SONOMA, California — David Gilliland took the lead on lap 44 and never looked back, taking the victory in the Pick-n-Pull Racing to Stop Hunger 200 NASCAR K&N West Series race on Saturday in Sonoma.
"To have my father fly in from Dubai where he lives now and then to win this race was pretty awesome."— David Gilliland
It was the second-career West Series win for Gilliland on the Sonoma Valley road course, the first coming in 2007. David's father, Butch, has won four times in Sonoma and flew in from Dubai to attend Saturday's race.
Butch was also inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame on Thursday night.
"It's been a great week for me," David said. "To have my father fly in from Dubai where he lives now and then to win this race was pretty awesome."
Gilliland was followed by Lakeports' Derek Thorn, Greg Pursley, Fairfield's Jim Ingebright and Dylan Kwasniewski.
"It was a pretty clean race," Thorn said. "I learned a lot following David around. He has great technique. It was just nice to race here on my home track in front of family and friends."
Gilliand is pulling double-duty this weekend as he will jump into his regular ride for Sunday's Toyota/Save Mart 350. He will start 27th; he placed second in Sonoma in 2008. Marcos Ambrose will start on the pole on Sunday.
"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow," he said. "Hopefully you'll see me in this same place."
Jessica Brunelli (Hayward), the only female in the race, placed 12th, while 84-year-old Herschel McGriff was 18th.
