Todd Gilliland clinched a ninth-place finish at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, October 26, in a race marked by both on-track skill and off-track hijinks, as he aimed for continued momentum following his career-best result at Talladega. The Todd Gilliland Martinsville top 10 finish came shortly after teammate Noah Gragson locked him in a porta potty before practice, adding an unusual start to an eventful weekend for Front Row Motorsports.
Gilliland Endures Prank, Delivers Another Strong Finish
The lead-up to the NASCAR Cup Series event at Martinsville Speedway offered unexpected drama when Front Row Motorsports teammate Noah Gragson decided to pull a prank. The episode saw Gragson lock Gilliland in a portable restroom, with Tommy Baldwin later joining the effort to free Gilliland from the predicament. The incident caused a stir in the garage area, but did not appear to hamper Gilliland’s performance on Sunday.
“Apparently @NoahGragson locked @ToddGilliland_ in the porter potty! Then Gragson and Tommy Baldwin struggled to get the door back open. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/zYs5taz08T”— Michael Massie, Motorsports Journalist
Despite any potential distraction from the ordeal, Gilliland refocused and built on his previous runner-up finish at Talladega, charging into the top ranks once more at Martinsville. Beginning the race from 16th position, he made early progress, breaking into the top 10 during the first stage and ending the segment in ninth place.
Gilliland Navigates Martinsville’s Challenges for Consecutive Top 10s
Throughout Sunday’s race, Gilliland kept his No. 34 Front Row Motorsports entry near the front. A crucial turning point came during the second stage when a late-race caution prompted a variety of pit strategies from competitors. Electing to stay on track while others pitted, Gilliland capitalized on the decision, notching a fifth-place finish in the stage, further boosting his standing for the remainder of the day.
As the final stage unfolded, Gilliland struggled with the car’s handling, falling outside the top 10 but maintaining position in the top 15. A timely caution on lap 177, which occurred amidst a series of green flag pit stops, gave Gilliland an unexpected advantage. Still on the lead lap and sitting third when the field slowed, he was able to pit for fresh tires and restart in fourth, aiding his bid for a strong finish.
With several competitors taking the wave around and a series of cautions reshuffling the lineup, Gilliland held steady. He finished ninth, marking consecutive top 10 finishes for the first time in his Cup Series career—a milestone for the Sherrills Ford, N.C. native.
“Back to back top 10’s for the first time in his career!@ToddGilliland_ | @GrillosPickles pic.twitter.com/SR34SODFC7″— Front Row Motorsports, Official Team Statement
Assuming chief driving duties for FRM’s flagship Cup car this season, Gilliland has faced a campaign filled with ups and downs, complicated further by Front Row Motorsports’ ongoing legal dispute with 23XI Racing and NASCAR. Nevertheless, recent results demonstrate a positive shift, with Gilliland securing his fifth top 10 of the season—a personal best for the young driver. Although his current points standing is slightly lower compared to last year, his average race finish now stands at a career-high 20.8, an encouraging metric as the team confirms its driver lineup for next season and looks ahead to 2026.
Shane van Gisbergen Delivers Notable Result at Martinsville
Shane van Gisbergen, known for his prowess on road courses, continued adjusting to oval racing and showcased his adaptability at Martinsville. After a 12th-place run in last year’s track debut, the New Zealander brought home a 14th-place result in the grueling 500-lap contest. Van Gisbergen wasted no time advancing, climbing from 22nd to the top 15 in the race’s opening stage, and even earned an eighth-place finish in stage two before dropping back late in the event.
Martinsville’s demanding braking zones played to van Gisbergen’s strengths, highlighting the same aggressive but controlled style that has kept him consistently near the front on ovals. The Kiwi driver’s performance at the Paperclip was his third top 15 in his past four oval starts, matching a run of success that now places him on par with teammate Daniel Suarez. Both drivers now average a 20.9 finish and share seven top 10 results on the season.
“P14 today for the 88 @SafetyCultureHQ team! Had a fun race running around 8-12th most of the day but just slipped back a bit at the end. Looking forward to finishing strong in Phoenix next weekend 👍 pic.twitter.com/qkYXwclXX5″— Shane van Gisbergen, NASCAR Cup Series Driver
Cole Custer Returns to Form Despite On-track Incident
Cole Custer entered Martinsville carrying high expectations, having previously identified the Virginia short track as a key focus for his program. The team’s preparation yielded positive early results, with Custer qualifying sixth—his second-best starting position this year—and finishing 14th in the first stage.
