MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 26: Todd Gilliland, driver of the #4 Mobil 1 Toyota, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 26, 2019, in Martinsville, Virginia. Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
MARTINSVILLE, Va. – In an extraordinarily wild NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race that saw four of six Playoff drivers have major issues, 19-year-old Todd Gilliland muscled his way past Ross Chastain on lap 191 and held on to win for the first time in 46 career starts.
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – OCTOBER 18: Ross Chastain, driver of the #10 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet, sits in his car during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway on October 18, 2019, in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images
Talk about an up-and-down week.
On Tuesday, Kaulig Racing announced the signing of Ross Chastain to a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series deal for the 2020 season.
JOLIET, ILLINOIS – JUNE 28: Ross Chastain, driver of the #10 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet, stands by his car during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Camping World 300 at Chicagoland Speedway on June 28, 2019, in Joliet, Illinois. Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ross Chastain has made a name for himself by consistently exceeding expectations – winning NASCAR races and challenging for the 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series championship even though he began the season with uncertainty about his future. The hard work and determination have paid off.
BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – AUGUST 15: Brett Moffitt, driver of the #24 Midnight Moon Moonshine Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 15, 2019, in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
BRISTOL, Tenn. – Top-seeded Brett Moffitt held off determined 17-year-old Chandler Smith after a restart with three laps left and took home the trophy in Thursday night’s UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 27: Ross Chastain, driver of the #45 Niece/Acurlite Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Gander RV 150 at Pocono Raceway on July 27, 2019, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
Ross Chastain made it look easy on Saturday at Pocono Raceway, but the battle for playoff spots intensified dramatically in the Gander RV 150 at the 2.5-mile triangular track.