Brake Issue Derails Good Run for Gilliland, RBR Team

Faulty break hoses left David Gilliland and the Ricky Benton Racing (RBR) Enterprise NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) team wondering what could have been. 

 

Gilliland had the BTS Tire and Wheel Distributors/Goodyear Commercial Tire & Service Network/Wynn’s Ford F-150 securely in the top five in the early running of the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway  when the front brake hoses fell off leading to a failure that ended the team’s day on lap 132 of the scheduled 250.

 

After starting eighth, Gilliland moved up to fourth before the race’s first caution on lap 33. During the caution, Gilliland had to pit twice, but managed to stay on the lead lap. During the second run, the brake issue worsened, leading a long stop during the next caution. Despite the team’s  best efforts, including a trip over the wall by crew chief Mike Hester to reattach the brake hoses, the issue deteriorated to the point that the team had to withdraw on lap 132.

 

Gilliland was scored 30th in the final running order. 

 

“The RBR guys gave me a great truck today,” said Gilliland. “It’s just a shame the way it ended for us. I know we could have been up there at the end racing with those guys for the win. It was a lot of fun while it lasted.”   

 

“You’ve got to have brake hoses at Martinsville,” said Hester. “It’s kind of a freak thing them just falling off like that. I hate it for David, the guys who have worked so hard on these trucks and for (team owner) Ricky (Benton). We had something for them today.”

 

The team plans to return to NCWTS action at  Charlotte Motor Speedway for the North Carolina Education 200 on May 15.

RBR PR