Kentucky Still Sparks Winning Memories for Gilliland

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Put David Gilliland on site at Kentucky Speedway and it still takes him back to 2006 when he recorded the biggest upset win of the year.  The victory in the Nationwide Series when he drove for a part-time, underfunded team still brings back happy memories whenever Gilliland returns to the 1.5-mile oval in Sparta, Ky.

 

This year, the driver of the No. 38 Long John Silver’s Ford for Front Row Motorsports returns to the venue with a continually improving program on intermediate tracks.  The No. 38 team is averaging a top-25 finish at 1.5-mile tracks so far in the 2013 season.

 

Gilliland and crew chief Frank Kerr prepare to better that record heading into Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 Presented by Advance Auto Parts.

 

Comments from Long John Silver’s team driver David Gilliland heading to Kentucky:

 

“Kentucky is probably the furthest from the other mile-and-a-half’s, in terms of how it drives.  It’s just so darn bumpy.  It’s lost a lot of grip over the years. So, as we head back there, I think the key to getting around there good is getting a car that can go over the bumps and still turn.  So that’s what we’re going to focus on.

 

“Last year it was really hot when we raced at Kentucky, so that made things difficult.  It makes you uncomfortable in the car as a driver and it affects the handling of the car as well.  So hopefully it won’t be that hot again.  But we’re excited to go back to Kentucky again and put on a good show in the Cup cars.

 

“Kentucky obviously still holds special memories for me.  It’s where I got my first NASCAR win in the Nationwide Series in 2006.  So even though we’re going there in a different car, with a different series and different team, it’s still special.  When you see certain things at the track, like Victory Lane, it just sparks the memories and instantly takes you back like it was yesterday.  That was really a great moment and one that I’m really proud of.”

 

FRM PR

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