Two talented young Bill McAnally Racing drivers are headed to Florida to compete in the Jet Tools 150 at New Smyrna Speedway on Sunday as the 2016 season gets underway for the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
Fifteen-year-old Todd Gilliland of Sherrils Ford, North Carolina will drive the No. 16 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota; while 16-year-old Riley Herbst of Las Vegas will wheel the No. 19 NOS Energy Drink Toyota.
Both drivers are set to run the full schedule this year as rookies in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, along with competing in select events in the K&N East. The New Smyrna race will mark the first K&N East race for both drivers.
“We are eager to get the competition started this season,” said BMR President Bill McAnally. “This event at New Smyrna provides the opportunity to get things rolling toward what we expect will be another great year for BMR.”
Gilliland captured attention at the NASCAR K&N Pro Series level last year by winning his debut race in the K&N West in the season finale at Phoenix.
“New Smyrna will be a good opportunity to get a jump start on the season with our NAPA Toyota and be that much more ready for our West race at Irwindale next month,” Gilliland said. “We look to build momentum for the rest of the year.”
Herbst will be making his first start in a NASCAR K&N Pro Series car, meanwhile.
“I’m really excited to get to work on the 2016 season with BMR,” Herbst said. “The guys have given me a great car with NOS Energy Drink, NAPA Batteries,Toyota, and Terrible Herbst on board. I’m ready to get going at New Smyrna and learn as much as we can heading into the West season opener.”
With his K&N West win at Phoenix, Gilliland became the youngest winner in the history of the series. Earlier last year, he had won in the ARCA racing series to become the youngest winner on that circuit. He will be competing full-time this year in the K&N West – where his father, David, won the rookie title in 2004 and his grandfather, Butch, won the 1997 series championship.
Herbst, who comes from a family prominent in off-road racing, had a busy and successful racing season in 2015. He did double duty as a rookie at Irwindale (California) Speedway last year, winning the championship in the Irwindale Speed Trucks, and finishing fifth in the final standings in Irwindale’s late model division.
The Jet Tools 150 is part of the 50th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing on the half-mile oval at New Smyrna. The race is the first event of a 14-event schedule this season. It marks the third series visit to the speedway.
BMR PR
- AM Racing | Hailie Deegan Dover Motor Speedway April Xfinity Preview - April 25, 2024
- RACE ADVANCE: Corey Heim at Dover Motor Speedway - April 25, 2024
- Rick Ware Racing: Justin Haley/Kaz Grala Dover Race Advance - April 25, 2024