Midway through the race, a minor collision with Josh Berry sent Custer spinning in turns 3 and 4, but he managed to avoid losing a lap or incurring race-ending damage. After the caution at lap 177 reset the order, Custer climbed back into the top 10, restarting seventh, before ultimately settling for 17th, marking his third top 20 in five recent races.
“Cole Custer goes for a spin in Turns 3 & 4 after contact from Josh BerryWas tracking the 9 & 12 here but you can catch a bit of a glimpse of the initial contact pic.twitter.com/aC1tOkbOtO”— Steven Taranto, Motorsports Reporter
Underdogs Stand Out As Season Nears Finale
Justin Haley, preparing for a departure from Spire Motorsports at the season’s end, overcame a difficult early part of the Martinsville race to finish 19th. He rebounded from both a botched pit stop and a penalty, using late-race cautions to regain track position and claim his first top 20 at the venue.
Elsewhere in the field, Zane Smith and John Hunter Nemechek made their presence felt among the underdog class of drivers, while Michael McDowell struggled after a risky tire strategy, finishing 24th. Carson Hocevar endured a tough outing, spinning twice but still looks ahead to closing out the season on a stronger note.
Truck Series Action: Milestones and Drama at Martinsville
The weekend at Martinsville also featured notable performances in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Casey Mears reached a landmark 600th NASCAR national series start, making his Truck Series debut with MBM Motorsports and finishing 24th. In a packed schedule, Mears ran double duty, later driving the Garage 66 Cup entry to a 33rd-place result following a top 20 at Talladega.
Ranking the Top Underdog Performances at Martinsville
Shane van Gisbergen led the underdog rankings, continuing his adjustment to oval racing and securing a top 15 that affirms his growth and bodes well for his upcoming run at Phoenix Raceway.
Gilliland, riding the momentum of consecutive standout outcomes, is pushing to close strong in Phoenix, aiming for another personal best finish. Michael McDowell, despite a challenging day involving questionable pit strategy, prepares to wrap up his season with Spire Motorsports at a track where he has found recent success. Carson Hocevar seeks to rebound at Phoenix after a frustrating run filled with avoidable incidents, and Cole Custer’s resurgence continues as he aims to finish inside the top 16 in his Cup Series return.
Spotlight on Small Teams: Custer Celebrates “A Force for Good”
This weekend, Cole Custer’s No. 41 featured a special burgundy and gray paint scheme honoring Texas A&M University’s ongoing commitment to excellence in research, engineering, and scientific education. The partnership, under the “A Force for Good” banner, brought visibility to the institution’s mission and contributed positive energy to Custer’s top-20 performance.
“Stage two results from Martinsville. 👍 Cole Custer | 16th #ForceForGood | @TAMU pic.twitter.com/wGfW86Cg8i”— Haas Factory Team, Race Team Representative
With the end of the NASCAR season rapidly approaching, drivers and organizations like Front Row Motorsports, Trackhouse Racing, Haas, and Spire Motorsports are positioning themselves to end the year on a high note. For Todd Gilliland, his back-to-back top 10s after the prank-inspired start highlight both resilience and his evolution into a playoff threat for 2026. As the field prepares for the Phoenix desert showdown, momentum and lessons from Martinsville will be critical in shaping offseason strategies and future campaigns.
Apparently @NoahGragson locked @ToddGilliland_ in the porter potty! Then Gragson and Tommy Baldwin struggled to get the door back open. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/zYs5taz08T
— Michael Massie (@m_massie22) October 25, 2025
Back to back top 10’s for the first time in his career!@ToddGilliland_ | @GrillosPickles pic.twitter.com/SR34SODFC7
— Front Row Motorsports (@Team_FRM) October 26, 2025
P14 today for the 88 @SafetyCultureHQ team! Had a fun race running around 8-12th most of the day but just slipped back a bit at the end. Looking forward to finishing strong in Phoenix next weekend 👍 pic.twitter.com/qkYXwclXX5
— Shane van Gisbergen (@shanevg97) October 26, 2025
Cole Custer goes for a spin in Turns 3 & 4 after contact from Josh Berry
Was tracking the 9 & 12 here but you can catch a bit of a glimpse of the initial contact pic.twitter.com/aC1tOkbOtO
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) October 26, 2025
Stage two results from Martinsville. 👍
Cole Custer | 16th #ForceForGood | @TAMU pic.twitter.com/wGfW86Cg8i
— Haas Factory Team (@HaasFactoryTeam) October 26, 2025
