Todd Gilliland finished 11th at the recent Daytona race after placing 7th in Stage One and 18th in Stage Two, marking a challenging end to the regular season. In his reflection, Gilliland expressed disappointment but remained optimistic about future prospects, emphasizing the speed of his No. 34 Grillo’s Pickles Ford and his confidence heading into the next race at Darlington.
“Tough way to end the regular season, I thought we had a shot to win but it didn’t pan out the way we hoped,” said Gilliland. “While it’s not the ending we wanted, I’m still proud of this No. 34 team. We showed up with a fast Grillo’s Pickles Ford and left with a result we can build off of heading into Darlington.” —Todd Gilliland
Other Competitors’ Challenges During the Daytona Race
Zane Smith faced significant setbacks, finishing 31st after struggling in both stages at 32nd place, largely due to an incident early in the race that prevented him from competing for a playoff spot. Despite the misfortune, Smith committed to focusing on the remaining races with a strong determination.
“Just more tough luck,” said Smith. “Fast car, thought we could have a shot to win our way into the playoffs, and never got the chance to show it after being clipped by the 48 in that first big one. Is what it is, and we’ll try to finish out these last 10 races strong.” —Zane Smith
Noah Gragson also endured an early exit, finishing 38th after being caught in a multi-car incident during the early laps. Nevertheless, he praised his team’s effort and expressed confidence for an improved performance at Darlington.
“We’re only on lap 27, 28 and there are guys trying to make it four-wide at the front of the pack. I was just collateral damage at that point,” said Gragson. “It’s definitely a bummer, but I’m still super proud of our team. We started almost towards the back, 32nd I think, and we were up in the top 10 20 laps in, so it’s not from a lack of effort. I just really appreciate everybody at Front Row Motorsports. We’re looking on to Darlington. It’s more in our control and look to have a strong run there.” —Noah Gragson
Implications for the Playoffs and Next Races
The difficulties experienced by Gilliland, Smith, and Gragson at Daytona highlight the unpredictable nature of racing and the challenges drivers face as the season progresses. With the regular season concluded, all three drivers are setting their sights on Darlington, aiming to capitalize on lessons learned and contend for stronger finishes that could influence their playoff trajectories and overall season results.
