Glen Test Gives Gilliland Confidence

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In: NASCAR Cup Series News

The Sprint Cup Series takes its Gen-6 car to Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International for the first time this weekend, but David Gilliland already has plenty of laps under his belt on the 2.45-mile road course.  The No. 38 Long John Silver’s team tested at the track last week to prepare for the series’ second road race of the year.

 

The team worked on a new brake package during the two-day session at The Glen, where high speeds and tight turns call for the ability to stop on a dime for 90 laps.  The knowledge gained from the test, combined with Gilliland’s road-course racing abilities and crew chief Frank Kerr’s successful track record at the venue, has the team going to Watkins Glen with confidence. 

 

The Cheez-It 355 at The Glen will be Gilliland’s sixth start on the course.  He earned his best result last year when he finished 20th.

 

Comments from Long John Silver’s team driver David Gilliland heading to Watkins Glen:

 

“The two road courses we go to are definitely very different.  Watkins Glen is a very high-speed, less technical track.  Sonoma’s definitely more technical.  They’re very different courses that require different approaches and different styles of driving.  But we feel prepared, even though we haven’t raced at The Glen yet this year and you can’t carry a whole lot over from Sonoma. 

 

“We tested there last week and had two good days on track there.  We tried some new brakes there that I think are going to help our program.  Frank Kerr, my crew chief, has run well there in the past, and we’re excited about the race.  I enjoy road racing, so going to Watkins Glen is something that’s definitely marked on our calendar with a star.

 

“The Inner Loop (turn on the backstretch) is very difficult.  You see a lot of guys going off track there when they’re trying to pass.  It’s one of the passing zones of the racetrack but something that you wish wasn’t there.  You wish you could go straight through it, but you can’t.  You’ve got to go through the turn.”

 

FRM PR

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