Todd Gilliland is Now the Youngest Winner in ARCA Racing Series History

Chances are 15-year old Todd Gilliland is far too young to have heard the phrase ‘Holy Toledo’. However, hard-pressed to find a more suitable expression, it seems all too fitting to describe Gilliland’s record setting performance after winning the ARCA Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care at Toledo Speedway Sunday afternoon.

Todd Gilliland, driving his Venturini Motorsports No.55 Core Energy-Hostetler Almonds Toyota, impressed a near sellout crowd with a late race pass for the top-spot before sailing to the win.

In doing so, he became the youngest winner in ARCA Racing Series history – the win coming just two days after his 15th birthday and four weeks after his first career Late Model win in the CARS Series.

“Wow, I can’t believe this is happening,” Gilliland said after the race. “Just, wow.”

Gilliland – the son of NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Gilliland – was making his ARCA debut. He took the lead for the first time on lap 197 of the 200 lap race and beat Tom Hessert and Josh Williams to the finish line. Hessert held on for second with Williams trailing in third. A.J. Fike finished fourth and Kyle Weatherman finished fifth.

“Watching my son win today’s race is just an incredible feeling,” said an overjoyed David Gilliland from victory lane. “My wife and I are so incredibly proud and thankful for everyone who has helped and continue to help Todd in his quest for a racing future.”

Gilliland was fastest in Saturday’s practice session and qualified fifth. He stayed near the front all day Sunday, surviving two red flags, one for a brief rain shower and the other for a late-race accident involving the leaders. The race came down to a 20-lap shootout after several of the cars at the front of the field were involved in a crash in turn three – including race leader Grant Enfinger. Austin Wayne Self got into the back of Enfinger after he slowed drastically with transmission issues. Frank Kimmel (Gilliland’s teammate), Weatherman and Bubba Pollard were also involved. Gilliland drove his car into the grassy area underneath turns three and four to avoid the accident. He pitted to clear the grill of grass and mud and to pull out one of the fenders, which had damage.

“Our car was really good after we took four tires,” Gilliland said. “When everyone else got torn up, we had to come pit, but everyone stayed calm and gave me a great car and restart.

“I knew the car was good. I kind of doubted myself a little bit. I didn’t know if I could get back up there, but I guess I could,” Gilliland said. “The car drove perfect.”

He eclipsed the youngest race winner mark previously held by another Venturini driver, Kyle Benjamin, who won at Madison Int’l Speedway in 2013 at the age of 15-years and 169 days old.

“This means a lot,” he said after climbing out of the Venturini Motorsports Toyota. “I can’t thank my sponsors and parents enough for believing in me and giving me this opportunity.”

Gilliland’s win was Venturini Motorsport’s 39th overall team victory in the ARCA Series and their second consecutive at the Ohio track. Current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, Justin Boston, earned his first career ARCA victory at Toledo Speedway in 2014.

*Source and Photos – Courtesy of Venturini Motorsports