From fielding budding NASCAR stars like Hailie Deegan to facilitating the return of a Cup Series champion, David Gilliland has achieved a lot. The TRICON Garage team owner is a force to reckon with the Craftsman Truck Series. For 2025, it will host sizzling drivers like Corey Heim, Toni Breidinger, and Gio Ruggiero in NASCAR’s third tier. Alongside, Gilliland is also partnering up with Martin Truex Jr. for the ‘Great American Race.’ But first, let us dive into Gilliland’s own racing story.
Who is David Gilliland?
Hailing from Riverside, California, David Gilliland grew up in a family passionate about motorsports. His father, Butch Gilliland, was a former NASCAR Cup and West Series driver and young Gilliland started working in his father’s team in 1996. That marked the humble beginning of a dynamic career that saw Gilliland working as both driver and team owner. He attained great fame as a team owner, as he joined hands with Toyota Racing Development owner David Wilson to create a championship-contending race team. Gilliland has led a blooming journey – yet he embarked on his NASCAR driving career first and then his team owner stint.
David Gilliland’s journey from NASCAR Cup Series driver to being the owner of TRICON Garage
David Gilliland began competing in the Xfinity Series as a part-time driver in 2006 and even clinched a victory at Kentucky Speedway. His Cup Series tenure kicked off in 2007 when David made jaws drop again by grabbing the pole for the Daytona 500. In 2011 as well, he clinched a third-place finish in the prestigious race. Yet Gilliland’s most memorable racing accomplishment may be the 2018 Daytona 500. Despite wrecking the car in the Duel race, Gilliland drove the Ricky Benton Racing backup car to a remarkable 14th-place finish.
David Gilliland’s son Todd Gilliland will drive the No. 34 Ford Mustang for Front Row Motorsports – the same number that David himself sported during his driving career. When his ride was announced in November last year, Todd was elated to uphold a family legacy. “It’s humbling. The No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Mustang isn’t just another ride—it’s a legacy. My dad drove this car for FRM, and now I get to carry that torch. I still remember watching him race the Love’s Ford; it’s surreal that it’s my turn now.”
After having his fill of racing, David Gilliland began to dabble in team ownership. He began to withdraw from racing in 2015 to focus on building a late-model race team to develop his son Todd. Then in 2018, created David Gilliland Racing. He made strides in the Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series, and employed race-winning drivers like Ryan Preece. In 2022, DGR rebranded itself to TRICON Garage and shifted from Ford to Toyota as the team’s primary manufacturer. This brought Gilliland in close contact with Toyota stars – who now include Martin Truex Jr.
David Gilliland’s TRICON Garage signs Martin Truex Jr. for the Daytona 500
Joe Gibbs Racing saw the retirement of one of its spectacular drivers at the end of 2024. Martin Truex Jr. hung up his fire suit after clinching 34 Cup Series race wins and one championship (2017 season). The announcement came after Truex dilly-dallied for two whole years. However, the Toyota phenom is not entirely out, as he is coming back to make another bid for the elusive Harley J. Earl trophy at the Daytona 500, And David Gilliland is making that possible – Truex will wheel the No. 56 Toyota under TRICON Garage.
We’re going beyond the limits of the Truck Series.
TRICON will attempt the Daytona 500 in our @NASCAR Cup debut alongside @MartinTruex_Jr and @BassProShops pic.twitter.com/FyevxKi2E0
— TRICON (@TRICONGarage) January 16, 2025
Truex will team up with none other than Cole Pearn, the same crew chief who led him to clinch the 2017 Cup Series title under Furniture Row Racing. Then Bass Pro Shops, his long-time primary sponsor, will be back to support Truex’s Daytona dreams. This revival left the driver feeling grateful to Gilliland and his other benefactors. “It’s going to be a really cool deal to be able to work with Cole and have the number 56 again. I really appreciate everyone at Bass Pro Shops, TRICON, and Toyota helping put this together to go have some fun, and I can’t think of a better time to go win the thing.”
What awaits David Gilliland and TRICON Garage in the 2025 season?
First of all, a spectacular season-opening event. By partnering up with Martin Truex Jr. for the Daytona 500, David Gilliland will lead his team into the NASCAR Cup Series for the very first time. He could not help but shed light on this milestone: “This opportunity is a testament to the dedication of our entire organization and our partners at Toyota. Having raced against Martin for many years, I can confidently say there’s no stronger competitor I’d want behind the wheel for our first Cup Series entry at the sport’s most prestigious race.” Having been primarily an ARCA Menards and Craftsman Truck Series team so far, the NCS entry will boost TRICON to another level.
After this banger start, new opportunities lie in store for the team in 2025. Besides its three full-time drivers, TRICON Garage will host four stellar racers in the No. 1 Truck. These include William Sawalich, who will drive at four racetracks – Daytona, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Nashville. Xfinity Series Brandon Jones will wheel the Truck in seven races, while 16-year-old phenom Brent Crews will do the same in nine starts. Closing out this star-studded lineup is Lawless Alan, who will compete in 4 races.
Evidently, TRICON Garage is dreaming big for the 2025 NASCAR season. Let us see if David Gilliland can lead his team to a few dazzling race wins!
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