Gilliland Picks Up First K&N Pro West Victory Of ’17

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Story By: ZACH CATANZARETI / NASCAR – BAKERSFIELD, CA – It wasn’t easy, but Thursday was Todd Gilliland’s day at Kern County Raceway Park.

After winning the only practice of the day at the California track, the 16-year-old from Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, piloted his No. 16 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota to his eighth career 21 Means 21 Pole Award in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. He then backed it all up with the victory in the NAPA Auto Parts 150.

The win, his eighth in the series, keeps his chances alive to compete for a $10,000 prize in the NAPA 500 Challenge. He must finish in the top three in the next two races at California’s Irwindale Event Center to win the bonus money.

Going into overtime after multiple late-race cautions, the 156-lapper came down to Billy McAnally Racing teammates Gilliland and Derek Kraus. Though 15-year-old Kraus made some gutsy moves to get his No. 19 Carlyle Tools Toyota alongside Gilliland in the closing stages, the Stratford, Wisconsin, driver came up short, finishing second in only his second K&N Pro Series West start.

Kraus was not the only one to contend with Gilliland, however, as Michael Self was the top driver for the first half of the race in his No. 9 Sunrise Ford/Eibach Springs/Lucas Oil Ford. Leading 84 laps, the early pace soon atrophied for the 26-year-old from Park City, Utah, as he lost the lead to Gilliland on Lap 95 and fell outside the top three. Shortly after, the six-time K&N Pro Series West race winner battled with Chris Eggleston and Will Rodgers to come home in sixth.

The night went much worse for a few other series talents, as Brandon Schilling brought out two cautions throughout the night after losing his No. 30 Family Air/Tucson Speedway Ford in Turn 2. Julia Landauer, who qualified seventh, ran as high as second in her No. 6 Sunrise Ford/Eibach Springs/Lucas Oil Ford. The run came to an end on Lap 97 when she crashed with Matt Levin, later ending her night in the12th spot.

Rounding out the top-five behind Rodgers and Eggleston was 10-time series race winner, David Mayhew. He was followed by Nicole Behar, who rallied from the rear of the field after an unapproved adjustment, in seventh with Blaine Perkins, Kody Vanderwal and Todd Souza completing the top-10.

The NAPA 150 from Kern County Raceway Park will air on NBCSN Tuesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will be back in action Saturday at Irwindale for the NAPA Twin 100s.

Fin Str Car Driver Team Laps Points B/Points Status
1 1 16 Todd Gilliland NAPA Auto Parts Toyota 156 47 4 Running
2 6 19 Derek Kraus * Carlyle Tools Toyota 156 42 Running
3 3 7 Will Rodgers * Craft Beer Racing Ford 156 41 Running
4 2 99 Chris Eggleston NAPA Filters Toyota 156 40 Running
5 9 17 David Mayhew MMI Service Chevrolet 156 39 Running
6 5 9 Michael Self Lucas Oil/Eibach/Sunrise Ford Ford 156 40 2 Running
7 23 33 Nicole Behar Custom Welding & Fabrication Toyota 156 37 Running
8 8 21 Blaine Perkins Four Star Fruit Chevrolet 156 36 Running
9 12 32 Kody Vanderwal * Trident Processes/ Billtrite Sign/Becker Safety Ford 156 35 Running
10 11 13 Todd Souza Central Coast Cabinets Toyota 156 34 Running
11 13 61 Johnny Borneman Borneman Trucking Ford 156 33 Running
12 7 6 Julia Landauer Lucas Oil/Eibach/Sunrise Ford Ford 155 32 Running
13 16 84 Rich DeLong III Country Girl Saloon/Ron’s Rear Ends Chevrolet 155 31 Running
14 14 40 Ron Norman Port of Tucson Chevrolet 155 30 Running
15 4 10 Matt Levin Risk Management Chevrolet 154 29 Running
16 20 36 Jesse Iwuji The Red List Group/Lights Out/Rabbit Coffee 154 28 Running
17 19 18 Bill Kann B&B Motorsports Toyota 154 27 Running
18 10 27 Garret Archer * Recruit 4 Business/Dirt Fish Ford 154 26 Running
19 21 11 Takuma Koga ASH+THEES-CKB-JKR Chevrolet 153 25 Running
20 17 38 Salvatore Iovino * Shakeaway Shakes/Infinite Wireless Chevrolet 150 24 Running
21 18 14 Dan Phillippi * Next Level Physical Therapy, J127, Inc Ford 145 23 Running
22 15 30 Brandon Schilling * Family Air/Tucson Speedway Ford 142 22 Accident
23 22 5 Justin Funkhouser Funkhouser Motorsports Chevrolet 73 21 Overheating

RACE STATISTICS

Fastest Qualifier: Todd Gilliland, Time: 18.21 Seconds, Speed: 98.847 mph

Time of Race: 1 hrs., 9 mins, 57 secs Average Speed: 66.905 mph Margin of Victory: .419 Seconds

Caution Flags: Laps 28-32 (38 Spun Turn 2, 18 Free Pass); 62-65 (30 Spun Turn 1&2, Free Pass 38); 76-79 (Halfway Break, Free Pass 30); 97-100 (6 & 10 Spun Turn 2, No Free Pass); 145-147 (30 Spun Back, Free Pass 13); 149-153 (38 & 14 Made Contact T2, Free Pass 61). 6 for 25 laps.

Lap Leaders: Todd Gilliland 1-10, Michael Self 11-94, Todd Gilliland 95-156.

Total Laps Led: Michael Self 84, Todd Gilliland 72. 2 changes involving 2 drivers.

Top 10 Driver Points: Todd Gilliland 90, Chris Eggleston 88, Derek Kraus * 80, Will Rodgers * 80, Nicole Behar 71, Kody Vanderwal * 71, Blaine Perkins 69, Garret Archer * 67, Julia Landauer 64, Matt Levin 60

Next Race:3/25/2007

* – Denotes Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender