CONCORD, N.C. – Armed with a new sponsor, Kyle Busch Motorsports has added Dover (Del.) International Speedway to Todd Gilliland’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) schedule allowing the third-generation driver to make his series’ debut nearly two weeks ahead of his original schedule.
Gilliland will have an intense schedule the week of his Truck Series debut.
Planning to compete in the Bar Harbor 200 on June 2, the 17-year-old will then travel to Memphis, Tenn. where he’ll compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race the following afternoon at Memphis (Tenn.) Raceway.
“I’m super excited man,” Gilliland told CATCHFENCE.com in an exclusive interview. “That’s a big opportunity to go to Dover as my first race followed Memphis in the NASCAR K&N East the next day. It’s going to be a big weekend for me and Harrison (Burton, KBM teammate). We’re both running both those, but it’s going to be a busy weekend.
“You know everyone at Kyle Busch Motorsports is working super hard on our Dover truck and I think we are going to be in a good position. It’s a great opportunity to be able to add more races and add a little more to my schedule.”
“I’m hoping to learn a ton there.”
With his national series debut quickly approaching, Todd Gilliland says he hasn’t really spoken to his father David for advice about Dover’s Monster Mile.
“I haven’t really talked to him too much about it,” Gilliland said. “He’s told me little things about it (Dover) that will get you in trouble really quick. Just to take it easy and learn slowly and work your way up to speed.”
In addition to Dover, Gilliland, the son of former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver David Gilliland will compete in four additional NCWTS races for KBM at Gateway (Ill.) Motorsports Park (June 17), Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Sept. 3), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Sept. 23) and Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway (Nov. 10).
“They’ve had the fastest trucks, arguably the fastest trucks everywhere they go,” Gilliland sounded of his KBM team. “It’s a great opportunity for a young kid like me to unload with confidence and my team and the equipment, then just build on it from there and yourself. That helps a lot.”
Behind a combined 12 K&N wins, Gilliland became the youngest champion in the history of any NASCAR national or touring series in 2016 at the tender age of 16 with the K&N West title. In addition to his hectic K&N schedule, the Sherrills Ford, N.C. native also ran seven KBM Late Model events.
In addition to his Truck Series endeavors this season, the teenager is running a full schedule in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West driving for Bill McAnally Racing.
The current K&N Pro Series West points leader will compete in Saturday night’s Orange Show 150 at Orange Show (Calif.) Speedway eyeing his fifth win in six races this season.
Gilliland, the ARCA Racing Series youngest winner at age 15 also confirmed to CATCHFENCE.com that his KBM team will also test at Gateway to prepare him for his second start of the year in the series’ first standalone event of the season next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Earlier this week, Gilliland was named a returning member of the 2017-2018 NASCAR Next class, an initiative to spotlight the best and brightest rising young stars in racing. Nine drivers were selected.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01 or email at [email protected].
