In a one-off visit to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Todd Gilliland won Saturday night’s race on the dirt track at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa.
The NASCAR Cup Series rookie ran way from the field in a four-lap shootout to end the 150-lap race on the half-mile track.
Driving the No. 17 Ford owned by his father David Gilliland – in his first start for his dad’s team – Todd Gilliland led 58 laps. He finished ahead of John Hunter Nemechek and Zane Smith.
The top five was completed by Ty Majeski and Stewart Friesen.
“This will make tomorrow (Father’s Day) a lot more fun,” Todd Gilliland told Fox Sports 1. “I’ve had like a million people ask me ‘is this really what you want to do on your off weekend?’ and absolutely. Nothing beats racing. … I love the trucks. I ran here forever it felt like. So to be able to come back and to get one, man, it’s so special.”
Click here for the race results.
Gilliland said he wasn’t scheduled to take part in the Truck Series’ second race at Knoxville Raceway until he dad called him Monday asking if he wanted to take part in it.
‘We got fitted in a seat on Tuesday afternoon and just an amazing truck,” Gilliland said, “These guys work so hard and the 17 truck’s been really fast a lot this year. … I think they’re close to the owners playoff deal too. So hopefully it helped them a little bit. And I’ll be anxiously watching the rest of the year and I feel like a little part of me is gonna stay in this truck.”
Saturday’s race was a lot cleaner than the series’ inaugural visit to the dirt track, which saw 14 cautions, including one for a 17-truck wreck.
The race ended with 12 non-stage cautions and only two for incidents that were officially recorded as having more than one vehicle involved (NASCAR’s official report after the race didn’t include Brett Moffitt in an incident he was involved in with Tanner Gray).
The first caution came out on Lap 5 for a spin by Dean Thompson after he was turned from contact with Christian Eckes in Turns 1-2.
The race resumed on Lap 9 as Ben Rhodes challenges Carson Hocevar for the lead, but couldn’t get it right away.
Rhodes would start experiencing an overheating issue from damage that caused him to drop back, allowing Stewart Friesen to take second place.
I’ve never experienced anything like it. This 20lb mud ball went through the grill at the start of the race. Pegged water and oil at 300. Took the whole race to get our lap back. We were 1 lap down with 25 to go and ended the night 10th. Proud of @ThorSportRacing’s fight! pic.twitter.com/M5nkXRB0ys
— Ben Rhodes (@benrhodes) June 19, 2022
The second caution waved on Lap 31 for a spin by Tanner Gray in Turn 3.
The stage ended in a one-lap shootout that saw Hocevar win, but Friesen experience a flat right-rear tire in Turns 3-4, causing him to drop through the field.
After a lengthy stage break, the race resumed on Lap 42.
Gilliland made his way to second place before the caution waved on Lap 17 of the stage for an incident involving Jessica Friesen that saw her flip in Turns 3-4.
Filmed by @JTDesigns57, here is the footage of Jessica Friesen’s flip at @knoxvilleraces (around 22 sec mark). pic.twitter.com/TJyJ9dakqg
— Davey Segal (@DaveyCenter) June 19, 2022
The green flag waved on Lap 66 as Gilliland took the lead. Moments later Hocevar’s engine expired, bringing out the caution as he came to a stop on the track.
The rest of the stage went caution free as Gilliland won over Zane Smith and Nemechek.
When the race restarted with 58 laps to go, Brett Moffitt was penalized for jumping the restart. That gave the lead to Enfinger.
Gilliland took the lead back with 49 laps to go.
Later, the would caution would come out for an incident that eliminated Brett Moffitt and included Tanner Gray.
Fox Sports 1 didn’t have a proper replay, but below is video by a fan showing what happened:
@Brett_Moffitt on his side down the front straightaway! @NASCAR @NASCARONFOX @NASCAR_Trucks pic.twitter.com/5PAYXSGtss
— Jordan Tiegs Designs (@JTDesigns57) June 19, 2022
The race resumed with 18 laps to go as Nemechek held the lead over Friesen. Gilliland overtook Friesen within a few laps and by 13 laps to go was pressuring Nemechek for the lead.
Gilliland completed the pass with 10 to go.
Heat Race Winners:
Race #1: The winner of the first heat race was John Hunter Nemechek, who led every lap.
Race #2: Carson Hoecevar won, leading the final five laps. After starting fifth, Hocevar won after passing Chandler Smith for the lead and executing an incredible save when Chandler Smith tagged his left rear as they went into Turn 3.
Race #3: Hailie Deegan led every lap of the race while Ben Rhodes and Buddy Kofoid tied for 12 total points thanks to passing points.
Race #4: Todd Gilliland led every lap to win the race over Ty Majeski and Stewart Friesen.