Gilliland Wins NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Championship

Todd Gililand, Bill McAnally Racing, NASCAR, K&N Pro Series West, All American Speedway

Rain washed out qualifying for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race at All American Speedway

Todd Gilliland won the first two races of the 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series season. He won the K&N Pro Series East opener at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida and the K&N Pro Series West opener at Irwindale Speedway in California.

In his third race with Bill McAnally Racing at Kern County Raceway in California, Gilliland dropped back early. He was letting cars pass him in the opening laps of the race.

McAnally got on the radio and asked Gilliland if anything was wrong with the car. Gilliland responded no. His car was fine. He told McAnally the other drivers were burning up their equipment too soon. He was going to wait to move up later in the race, when he knew his car would perform better than the others.

“Here’s a 16-year-old kid telling me these veteran drivers he’s letting pass by are using their stuff up too early,” McAnally said. “He wound up winning the race.”

Todd Gililand, Bill McAnally Racing, NASCAR, K&N Pro Series West, All American Speedway

Todd Gilliland celebrates after winning the 2016 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship

Gilliland won six races in his rookie season in the K&N Pro Series West and went on to capture the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship and Sunoco Rookie of the Year, becoming the third driver in the history of the series to complete the double feat. He was eighth in the K&N Pro Series West season finale at All American Speedway in Roseville, California, and finished 13 points ahead of Ryan Partridge in the championship standings.

“That was awesome,” Gilliland said. “We felt like we had a shot at rookie of the year at the beginning of the season. To be able to get both in one season is awesome. Everyone at Bill McAnally Racing, this is all them. They’ve worked super hard, they’ve given up so much this season. For it to all pay off is awesome.”

Gilliand won the seventh K&N Pro Series West title for Bill McAnally Racing. He joins Eric Holmes, Brendan Gaughan, Sean Woodside, and Chris Eggleston as championship drivers for Bill McAnally Racing. Holmes won three championships and Gaughan won two. Eggleston won the K&N Pro Series West championship in 2015, giving Bill McAnally Racing back-to-back titles.

“Todd can go on and win more championships,” McAnally said. “He knows what he needs in a race car.”

Todd Gililand, Bill McAnally Racing, NASCAR, K&N Pro Series West, All American Speedway

Todd Gilliland won six races in his rookie season and won the 2016 championship

Gilliland won six races in his rookie season, matching for the most for a Bill McAnally Racing driver since Gaughan won six races in 2001. It matches the most wins in a season by a K&N Pro Series West driver since Greg Pursley in 2011 and Doug Geroge in 1995. Jimmy Insolo holds the record for most wins in a season with nine set in 1978.

“We had an amazing season,” Gilliland said. “To have six wins out of 14 races in my rookie year is amazing, better than anything we ever expected. Definitely couldn’t be happier with the night.”

Gilliland is the first driver to win the K&N Pro Series West championship and rookie of the year in the same year since Scott Lynch in 2003. Lance Hooper won the championship and rookie of the year in 1996. Gilliland, Lynch, and Hooper are the only drivers to win both titles in the same year.

Gilliland added to his family’s NASCAR legacy. His father, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Gilliland, won the K&N Pro Series West rookie of the year in 2004. His grandfather Butch Gilliland won the series championship in 1997.

Todd Gililand, David Gilliland, Bill McAnally Racing, NASCAR, K&N Pro Series West

Todd Gilliland, right, and his father, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Gilliland

”A lot of credit goes to David Gilliland,” McAnally said. “He mentored Todd and put him in the right relationships and programs. Todd respects his dad and they came a long way in a short period of time.”

Gilliland is the youngest driver to win a NASCAR national or touring championship at 16 years, 5 months. Cayden Lapcevich won the NASCAR Pinty’s Series championship in September when he was 16 years, 10 months, 16 days. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship in 2007 when he was 17 years, 3 months, 28 days.

“It’s great to have my name added to such a big list of drivers, like Chris Eggleston and everyone that won the championship out here,” Todd Gilliland said. “Hopefully we can just carry this momentum to the rest of the season and to the future. Just another great thing to add to my resume.”

clear

K&N PRODUCT SEARCH     WHERE TO BUY K&N