David Gilliland

David Gilliland, No. 34 Taco Bell Ford

Starting Position: 8

Finishing Position: 7
 

David Gilliland and the No. 34 Taco Bell Ford team finished seventh and learned a lot more during Saturday night's All-Star Showdown at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

Gilliland, who lined up eighth for the two-segment, 40-lap feature fought a tight-handling car the first two laps before the caution waved for a vicious wreck involving Derrike Cope and Landon Cassill. The team had fallen back to ninth after the opening laps and by the "halftime" caution, Gilliland was holding onto 12^th.  Crew chief Peter Sospenzo called for three different changes to the car for the final 20 laps to help the car turn better for Gilliland.

The final 20 laps began with action up front, as only the top-two finishers transferred.  Gilliland restarted in 14^th, but moved up to 13^th in Lap 21.  Gilliland then reported that the changes were much better and his car was turning better. The only change he didn't like was the air pressure.  The action on the track, however, allowed Gilliland to advance to sixth after the leaders slid into each other and up into the wall.  Gilliland powered through the accident and headed toward a top-five position.  But the "tight" condition was just too much and the Taco Bell Ford crossed the line in seventh when the checkered flew.

Comments from Taco Bell Ford team driver David Gilliland after the Showdown:

"We learned a great deal tonight.  We were good the first 20 laps, but just way too tight.  The final 20 laps, after the changes, the car was a lot better.  Those notes will help next weekend in the Coke 600.  We avoided some wrecks and had a good finish.  Just a bit too tight to battle for the transfer spots."

Travis Kvapil

Travis Kvapil, No. 38 Long John Silver's Ford

Starting Position: 16

Finishing Position: 16

Travis Kvapil and his No. 38 Long John Silver's team started the Sprint Showdown in 16th place, ready to take some chances.  The team had brought a car prepared for this race only and tried some different set-ups in practice to get the most out of their Ford Fusion at the green flag.

Unfortunately, Kvapil's fast car got slowed down on Lap 2 when he suffered right-front-fender damage after making contact with another car.  The caution from the Cassill and Cope accident allowed the team to make repairs on pit road without losing any laps, and Kvapil returned to the field in the 24th position.

He reported tight handling conditions to crew chief Jay Guy, but the Long John Silver's Ford was still running good lap times.  By the half-way caution period, he had moved up to 19th.  Two more caution periods allowed for two more stops for adjustments, and Kvapil climbed as high as 15th.  But the right-front damage prevented him from being any more aggressive, and after 40 laps he finished 16th.

Comments from Long John Silver's Ford team driver Travis Kvapil after the Showdown:

"Our car was pretty tight and we were on the splitter early on. The guys did a good job in the pits making repairs and some good adjustments.  But after the contact, we would start off OK for a couple laps, and then the right front just wasn't cooperating.  But we learned some things this weekend that will help us for the 600 next week."

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