Todd Gilliland Bio
Todd Jeremey Gilliland, born on May 15, 2000, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Front Row Motorsports. The son of former NASCAR driver and Tricon Garage owner David Gilliland, he has built a reputation as one of the promising young talents in American motorsports.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, Gilliland has progressed from quarter midgets and late model stock cars into NASCAR’s national series. He is married to Marissa Holmes and continues to chase his first victory at the top level of stock car racing.
Early Life and Background
Todd Gilliland was born in Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, and raised in a household steeped in racing tradition. His father, David Gilliland, competed in the NASCAR Cup Series, and his grandfather, Butch Gilliland, was the 1997 NASCAR Winston West Series champion. His mother, Michelle Gilliland, supported the family’s deep involvement in motorsports from the very start.
Gilliland first sat behind the wheel of a vehicle at just three years old, when his parents bought him a pink Barbie Corvette that was later repainted black. The toy car was modified with longer pedals and an extra battery to increase its speed, sparking his love for driving. He soon moved up to a quarter midget on a neighborhood dirt track and began competing two years later, although his father made him stop for two years to focus on growth and education.
By 2012, Gilliland had returned to competitive racing and captured championships in the North Carolina Quarter Midget Association, the USAC World Formula National Quarter Midget Championship, and on the West Coast. He closed out his quarter midget career with 34 wins, then transitioned to limited late model racing in 2013. In 2014, he scored his first limited late model win from the pole at Ace Speedway and added a late model victory later that season at Southern National Motorsports Park.
Path to NASCAR
Gilliland’s path to NASCAR’s national series began in the ARCA Menards Series. On May 17, 2015, two days after his fifteenth birthday, he debuted at Toledo Speedway with Venturini Motorsports. After topping practice and qualifying fifth, he held off Tom Hessert and Josh Williams to win, becoming the youngest winner in ARCA series history.
Later that year, Gilliland made his first NASCAR K&N Pro Series West start at Phoenix International Raceway, passing William Byron on a green-white-checkered finish to win. The victory made him the youngest race winner in track history, although his car later received a post-race penalty for an improperly secured oil reservoir. In 2016, he joined Bill McAnally Racing for a full K&N Pro Series West campaign and won the championship, repeating as champion in 2017. Along the way, he was named to the 2016-17 NASCAR Next program recognizing the sport’s top young drivers.
Todd Gilliland Career
Early Career (2015-2017)
Between 2015 and 2017, Gilliland built one of the most decorated records in NASCAR’s developmental ladder. He captured two ARCA Menards Series wins, seven ARCA Menards Series East wins, and 13 ARCA Menards Series West wins during this stretch. His breakthrough came driving for Bill McAnally Racing in the K&N Pro Series West, where his consistent speed and willingness to race for positions on late restarts set him apart from older competitors.
During the same period, Gilliland also won the first-ever CARS Late Model Stock Tour race at Southern National in 2015. In January 2016, he signed with Kyle Busch Motorsports’ Super Late Model team, adding a high-profile seat to his already crowded schedule. These developmental years gave him valuable experience on ovals, road courses, and short tracks across the country.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2017-2022)
Gilliland signed with Kyle Busch Motorsports in December 2016 to run four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races in 2017. He made his Truck Series debut at Dover International Speedway and ran additional events at Gateway Motorsports Park, Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, and Phoenix International Raceway. The following season, KBM announced that he would compete for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Rookie of the Year in 2018, driving the No. 4 Toyota Tundra beginning at Martinsville Speedway.
On October 25, 2019, Gilliland won his first career Truck Series race at Martinsville Speedway, a moment that confirmed his arrival on the national stage. In January 2020, Front Row Motorsports announced he would drive the newly opened No. 38 Ford F-150 full-time, and he responded with ten top-ten finishes and four top-fives to qualify for the playoffs. He won again in 2021 at Circuit of the Americas, his first victory for Front Row Motorsports, advancing to the Round of 10 before being eliminated. He closed out his Truck Series career with three wins, 53 top-ten finishes, and two poles.
NASCAR Cup Series (2022-Present)
On November 30, 2021, Front Row Motorsports announced that Gilliland would bypass the NASCAR Xfinity Series and move directly to the Cup Series, competing for NASCAR Rookie of the Year in the No. 38 Ford. He made his Cup Series debut at the 2022 Daytona 500, starting 29th before a lap 190 incident left him with a 33rd-place finish. In 2022, the team added Ryan Bergenty as his crew chief, and Gilliland was briefly shifted to a part-time schedule before regaining a full-time seat at Talladega in the No. 36, ultimately finishing 28th in points with four top-tens.
