David Gilliland took the lead of the Star Nursery 300; Mesa Marin’s final NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series race on lap 245 and was unstoppable for the rest of the night. Gilliland put the RaceCarCeilingFans.com/Honda Cars of Corona #88 Chevrolet in the lead for 111 laps of the 300 lap race.
“I would like to dedicate this Win to my Grandpa, John Reed. He is very ill and without him in my life I would not be where I am today. Thanks Gear Engineering and John Reed”
“This race will always be one that holds a special place in my heart,” said a very emotional Gilliland in victory lane. “With this being the last night of racing action at Mesa Marin I wanted very much to win, but I sure am going to miss this place this is a bittersweet victory. It is a track that you can go high or low on. It is a racer’s track and the Collins family deserves a lot of thanks for all they have done. They gave us all a great place to race.”
Gilliland won 4 times at Mesa Marin Raceway including the last two October Classic Southwest Series events.
There were only 5 drivers that finished the race on the lead lap. They seemed to all have, fast cars and good luck, but, for Gilliland the recipe for success included a little dirt trackin’ skill as well as a strategic pit plan.
“We short pitted early to get track position and then took on right side tires later than most. Having a good car and fresher tires at the end helped me pull away to a comfortable lead.”
And so as Gilliland left the victory lane, one fan ran after him to get an autograph and said, “You Gilliland’s sure do know how to go out with a bang. Your dad, Butch, won the final race at Saugus and now you win the final night at Mesa Marin.”
Gilliland turned to her with a smile and said, “I hear there is another track in the works. If it is more than a rumor, I hope to open it with a win.”
Learn more about David Gilliland on the web at http://www.davidgilliland.com.
