David Gilliland powered the #88 RaceCarCeilingFans.com/Honda Cars of Corona Chevrolet around the .5-mile Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, California, securing a solid fourth place finish in the 2005 NASCAR Grand National West Series standings.
"We had a great year," said a much energized Gilliland. "We opened the season with a win, we scored 9 top-fives and we led 8 of the 12 races, but we had some mechanical set-backs that hurt us in the championship chase. It just makes us more determined than ever to get the champions trophy next year."
Fastest in the second practice session, Gilliland's high-speed continued in qualifying as he secured the outside pole for the start of the Ford Motorcraft 150 by 3M.
Gilliland took the lead twice during the race, leading nearly 60 laps of the 150 lap race. Staying out during a caution on lap 111 allowed Gilliland to take the point, which he held it for the next 23 laps. Gilliland remained with the top-five cars for the remainder of the night.
“This has been a great night for the RaceCarCeilingFans.com/Honda Cars of Corona Chevrolet. Winning the final Mesa Marin Southwest Tour race was an emotional win for us. It was the last time the Tour would race Mesa and my Grandpa, John Reed is very ill; without him in my life I would not be where I am today. So I dedicated that win to my Grandpa. We had hoped to repeat our performance in this race, but we are very pleased with our performance and look forward to next year. I wish this track was not closing. It has been a good one to us.”
NASCAR extended Gilliland an invitation to compete in the 3rd Annual Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway.
"I am hungry to win the Showdown. We thought we had it won last year, but it turned into a real crash fest. This year I hope to get far enough in front to stay out of trouble. I am sure there are a lot of us in the West hoping to do the same. It is an exciting race and I consider Irwindale one of my home tracks. I have a lot of wins there, but to win the All Star Showdown would be the best one," said Gilliland.
The Ford Motorcraft 150 presented by 3M will be replayed November 11 on SPEED, while the Toyota All Star Showdown will air live on SPEED November 12.
