NASCAR's Todd Gilliland Celebrates 'Massive' Bristol Effort

The Front Row Motorsports driver scored a season-best sixth-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 9:49pm

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An abstract expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors, with rapid brushstrokes and blurred shapes representing the speed and energy of a NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway.A burst of color and motion captures the excitement of NASCAR driver Todd Gilliland's strong performance at Bristol Motor Speedway.Bristol Today

After struggling through the early part of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, Todd Gilliland and the Front Row Motorsports team turned in a strong performance at Bristol Motor Speedway. Gilliland finished sixth, his best result of the year so far, and he was able to pass a number of cars throughout the race to put himself in position for the solid finish.

Why it matters

Gilliland's Bristol result is a much-needed boost for the Front Row Motorsports team, which has faced challenges in the opening races of the season. The sixth-place finish could help build momentum for Gilliland heading into the next few tracks, where he has shown speed in the past.

The details

Gilliland's 12th-place finish at COTA was his best result of the season prior to Bristol, as he had failed to crack the top 20 in the other six races. At Bristol, a two-tire pit call late in the race helped propel Gilliland to the sixth-place finish, which was also a personal best for him on a short track. Gilliland was able to pass a number of cars throughout the race to put himself in contention.

  • On Sunday, April 13, 2026, Gilliland finished sixth in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
  • Prior to the Bristol race, Gilliland's best finish of the 2026 season was 12th at COTA.

The players

Todd Gilliland

The 25-year-old driver of the No. 38 car for Front Row Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Front Row Motorsports

The NASCAR team that fields cars for Todd Gilliland and other drivers.

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What they’re saying

“It was massive. We were talking yesterday. The beginning of the season has been tough on us. Just top to bottom, really. To get a good run underneath our belt, finally, [and] just put together a whole race. I thought our pit stops were good, my execution on and off pit road — all that was solid.”

— Todd Gilliland, NASCAR Cup Series Driver

“We put together a full race, passed a ton of cars. It feels really good.”

— Todd Gilliland, NASCAR Cup Series Driver

What’s next

Gilliland will look to build on his strong Bristol performance at the upcoming races at Kansas, Talladega, and Texas - tracks where he has shown speed in the past.

The takeaway

Gilliland's sixth-place finish at Bristol was a much-needed boost for the Front Row Motorsports team after a challenging start to the 2026 season. The solid all-around performance could help Gilliland gain momentum heading into the next few races at tracks where he has found success.