Uses Strategy to Finish Sixth in Love's Travel Stops/Speedco Ford
Gilliland Rebounds From Pit Penalty to Finish 15th in Quincy Compressor Ford
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) picked up another top-10 finish of the season on Sunday at the Richmond (Va.) Raceway in the NASCAR Cup Series. Michael McDowell spent much of the race in the top-20 en route to a sixth-place finish. Todd Gilliland bounced back from an early equipment violation on his first pit stop to score his third consecutive top-15 finish.
Todd Gilliland and the Quincy Compressor Ford Mustang Team finished 15th after an early equipment violation on pit road put them in the back of the field. Gilliland had good pace all afternoon and had his Quincy Compressor Ford in the top-20. Crew Chief Ryan Bergenty went long on the final run of the day and a timely caution allowed Gilliland a 15th-place result.
For the first time in his Cup Series career, Gilliland has finished in the top-15 in his last three races.
Michael McDowell and the Love's Travel Stops/Speedco Ford Mustang team finished sixth after a bold strategy call by crew chief Travis Peterson.
With the third stage running long, the team stayed out while others came down pit road. A caution inside 30 laps remaining saw the team running fourth. On-cycle with the rest of the field, the team came down pit road for fresh tires. McDowell battled hard to finish sixth.
Todd Gilliland, Driver No. 38 Quincy Compressor Ford Mustang:
"Our Quincy Compressor Ford was fast all race. The early equipment violation set us back a bit, but we were able to rebound and get back to where we needed to be. The cautions fell in our favor and that helped us a lot when it came down to strategy. Overall, the team worked super hard getting this car ready and we are definitely heading in the right direction with both the team and the short track package."
Michael McDowell, Driver No. 34 Love's Travel Stops/Speedco Ford Mustang:
“I think the strategy was a good call. A lot of that was our car bring really good on the long runs and I think we were going to end up 15th or 16th, so we might as well go for it and see if we can’t come up with something good, and it worked out. I thought it was a great call by Travis. The Love’s Ford Mustang was good all day, but we needed a little bit more speed on the front end and not lose so much track position early on. The long run speed was great. Had a couple of those runs gone a little longer, I think we would have been a little bit better yet, so I’m proud of everybody. Phoenix was a good race for us earlier in the season and this obviously being a good race, so I feel like our short track program is turning the corner. I’m optimistic about that.”
FRM travels to the Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway this weekend for NASCAR Cup Series dirt action. The Cup race is Easter Sunday at 7:00p.m. on FOX.
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