MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Front Row Motorsports announced Wednesday that Black’s Tire and Auto Service and BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors will partner with Todd Gilliland for four races in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series this season.
The distinctive paint scheme will make its debut on the No. 38 Ford F-150 during the season opener at Daytona (Fla.) Int’l Speedway.
Black’s Tire has a long-standing history in NASCAR, and more specifically, with the Gilliland family. Aside from carrying on his family’s lucrative history of driving the No. 38 this season, Gilliland will become a second-generation driver to carry the Black’s Tire colors.
The Ricky Benton-owned company has sponsored Gilliland’s father, David, in numerous races throughout his career in both the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series and the NASCAR Cup Series.
The elder Gilliland drove the Black’s Tire Ford in his most recent NASCAR Cup Series start in the 2018 Daytona 500, where he went on to collect a 14th-place finish. The paint scheme on the younger Gilliland’s F-150 will resemble the one that his father drove.
Todd Gilliland will also don a firesuit that mirrors what his father wore during his years representing Black’s Tire.
“It means a lot to me that Black’s Tire is coming onboard in 2020,” said Todd Gilliland. “It’s really cool to see Ricky Benton’s passion for racing. I’ve spent a lot of time around him and everyone at Black’s Tire when my dad was racing for them, and they are all great people. It’s special that they believe in me and want me to carry on the legacy of representing Black’s Tire. I’m looking forward to having multiple opportunities to get them to victory lane this season.”
In addition to Black’s Tire and Auto Service and BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors, Gilliland will also have southeastern North Carolina restoration company Highland Construction riding on the sides of his Ford F-150.
The third-generation racer will be taking on his third season in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series as he transitions to the Ford Performance family with Front Row Motorsports. In 48 starts, he has one win, 12 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes.
In his earlier years, Gilliland spent time developing in NASCAR’s regional series, where he became a two-time ARCA Menards Series West Champion and collected 20 wins in 53 combined ARCA Menards Series East and West starts.
The 19-year-old driver also has two ARCA Menards Series wins under his belt, with his most recent occurring last fall at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
“David (Gilliland) has proudly represented Black’s Tire and our race team in the past and we are thrilled to bring Todd into the family,” said Black’s Tire and Auto Service owner Ricky Benton. “With a driver with his pedigree and the race-winning experience of FRM, I look forward to joining the team in victory lane this year.”