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Pole-sitter Gilliland still in 'pinch-me' phase
His surprising Busch Series victory at Kentucky Speedway in June jump-starts his career as a Nextel Cup driver.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — After winning the preseason Budweiser Shootout on Feb. 10 and the first of two qualifying races Thursday at Daytona International Speedway, Tony Stewart is leaving little doubt about the favorite going into today's Daytona 500.
But there is one driver who will stand in his way, if only briefly. When Stewart takes the green flag for the start of his first lap, he will be behind the pole-sitter David Gilliland, an interloper among a pack of mostly veterans up front that includes the always dangerous Dale Earnhardt Jr., a 500 champion.
Extras
Today's race
- What: Daytona 500
- When: Coverage starts at 2 p.m.; Race starts at 3:15
- TV: Channel 45
- Radio: WCSM-AM (1350), WCSM-FM (96.7)
Gilliland, 30, is in his first full season on the Cup circuit.
"It's like a dream that I'm afraid to wake up from," Gilliland said after winning the pole in qualifying Feb. 11. "So many good things have happened in such a short period of time, but I just hope to keep the ball rolling."
He was a nobody a year ago, with no full-time racing deal in even the lower levels of the sport. He now finds himself in a top ride and on the pole of the most prestigious race in Nextel Cup.
It all turned around rather quickly last season when Gilliland, competing in only the seventh second-tier Busch Series race of his career, managed to do what no driver in his position should have been able to accomplish. In a field that included no less than eight full-time Cup drivers and many fully financed Busch rides, Gilliland won a race at Kentucky Speedway in June.
It was the breakthrough that changed his life. Two months later, Gilliland was the driver of the No. 38 Ford for Robert Yates Racing, replacing Elliott Sadler.
It has been a learning experience ever since for Gilliland. He did not even know the way to the tunnel leading to the racetrack a month ago when he came to Daytona for testing.
Gilliland has found his way around the track quickly, though. He finished second to Stewart in the Budweiser Shootout, and Earnhardt was among those pointing to Gilliland as a contender going into the 500.
