Jimmie Johnson joins TRICON Garage for a highly anticipated NASCAR comeback, taking the wheel in June as the team heads to San Diego‘s Naval Base Coronado for a landmark race. The celebrated seven-time Cup Series champion’s entry marks a significant milestone for the team, led by co-owner David Gilliland, who continues to shape TRICON Garage into a powerhouse of racing talent and achievement.
David Gilliland’s Unconventional Path from Golf to Racing Success
David Gilliland, now co-owner of the TRICON Garage NASCAR Truck Series team, reflects on his early days in Anaheim, California, where he played alongside Tiger Woods on the high school golf team. Gilliland recalls the influence Woods had on his competitive drive and acknowledges that witnessing the relentless work ethic of an all-time sports legend set the tone for his own career direction.
“Everyone says, ‘what did you learn?’”
David Gilliland, Team Owner.
“And I say, ‘I learned that I need to go drive race cars or something else besides golf’, because I wasn’t going to be the best at it. And I’m a competitive person.”
— David Gilliland, Team Owner
Although never certain where the future would lead, the experience inspired Gilliland to seek greatness elsewhere, and he attributes his success in motorsports to the dedication and focus he observed during those formative years.
“He was awesome back then, breaking all the records and doing all that,”
David Gilliland, Team Owner.
“So proud of what he’s been able to go and do and accomplish.”
— David Gilliland, Team Owner
Gilliland explains that he translated Tiger Woods’ unyielding work ethic to his pursuit of racing excellence.
“So I kind of took some of that work ethic and put it towards racing, and here we are today.”
— David Gilliland, Team Owner
Transitioning from Competitor to Team Leader
Gilliland’s focus on motorsports led him away from the tranquility of the golf course to the adrenaline of Daytona. As a Cup Series rookie in 2007, he led the Daytona 500 field from pole position, describing Daytona as a venue every racer aspires to reach.
“So to be able to come and do that is something very special and something that will mean a lot to me my entire life.”
— David Gilliland, Team Owner
Eighteen years on, Gilliland stood not as a driver but as a team owner, watching former Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. pilot one of his trucks. He reflects on the significance of TRICON Garage’s presence at Daytona,
“Who knows if we’ll do it again or not, but it was definitely a heck of an experience. And to be out on the grid, with the ownership banner of TRICON Garage out there to start and race the Daytona 500 was pretty special.”
— David Gilliland, Team Owner
The Unexpected Journey to Team Ownership
Gilliland’s rise to team ownership was not something he had envisioned. He stepped away from full-time racing in 2015 to prioritize supporting his son’s own racing development.
“I quit racing full time in 2015,”
David Gilliland, Team Owner. So I’ve certainly never, ever had goals or dreams of being a team owner for sure. But it’s kind of where we’re at, and like everything else I do in life, I try and do the best I can and put my best foot forward. And I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to do.” — David Gilliland, Team Owner
TRICON’s Championship Run and Team Philosophy
Under Gilliland’s leadership, TRICON Garage claimed its first Truck Series Championship last season, thanks to the remarkable performance by Corey Heim, who seized 12 victories and closed the season with a championship-winning move in Phoenix. Reflecting on earlier heartbreaks and recent triumphs, Gilliland states,
“We were in the championship hunt the previous two years and kind of left there with heartbreak.”
— David Gilliland, Team Owner
He credits the success to relentless hard work and a culture of dedication within TRICON Garage.
“Corey Heim is an incredibly special talent that’s come through our series and our organization, and very proud of him and proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish together.”
— David Gilliland, Team Owner
“We want nothing but the best for Corey. He’s like family to us and think the world of him and what he’s been able to accomplish here and have high hopes of what he’ll be able to accomplish throughout the rest of his career as well.”
— David Gilliland, Team Owner
Roster Changes and New Drivers Set the Stage for 2024
This season ushers in changes, with Corey Heim moving away from a full-time schedule but returning for select events in the No.1 truck. Kaden Honeycutt, Tanner Gray, and Gio Ruggiero will occupy three full-time seats, while the No.1 and No.5 trucks will feature assorted part-time drivers.
Gilliland remains confident in TRICON’s competitive prospects:
“I think we expect to be running for the championship again and winning races,”
he says.
“So our goal is to go to the racetrack each and every week and compete for that win. And between the five trucks, we are confident that we can do that.”
— David Gilliland, Team Owner
NASCAR Veterans Bring Star Power to TRICON Garage
TRICON Garage welcomes both returning and new legends to the team. Four-time IndyCar champion and three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti is set to get behind the wheel for TRICON around the St. Petersburg street circuit in Florida, marking his return to the series. In a landmark move, Jimmie Johnson joins TRICON Garage for the June race in San Diego, bringing unprecedented experience and acclaim to the team’s roster.
Gilliland is enthusiastic about the impact of having legends like Johnson and Franchitti involved.
“So it’s a neat, neat thing. I raced with Jimmie when he was winning a lot of those championships, raced against him, and so for him to come over and race with us is pretty special. It’s really exciting to do stuff like that with that open truck.”
— David Gilliland, Team Owner
He notes that the presence of these world-class drivers validates the work the team has put in.
“Two legends, right? … to have those guys raise their hand and want to be part of what we’re doing and have the faith and confidence in our team to come and race those races with us is very special. And everybody at TRICON Garage, all the men and women that are part of this, are extremely proud and looking to go to the racetrack and make them proud and our fans and their fans proud.”
— David Gilliland, Team Owner
Ambitions Beyond the Truck Series
The team’s brief foray into the Daytona 500 as a Cup Series entrant has fueled Gilliland’s aspirations for future opportunities at the highest level.
“I think we’d like to (enter Daytona 500 again) if the right opportunity comes around,”
he admits.
“And so that’s what we’ve tried to do. And we did a good job of that last year. And, you know, that helps everything grow.”
— David Gilliland, Team Owner
While TRICON Garage continues to be one of the most formidable teams in the Truck Series, Gilliland makes clear that working hard and winning races remains the core aim, with a keen eye on the biggest stages of the sport.
Looking Forward: Building on Championship Momentum
Jimmie Johnson joining TRICON Garage for a high-profile race in San Diego symbolizes a bold new chapter for both the team and the racing legend. With a diverse and talented roster—featuring Kaden Honeycutt, Tanner Gray, Gio Ruggiero, part-time superstar drivers, and the legacy established by Corey Heim—TRICON Garage stands poised to contend fiercely for another championship. As Johnson takes to the track and Gilliland guides the organization, all eyes will be on their progress, with their relentless pursuit of racing excellence promising excitement for fans and the NASCAR community in 2024 and beyond.