On August 9, 2023, Front Row confirmed that Gilliland would return to the No. 38 in 2024 for his third Cup Series season. His 2024 form showed clear progress: he led a then career-high 16 laps at the Daytona 500 before being collected late, then led 58 laps at Atlanta before a broken toe link cost him a chance to win. A run of nine consecutive top-20 finishes in late spring and early summer earned him a multi-year contract extension. He finished 22nd in the 2024 standings, one spot ahead of teammate Michael McDowell.
Front Row Motorsports No. 34 Era (2025-Present)
On November 19, 2024, Front Row Motorsports announced that Gilliland would move to the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in 2025, taking over the seat formerly associated with Michael McDowell. Chris Lawson serves as his crew chief, and the pairing is focused on converting consistent top-20 speed into top-ten finishes and a first Cup Series victory.
He opened 2025 with a 27th-place finish at the Daytona 500 and continued to show pace throughout the season. Building on the momentum of his 2024 campaign, Gilliland signed a long-term extension with Front Row, signaling the team’s commitment to his development as a Cup Series regular.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gilliland is known for his composure in traffic, his smooth throttle control on long runs, and his comfort on drafting tracks such as Daytona, Talladega, and Atlanta. His 58 laps led at Atlanta in 2024 highlighted his growing confidence in superspeedway packs. Working with crew chief Chris Lawson, he has improved his average finish and qualifying consistency, which had been a weakness in his first two Cup seasons.
Notable Races and Milestones
Beyond his Truck Series breakthrough at Martinsville in 2019, Gilliland’s signature moments include becoming the youngest ARCA winner at Toledo in 2015, his back-to-back K&N Pro Series West championships in 2016 and 2017, and his first Cup Series stage win at Pocono. His return to the front at Atlanta in 2024 also stands out as a turning point in his top-level career.
Todd Gilliland Career Wins
Todd Gilliland has collected 25 verified national and regional victories across ARCA, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His wins span ovals, road courses, and short tracks across the United States, reflecting his versatility as a stock car driver.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Gilliland earned three Truck Series wins during his time in the series. His first came at Martinsville Speedway in 2019, followed by additional victories in 2021 and 2022. He wrapped up his Truck Series career with 53 top-ten finishes and two poles across more than 80 starts.
Other Wins and Performances
In the ARCA Menards Series, Gilliland picked up two wins, including a dramatic late-race pass at Talladega in 2019. He also dominated the ARCA Menards Series East with seven wins and finished second in the 2017 standings. In the ARCA Menards Series West, he amassed 13 wins and two consecutive championships in 2016 and 2017.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 3 | 53 | 2 |
| ARCA Menards Series | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 7 | 22 | 2 |
| ARCA Menards Series West | 13 | 28 | 12 |
Todd Gilliland Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Racing runs deep in the Gilliland family. Todd’s father, David Gilliland, spent several seasons competing in the NASCAR Cup Series and later became an owner at Tricon Garage. His grandfather, Butch Gilliland, was the 1997 NASCAR Winston West Series champion and also made starts in the Cup and Truck Series. His mother, Michelle Gilliland, has been a steady presence throughout his racing journey.
Personal Life
Todd Gilliland is married to Marissa Holmes. The couple has been part of his support system throughout his climb from quarter midgets to the NASCAR Cup Series, and they continue to make their home in the NASCAR-heavy region of North Carolina.
2025 Season Performance
Todd Gilliland’s 2025 season is his first behind the wheel of the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Front Row Motorsports, with Chris Lawson serving as crew chief. He opened the year with a 27th-place finish at the Daytona 500 and has been working to translate the speed he showed in 2024 into consistent top-fifteen and top-ten results.
Midway through the season, Gilliland has been one of the more improved drivers in the Cup Series garage, posting several stage points and strong qualifying efforts on tracks where he struggled during his first two full-time campaigns. The team’s multi-year contract extension is a sign of mutual confidence in his long-term potential and the development path mapped out with Lawson.
Although the playoffs are a long shot in 2025, the focus is on momentum and consistency. With the team’s investment in equipment and personnel, Gilliland’s 2025 campaign is widely viewed as a foundational year for what the organization hopes will be a sustained run of competitiveness for the No. 34 car.
