: 704-578-9937
Todd Gilliland
Alex Minton
Email: aminton@frontrowmotorsports.com
Mobile: 704-560-6343