David Gilliland Scores First Truck Series Pole at Daytona

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — While he may just be in a fill-in role until his son Todd turns 18, David Gilliland is making good use of the Kyle Busch Motorsports horsepower at his disposal by winning the pole for Friday night’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona.

Gilliland, the 2007 Daytona 500 polesitter, was the fastest in the first round of qualifying and backed it up in the second round with a lap of 49.017 seconds, 183.610 mph, to score his first career pole in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

“We all know it’s speedway racing,” said Gilliland. “You need to be there at the end, but this is a start. Thanks to everyone at KBM and Marcus Richmond for preparing an incredible truck for me to drive. It’s so fun to drive this piece. It’s not been since I came down here in 2007 with Robert Yates that I’ve driven something this fast.”

Joining Gilliland on the front row will be Johnny Sauter, who qualified 0.114 seconds back.

The remainder of the top-12 went to Clay Greenfield, Dalton Sargeant, Noah Gragson, Matt Crafton, Grant Enfinger, Spencer Davis, Stewart Friesen, Cody Coughlin, Austin Hill, and Justin Haley.

Friday night’s race will roll off at 7:30 pm ET and is scheduled for 100 laps (250 miles).