Todd Gilliland Bio
Todd Jeremey Gilliland, born on May 15, 2000, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Front Row Motorsports. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, Gilliland has built a steady career through the NASCAR ladder series and is recognized as one of the promising young talents in American motorsports. He is the son of former NASCAR driver and Tricon Garage owner David Gilliland, continuing a multi-generational racing tradition.
Early Life and Background
Todd Gilliland was born in Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, and grew up surrounded by racing culture. His father, David Gilliland, competed in the NASCAR Cup Series, and his grandfather Butch Gilliland was the 1997 NASCAR Winston West Series champion. This deep family connection to motorsports shaped his path from a very young age.
Gilliland first drove a car at three years old, when his parents bought a pink Barbie Corvette that was later repainted black and modified with adjusted pedals and an extra battery. He moved on to a quarter midget on a neighborhood dirt track and began competitive racing two years later. After a two-year break at his father’s request, he returned to the track and in 2012 swept championships in the North Carolina Quarter Midget Association, the USAC World Formula National Quarter Midget Championship, and the West Coast series, finishing his quarter midget career with 34 wins.
In 2013, Gilliland started limited late model racing, and in 2014 he won his first limited late model race from the pole at Ace Speedway. He followed that with his first late model victory at Southern National Motorsports Park later that same year. These early successes set the stage for his transition into NASCAR’s development series.
Path to NASCAR
Gilliland’s climb through the NASCAR ladder began in the ARCA Menards Series in 2015. On May 17, two days after his fifteenth birthday, he debuted at Toledo Speedway with Venturini Motorsports and won the race, becoming the youngest winner in ARCA series history. That same year he also won the first Casino Arizona 100 at Phoenix in the ARCA Menards Series West, becoming the youngest race winner in that track’s history.
In 2016, Gilliland joined Bill McAnally Racing for a full-time campaign in the K&N Pro Series West, driving the No. 16 Toyota Camry. He tied a record set by Dan Gurney 50 years earlier with his fourth K&N Series win in four consecutive starts, and was named to the 2016–17 NASCAR Next program. He clinched the Pro Series West championship on October 15, 2016, then successfully defended his title in 2017 for back-to-back championships.
Todd Gilliland Career
Early Career (2015–2017)
During his early development years, Gilliland split time between ARCA and the K&N Pro Series. His ARCA debut at Toledo produced a historic victory, and he continued to add wins in both the East and West K&N divisions. He picked up the 2016 and 2017 K&N Pro Series West championships, building a strong résumé that caught the attention of top NASCAR team owners.
Gilliland signed with Kyle Busch Motorsports in late 2016 to run a partial Camping World Truck Series schedule in 2017. He made his Truck Series debut at Dover International Speedway and ran additional races at Gateway Motorsports Park, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Phoenix International Raceway. In parallel, he won races in the ARCA Menards Series East, including the 2018 Bristol Motor Speedway event, which was his twentieth overall K&N Pro Series victory.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2017–2022)
In 2018, KBM announced Gilliland would compete for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year, driving the No. 4 Toyota Tundra. He was granted a waiver allowing playoff eligibility with a win. His first career Truck Series victory came on October 25, 2019, at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Hall of Fame 200.
On January 13, 2020, Front Row Motorsports announced Gilliland would drive the newly opened No. 38 Ford F-150 full-time. He responded with ten top-ten finishes and four top-fives, qualifying for the playoffs. In 2021, he won at Circuit of the Americas, his first Truck Series win for Front Row Motorsports, which locked him into the playoffs before a Round of 10 elimination. Across his Truck Series career, he recorded 3 wins, 53 top-ten finishes, and 2 poles. His final Truck Series victory came at the 2022 Clean Harbors 150 at Knoxville.
NASCAR Cup Series Era (2022–Present)
On November 30, 2021, Front Row Motorsports announced that Gilliland would bypass the Xfinity Series and move directly to the No. 38 Cup Series ride, competing for NASCAR Rookie of the Year. His first Cup Series start came at the 2022 Daytona 500, where he qualified 29th and finished 33rd after a lap 190 incident. He adapted quickly, recording 16 top-ten finishes across his first several Cup seasons while chasing his first victory at the top level.
