David Gilliland will reunite with his former K&N team, Naake – Klauer Motorsports to compete in the June 23rd, NASCAR K&N Pro Series West event at Sonoma, in California, the Pick-n-Pull / Racing to Stop Hunger 200. Gilliland drove for this team full time 2004 thru 2005, under the ownership of MRG.
" David Gilliland to drive #25 Pick-n-Pull sponsored car, entered by Naake – Klauer Motorsports."
Gilliland’s old team is now under new ownership, but remains intact with many of the old crew members. Former team owner, Mark Golembeski, is still involved with the team and attends events when his schedule permits. “I am proud of David’s rise to the Cup level of racing and excited about the reunion with my old team at Sonoma. It will be like old times, ” says Golembeski.
In 2005, Gilliland won the Toyota All Stars race in the #88 car with then Crew Chief, now Co-owner, Mike Naake. Since his rise to NASCAR Sprint Cup, Gilliland has remained involved with the team as a mentor to the younger drivers in the team’s Driver Development Program. “I am happy to still be a part of the team and do what I can to help the team’s up-and-coming drivers like Jessica Brunelli, who is now running my old number 88,” said Gilliland.
Naake – Klauer Motorsports will field two cars at this race, the #25 with Gilliland, and #88 to be driven by Brunelli. Both cars are sponsored by the Pick-n-Pull, the title sponsor of the race.
Jessica Brunelli has run a limited schedule with the team in 2011 and 2012, with the support of Pick-n-Pull. Brunelli has had two seasons in the NASCAR Driver for Diversity (D4D) program racing in the Whelen All-American Series. She was invited to return to the Diversity Program in 2012 as a driver in their K&N Pro East program, but declined the offer to continue to drive for Naake – Klauer Motorsports in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. “It is great to be a part of a team that believes in me and really wants to help me further my racing career. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to call upon the experience of David Gilliland; he has a lot of experience, especially racing at Sonoma. His advice really helped me there last year,” said Brunelli.
“This year, as the title sponsor of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race, Pick-n-Pull / Racing to Stop Hunger 200, we truly feel that our goals are aligned with regard to raising the awareness of
hunger issues in the country and providing needed dollars to support the local food banks in the communities where we live and work,” explained Tom Klauer, President of Pick-n-Pull. Pick-n-Pull is offering discounted tickets to the race with 100% of the proceeds benefitting local food banks. For more information, go to www.picknpull.com.
