Drives Away With Second Straight NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Victory

BRISTOL, Tenn. — When it comes to the K&N Pro Series East in 2018, Todd Gilliland is batting 1.000.

The Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, native won the Zombie Auto 150 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday afternoon, holding off Harrison Burton on the final ten-lap sprint to the finish. Gilliland crossed the finish line 1.494 seconds ahead of Burton, the defending race winner.

The victory is Gilliland’s second in a row in the K&N Pro East, as he took the season-opening New Smyrna 175 at New Smyrna Speedway in February. The win is also Gilliland’s 20th in 50 starts across both the K&N Pro East and West series.

“It means so much,” said Gilliland, who is running a partial schedule in the K&N Pro Series and Camping World Truck Series after winning the last two K&N Pro West titles. “I think once you get that first one out of the way, you kind of get that winning feeling and you just know what it’s like.
“I’ve just driven for really great teams, they’ve brought me really fast cars every weekend.”

In two previous K&N Pro East starts at Thunder Valley, Gilliland started 21st and finished eighth in 2016, and started eighth and finished ninth last season. But on Saturday, the third time was the charm.

Bristol pulls no punches.

Or swords … or bronze zombies?@ToddGilliland_ earned three unique prizes with his win in the Zombie Auto 150.

“Dude, I’ve never had three trophies for one win! What is this?” pic.twitter.com/9IsBbw6spC

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverAW) April 14, 2018

It didn’t come easy, though, as three red flags for a combined 22 minutes and one second, coupled with ten cautions slowed the race and continually erased the leader’s advantage.

“It’s really nerve-wracking for sure,” Gilliland said. “Especially during red flags, it gets really hot and you just have a lot of time to think about it. Overall, you just have to have a really good spotter and crew chief. My dad was on the radio. It’s all about staying focused.
“Noah (Gragson) was laying back really far on the restarts, and it was kind of getting in my head. I felt like our car was the best after we’d get going for a few laps, but for two laps everyone is so close because the stuff is down on the bottom. Overall, a really fast car just kept me that much more focused.”

Gilliland, Burton and third-place place finisher Noah Gragson are Camping World Truck Series teammates for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Gilliland is racing in the K&N Pro Series this year for his father’s DGR-CROSLEY team.

Burton finished third in the opener at New Smyrna after battling Gilliland for the lead over the final laps. This time, however, Gilliland was able to get away on the final restart and Burton had to settle for the runner-up spot.

“I just wanted to get a shot at him,” Burton said. “And I think we had a good long run car, just struggled on the short runs. I was too loose. After about four or five laps we really came on and I thought we were probably the strongest car out there. But there just wasn’t enough time and I’m disappointed; but happy that I am disappointed with second.”

Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Tyler Ankrum and Brandon McReynolds were fourth and fifth, respectively. Tyler Dippel, Spencer Davis, Ronnie Bassett Jr., Eddie MacDonald and Ruben Garcia Jr. completed the top-ten. Gragson had won the pole in Friday’s qualifying.

The Zombie Auto 150 will air on Friday, April 20 at 1 a.m. ET on NBCSN.

The K&N Pro Series East returns to the track in two weeks at Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway for the Visit Hampton VA 150.

NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES EAST-Zombie Auto 150 Results

Saturday

At Bristol Motor Speedway

Bristol, Tenn.

Lap length: 0.533 miles

(Start position in parentheses)

1. (3) Todd Gilliland, Sherrills Ford, N.C., Toyota, 150 laps, 72.172 mph.
2. (7) Harrison Burton, Huntersville, N.C., Toyota, 150.
3. (1) Noah Gragson, Las Vegas, Nev., Toyota, 150.
4. (4) Tyler Ankrum, San Bernadino, CA, Toyota, 150.
5. (6) Brandon McReynolds, Mooresville, N.C., Chevrolet, 150.
6. (2) Tyler Dippel, Wallkill, N.Y., Toyota, 150.
7. (5) Spencer Davis, Dawsonville, Ga., Chevrolet, 150.
8. (14) Ronnie Bassett, Jr., Winston-Salem, NC, Toyota, 150.
9. (17) Eddie MacDonald, Rowley, Mass., Toyota, 150.
10. (11) Ruben Garcia Jr., Mexico City, Mexico, Toyota, 150.
11. (10) Reid Lanpher, Manchester, Maine, Ford, 150.
12. (18) Marcos Gomes, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, Toyota, 150.
13. (15) Ryan Vargas, La Miranda, Calif, Toyota, 150.
14. (21) Brandon Oakley, Beavercreek, Ohio, Ford, 150.
15. (22) Max Tullman, Chester Springs, Pa., Ford, 149.
16. (13) Dillon Bassett, Winston-Salem, N.C., Chevrolet, 146.
17. (25) Salvatore Iovino, Los Angeles, CA, Ford, 137.
18. (26) Anthony Alfredo, Ridgefield, CT, Toyota, 136, accident.
19. (12) Grant Quinlan, Maidstone, Ontario, Ford, 136, accident.
20. (19) Juan Manuel Gonzalez, Mexico City, Mexico, Toyota, 136.
21. (8) Cole Rouse, Fort Rouse, AR, Toyota, 136, accident.
22. (16) Hailie Deegan, Temecula, CA, Toyota, 130.
23. (9) Tanner Thorson, Minden NV, Chevrolet, 129.
24. (20) Derek Kraus, Stratford, Wis., Toyota, 129.
25. (23) Matt Levin, Tucson, AZ, Chevrolet, 87, accident.
26. (28) Chase Cabre, Tampa, Fla., Toyota, 55, electrical.
27. (24) Jesse Iwuji, Carrollton, Texas, Chevrolet, 28, accident.
28. (27) Chuck Buchanan, Jr., Hildebran, N.C., Chevrolet, 19, electrical.

Race Statistics

Time of Race: 1 hour 6 minutes 28 seconds

The Margin of Victory: 1.494 seconds

Fastest Qualifier: C.Cabre ( mph, 0 seconds)

Caution Flags: Nine for 49 laps.

Lead Changes: Four among three drivers.

Lap Leaders: N. Gragson 1-54; T. Ankrum 55-82; T. Gilliland 83-98; T. Ankrum 99-102; T. Gilliland 103-150.

Standings: 1. T. Gilliland, 96; 2. H. Burton, 84; 3. T. Ankrum, 80; 4. S. Davis, 75; 5. B. McReynolds, 73; 6. T. Dippel, 73; 7. R. Bassett,Jr., 72; 8. C. Rouse, 65; 9. R. Vargas, 63; 10. D. Kraus, 60.