2014 Driver Reviews: No. 30 David Gilliland
After doing exit interviews for Sprint Cup Series drivers in 2013, we’re turning the tables. We want the drivers to sell themselves. So here are the resumés for all full-time Sprint Cup Series drivers in 2014. Then, at the end, we’ll provide a summation of the driver’s season in 150 words or less.
Name: David Gilliland
NASCAR Experience: Nine seasons in the Sprint Cup Series, including seven full-time stints. Responsible for the greatest Nationwide Series upset in recent history.
Most recent team: Front Row Motorsports
Most recent season finish: 30th
2014 accomplishments: Scored a pole at Daytona in July. So what if rain canceled the final two rounds of the qualifying session? It’s still a pole. Let’s not talk about the result of the race, however. Only top 20 of the season came at Pocono. Had a lot of other near-misses outside of the top 20 though.
Most memorable moment: This still counts even if it’s referenced above, right?
Strengths: Road courses and restrictor plates. All four career top-five finishes in the Cup Series have come at Sonoma, Talladega and Daytona.
2015 goals: Make start No. 300 and run another full season in the Sprint Cup Series. And grab another top-five finish at a plate track or road course.
FTM’s Take: With the rumors of Cole Whitt to Front Row Motorsports, is there room for both Gilliland and Ragan at the team? Gilliland has done an exceptional job of staying in the Cup Series after that 2006 Nationwide win got him a shot in Cup that didn’t exactly work out for the best. If he’s around in 2015, expect some more of the same.
Previous reviews: No. 31 Cole Whitt, No. 32 David Ragan, No. 33 Michael Annett, No. 34 Reed Sorenson, No. 35 Alex Bowman
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
