Todd Gilliland Bio
Todd Jeremey Gilliland (born 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. The son of former NASCAR driver and Tricon Garage owner David Gilliland, he has built a reputation as one of the most promising young talents in American motorsports.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, Gilliland began racing as a child and quickly rose through the ranks of quarter midgets, late models, and regional touring series. By his mid-teens, he had already claimed championships and historic victories, cementing his place as a rising star in the NASCAR development pipeline.
Early Life and Background
Todd Gilliland was born on May 15, 2000, in Sherrills Ford, North Carolina. Racing was part of his life from the very beginning, as his father David Gilliland competed in the NASCAR Cup Series and his grandfather Butch was a champion in regional stock car competition. Growing up in such a family, Todd was exposed to race shops, haulers, and speedways almost from birth.
He first sat behind the wheel at the age of three, driving a Barbie Corvette that his parents had modified with longer pedals and an extra battery. He soon moved up to a quarter midget on a neighborhood dirt track and began racing competitively at age five, although his father paused his career for two years to keep the experience enjoyable. By 2012, Gilliland had captured championships in the North Carolina Quarter Midget Association, the USAC World Formula National Quarter Midget Championship, and on the West Coast, finishing his quarter midget career with 34 wins.
In 2013, Gilliland transitioned into limited late model racing, running three events. The following year, he earned his first limited late model victory from the pole at Ace Speedway and his first true late model win at Southern National Motorsports Park, signaling that he was ready for bigger stages.
Path to NASCAR
On May 17, 2015, two days after his fifteenth birthday, Gilliland made his ARCA Racing Series debut at Toledo Speedway with Venturini Motorsports. After pacing practice and qualifying fifth, he held off Tom Hessert and Josh Williams to win, becoming the youngest winner in ARCA series history.
Later that year, Gilliland entered the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, winning at Phoenix International Raceway in his first start and becoming the youngest race winner in track history. In 2016, he joined Bill McAnally Racing for a full K&N Pro Series West campaign, tying a 50-year-old record set by Dan Gurney by winning his fourth consecutive Pro Touring series race. That October, he clinched the Pro Series West championship, and in May he was named to the 2016-17 NASCAR Next program.
He repeated as Pro Series West champion in 2017, the same year he signed with Kyle Busch Motorsports to make his Camping World Truck Series debut at Dover International Speedway. These results established Gilliland as a leading prospect ready for the national NASCAR stage.
Todd Gilliland Career
Early Career (2015-2017)
Gilliland’s early professional years were defined by record-breaking performances in NASCAR’s development series. His ARCA victory at Toledo at age 15 made national headlines, and his K&N Pro Series West titles in 2016 and 2017 demonstrated consistency against experienced competition. Driving the No. 16 Toyota Camry for Bill McAnally Racing, he paired speed with smart racecraft to collect poles, wins, and the season championship in back-to-back years.
During this period, Gilliland also gained valuable exposure by running four Camping World Truck Series races for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2017, competing at venues like Dover, Gateway, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, and Martinsville. These outings allowed him to refine his skills on larger, more demanding tracks while preparing for a full-time national series role.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2018-2021)
In January 2018, Kyle Busch Motorsports announced that Gilliland would compete for Truck Series Rookie of the Year driving the No. 4 Toyota Tundra. He opened the year with two K&N Pro Series East victories, including a last-lap pass at New Smyrna Speedway and a win at Bristol Motor Speedway. On October 25, 2019, he captured his first Truck Series victory at Martinsville Speedway, a milestone that confirmed his readiness for the upper levels of the sport.
For the 2020 season, Gilliland moved to Front Row Motorsports to drive the newly opened No. 38 Ford F-150 full-time. He delivered ten top-ten finishes and four top-fives, qualifying for the Truck Series playoffs. In 2021, he won his second career Truck Series race at Circuit of the Americas, his first victory for Front Row Motorsports, before being eliminated in the Round of 10.
NASCAR Cup Series Breakthrough (2022-Present)
On November 30, 2021, Front Row Motorsports announced that Gilliland would bypass the NASCAR Xfinity Series and move directly to the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 38 Ford. He made his Cup debut at the 2022 Daytona 500, starting 29th and finishing 33rd. In 2023, with new crew chief Ryan Bergenty, he posted a best finish of eighth and ended the year 28th in points with four top-ten results.
Front Row Motorsports confirmed in August 2023 that Gilliland would return to the No. 38 for a third Cup season in 2024. His performances improved significantly, highlighted by leading a then career-high 16 laps at the Daytona 500 and pacing Atlanta for 58 laps. A run of nine consecutive top-20 finishes in late spring and early summer led to a multi-year contract extension, and he closed the year 22nd in the standings, one spot ahead of teammate Michael McDowell. On November 19, 2024, Front Row announced that Gilliland would move to the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for the 2025 season, paired with crew chief Chris Lawson.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gilliland has shown particular strength on superspeedways and intermediate tracks, where his drafting experience and willingness to commit to late-race moves have produced some of his best finishes. His partnership with crew chief Chris Lawson has emphasized consistent pit work and smart fuel strategy, allowing Gilliland to maintain track position during long green-flag runs.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among his most memorable moments are his historic ARCA win at Toledo, his Martinsville Speedway Truck Series victory in 2019, and his dominant Atlanta Cup Series run in 2024. Each result underscored his ability to perform on big stages and hinted at the larger breakthroughs still to come.
Todd Gilliland Career Wins
Todd Gilliland has built a varied résumé of victories across regional, national, and premier NASCAR series. His win totals include championships in the K&N Pro Series West, a Camping World Truck Series breakthrough at Martinsville, and a second Truck win at Circuit of the Americas.
Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Gilliland has recorded at least two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victories. His first came at Martinsville Speedway in October 2019, a defining moment that validated his move to the national level. His second arrived at Circuit of the Americas in 2021, where he earned his first win with Front Row Motorsports and locked himself into the playoffs.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his Truck Series results, Gilliland claimed the 2016 and 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championships, adding multiple wins each season. He also became the youngest ARCA Menards Series race winner in 2015 and earned titles in the North Carolina Quarter Midget Association, the USAC World Formula National Quarter Midget Championship, and the West Coast quarter midget ranks earlier in his career.
Todd Gilliland Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Todd Gilliland comes from a deep racing family. His father, David Gilliland, is a former NASCAR Cup Series driver and the owner of Tricon Garage. His grandfather, Butch Gilliland, was the 1997 NASCAR Winston West Series champion and also competed in the Cup and Truck Series. This lineage gave Todd early access to equipment, tracks, and mentorship.
Personal Life
Todd Gilliland is married to Marissa Holmes. The couple has built their life around his racing career, with Todd continuing to chase milestones at the top level of NASCAR.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Todd Gilliland’s first year in the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Front Row Motorsports, paired with crew chief Chris Lawson. The new number reflects his growing role within the organization and aligns him with the team’s refreshed Ford performance alliance.
Heading into the season, expectations are focused on consistency and a potential first Cup Series victory. His 2024 form, which included four top-ten finishes and a 22nd-place ranking in the standings, suggests that he has the pace to compete inside the top 20 week after week while hunting for stage points and playoff positioning.
With a multi-year contract extension in hand and the resources of Front Row Motorsports behind him, Gilliland enters 2025 as one of the more experienced young drivers in the Cup garage. A berth in the NASCAR playoffs remains the primary goal, and his early-season performances will shape how quickly that target comes into reach.