His 2024 campaign showed clear progress, with 22 top-tens and a career-best 22nd-place finish in the final standings, one position ahead of teammate Michael McDowell. During a run of nine consecutive top-20 finishes in late spring and early summer, Gilliland signed a multi-year extension with Front Row. On November 19, 2024, FRM announced he would move to the No. 34 car for 2025, switching numbers as part of the team’s restructuring. He opened 2025 with a 27th-place run at the Daytona 500.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gilliland has shown particular strength on superspeedways and intermediate tracks, where his drafting experience and patience in traffic pay off. He pairs smooth throttle control with steady race-craft, and his partnership with crew chief Chris Lawson has helped the No. 34 team build consistency across long runs. His willingness to stay disciplined on tire management and restarts has made him a reliable top-20 finisher.
Notable Races and Milestones
Signature moments include his 2015 ARCA win at Toledo as a 15-year-old, his back-to-back K&N Pro Series West titles in 2016 and 2017, his 2019 Truck Series breakthrough at Martinsville, and his 2021 win at Circuit of the Americas. In the Cup Series, he has posted strong superspeedway runs and led a then career-high 16 laps at the 2024 Daytona 500, signaling growing competitiveness in NASCAR’s top division.
Todd Gilliland Career Wins
Todd Gilliland has compiled a versatile résumé of wins across NASCAR’s developmental ladder and national series. He is a two-time ARCA Menards Series West winner, a multi-time K&N Pro Series East winner, and a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race winner. Although he is still seeking his first NASCAR Cup Series victory, his steady top-ten pace with Front Row Motorsports has positioned him as a future contender.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Gilliland earned 3 Truck Series wins across 53 top-ten finishes and 2 poles. His first victory came in the 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 at Martinsville Speedway, and his most recent Truck Series win came at the 2022 Clean Harbors 150 at Knoxville. His best season championship finish was 7th in 2021, a year highlighted by his breakthrough win at Circuit of the Americas that locked him into the playoffs.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the Truck Series, Gilliland captured 13 ARCA Menards Series West wins, including two series championships in 2016 and 2017, and 7 ARCA Menards Series East wins, finishing second in the 2017 East standings. He also added 2 ARCA Menards Series victories and won the first-ever CARS Late Model Stock Tour race at Southern National in 2015.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Cup Series | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 3 | 53 | 2 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 7 | 22 | 2 |
| ARCA Menards Series West | 13 | 28 | 12 |
Todd Gilliland Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Todd Gilliland comes from a multi-generational racing family. His father, David Gilliland, competed in the NASCAR Cup Series and owns Tricon Garage. His grandfather, Butch Gilliland, was the 1997 NASCAR Winston West Series champion and previously raced in the Cup and Truck Series. His mother, Michelle Gilliland, has been a steady presence throughout his career, and the family remains deeply connected to motorsports.
Personal Life
Todd Gilliland is married to Marissa Holmes. The couple has been part of his personal support system as he balances life on the road with the demands of a full-time NASCAR Cup Series schedule. Gilliland continues to be active on social media, sharing updates from his racing career and family life.
2025 Season Performance
Todd Gilliland’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season opened at the 2025 Daytona 500, where he finished 27th while adjusting to the new No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Moving from the No. 38 to the No. 34 represented a fresh start with continued support from Front Row Motorsports, and Gilliland has carried that momentum into the early portion of the schedule. His partnership with crew chief Chris Lawson has provided consistent feedback, helping the team refine pit-road execution and long-run pace.
As the season progresses, the No. 34 team has focused on converting top-20 runs into top-15 and top-10 finishes. Gilliland’s superspeedway strength and intermediate-track consistency make him a steady threat to break into the top tier of the field. With a multi-year contract extension in hand, the focus for 2025 is on building playoff-eligible form and pushing for a milestone first Cup Series victory.
Looking ahead, the outlook for Gilliland and Front Row Motorsports is one of measured growth. The team’s investment in the new Mustang Dark Horse platform, combined with Gilliland’s growing experience, has set realistic expectations for regular top-15 finishes. A strong second half of 2025 could position him as a dark horse for the Cup Series playoffs in the seasons to come.
