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David Gilliland
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David Gilliland (born on April 1, 1976 in Riverside, California) is a NASCAR driver. He currently is a free agent, but is still under contract with Yates Racing. He is the son of former Cup and West Coast driver Butch Gilliland. He is mentored by former Sprint Cup race winner Jerry Nadeau.
NASCAR Regional Career
In 1996, he began working on his father's AutoZone West Series team. By 1999, Gilliland won the track championship at Perris Auto Speedway (a dirt track).
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Encyclopedia
David Gilliland (born on April 1, 1976 in Riverside, California) is a NASCAR driver. He currently is a free agent, but is still under contract with Yates Racing. He is the son of former Cup and West Coast driver Butch Gilliland. He is mentored by former Sprint Cup race winner Jerry Nadeau.
NASCAR Regional Career
In 1996, he began working on his father's AutoZone West Series team. By 1999, Gilliland won the track championship at Perris Auto Speedway (a dirt track). Then, the following year he began a limited season in the NASCAR AutoZone West Series.
In 2003, Gilliland won five races in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series in the #11 Centrifugal Technologies Chevrolet. He finished the season with five top-fives and eight top-tens and a 6th place finish in points.
In 2004, Gilliland announced plans to run the full schedule in the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series in the No. 88 Chevrolet for MRG Motorsports and all non-conflicting NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series (now AutoZone West) races. He won his first AutoZone West win at Mesa Marin Raceway, in his home city. He was then NASCAR Grand National Division, West Series Rookie-of-the-Year. He also had two victories in NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series.
NASCAR National Career
Gilliland made his first attempt at a major NASCAR race in 2003, at the Las Vegas 350 in the Craftsman Truck Series, but failed to qualify. He announced that Clay Andrews Racing would form in mid-2005. Gilliland made his Busch Series debut at Phoenix, qualifying 28th. However, he was involved with an early crash and finished 43rd. Gilliland made the other Phoenix race later in the year, but had the same result. He was 43rd after ignition troubles. Also, he ran the #15 Billy Ballew Motorsports Chevy at Vegas in the Craftsman Truck Series with a 22nd place finish.
Meanwhile, Gilliland raced in the Grand National Division in 2005 and won the Toyota All-Star Showdown in 2005 when apparent winner Mike Olson was disqualified for light wheels wider than regulation. The win was his biggest of date because it allowed him to be noticed by Busch and Cup owners.
Gilliland began running the #84 Clay Andrews Chevy part-time in 2006, where he drew praise from many veterans, including announcer Darrell Waltrip. Gilliland, however, struggled to finish races, only earning a best of 29th in his first four starts of the year. However, in his next outing, Gilliland scored his first career Busch Series win at Kentucky on June 17. Gilliland drove the 84 Hype Manufacturing Chevrolet to victory, becoming the first driver of 2006 to win a Busch race who was not also running a full-time Nextel Cup schedule. FX television announcer Hermie Sadler called the victory "the biggest upset in Busch Series history".
Sprint Cup Series
Gilliland made his first attempt to make a Cup race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA, in the #72 CJM Racing Chevrolet, qualifying 31st, and finishing 32nd. In August 2006, Gilliland replaced Elliott Sadler as the driver of the M&M's Ford in the NEXTEL Cup Series. On October 7, he qualified on the pole for the UAW Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, the first pole of his career. He won his second career pole at the Daytona 500, his first points-paying race at the track, and finished 28th in NEXTEL Cup points.
Gilliland drove part-time in the Busch Series for Team Rensi Motorsports with sponsorship from in 2007, splitting the driving duties at Rensi with rookie Richard Johns. His best finish was a tenth at Daytona.
David Gilliland's #38 Ford has finally landed a primary sponsor. At least for the first seven races. FreeCreditReport.com, which currently sponsors David in the Nationwide Series, signed with Gilliland. http://www.nascar.com/2008/news/headlines/cup/02/07/dgilliland.yates.sponsorship/index.html
On 22 June 2008 he scored a career high 2nd place at the 2008 Toyota/Save Mart 350, only finishing behind championship leader, Kyle Busch.
In January of 2009, his #38 Sprint Cup team closed down due to a lack of sponsorship and his points from 2008 were moved to the #96 team of Bobby Labonte. Gilliand will drive for Kevin Buckler in four races in the #71 Chevrolet, starting in California at TRG Motorsports.
Personal life
Gilliland was a high-school golf teammate of Tiger Woods at Western High School in Anaheim.
David is married to wife Michelle and the couple has two children, Todd and Taylor.
Career NASCAR Statistics
| Year | Races | Wins | Poles | Top 5 | Top 10 | DNF | Finish | Start | Winnings | Season Rank | Team(s) |
|---|
| 2006 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 28.3 | 22.1 | $1,521,447 | 42 | Robert Yates Racing | | 2007 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 27.4 | 27.7 | $4,330,838 | 28 | Robert Yates Racing | | 2008 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 21.2 | 27.6 | $1,942,930 | 21 | Yates Racing | | | | Totals | 66 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 26.1 | 27.6 | $7,795,215 | |
Data as of June 23, 2008
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