David Gilliland

David Gilliland, No. 34 Taco Bell Ford

Starting Position: 35

Finishing Position: 31
 

David Gilliland started the Quaker State 400 in the 35th position, in a Taco Bell Ford that had limited practice laps on Kentucky Speedway due to a Thursday on-track accident and Friday's rain.  In his opening run after the green flag, he reported the car was tough to turn through Turns 3 and 4.  The team made some adjustments on a Lap-30 competition caution to free up the car, which Gilliland said were an improvement as he restarted in 31st.

Unfortunately, the Taco Bell team never got much farther up the leaderboard.  The race saw some long green-flag runs that stretched out the field.  And when the yellow flags did fly, they were at untimely moments for the No. 34 car, causing them to lose laps they were fighting hard to regain. The team continued to make improvements to the car as the night wore on, but Gilliland could not make up the ground lost to the cautions.  He finished in 31st.
 
Comments from Taco Bell Ford team driver David Gilliland after the Kentucky race:

"Our Taco Bell Ford wasn't all that bad.  We got bit by some cautions at the wrong time. That really hurt us.  We lost two or three laps because of yellows coming out right as we pitted.  Wasn't what we hoped for in our return to Kentucky, but it was still good to be back."

Travis Kvapil

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

Starting Position: 37

Finishing Position: 29

Travis Kvapil and the Long John Silver's team took the green flag in the 37th position, ready to go racing under the lights of Kentucky Speedway.  Like his teammate, Kvapil reported his No. 38 Fusion was tight getting through the turns in the early laps, and he received some adjustments to help on his first pit stop on Lap 31.  The "tight" concern would be a continuing refrain for much of the evening, as the driver battled the bumpy track and a lack of grip.

In a race that saw just half the field finish on the lead lap, the No. 38 team scraped for every position and point they could, including earning a bonus point for leading Lap 33.  Unlike his teammate, Kvapil did get some cautions to fall his way, and the team was able to climb five positions in the latter part of the race, from 34th to 29th.  The race ended with a green-white-checkered finish -- without the multi-car pile-ups that often come with them -- with Kyle Busch coming home a winner.

Kvapil's 29th-place finish bumped the No. 38 team up one position in owners' points to 37th.

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

"This was a tough track and we fought it the best we could. We fought a tight race car for much of the night and were looking for grip.  We made some good changes that helped our lap times, but there were some long green-flag runs that didn't really help us make up more ground. An OK night but was hoping for a little better.  At least we made a gain in points."

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