TODD GILLILAND (FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS) FORD
2023 DRIVER FANTASY POINTS: 30th
2024 FANTASY NASCAR RANK: 29th
* The 2024 ranking are based on the driver’s projected points scored for the 2024 season and not his predicted finish in the Cup Series standings. The rankings are based on the driver’s performance last year, momentum heading into the 2024 season and the strength of the driver’s team.
2023 RECAP: The sophomore season for Todd Gilliland in the Cup Series was nearly identical to his rookie season. Gilliland did double his top-10 finishes from two in 2022 to four last year. His average finishing position in his rookie season was 27.5 and last year he improved to 25.8. Gilliland finished 28th in the Point Standings both seasons and scored nearly the same fantasy points.
Front Row Motorsports had to make a decision before the end of the 2023 season. Should they keep their teams together or go after one of the young drivers from the Truck or Xfinity Series. The team decided to bring back Gilliland for a third season. Although the stats do not tell the story, Front Row Motorsports was more competitive last year. Michael McDowell won at Indianapolis and he finished eight races in the top 10. Now the team just needs Gilliland to match the finishing positions that his teammate (Michael McDowell) was able to produce.
2024 PREVIEW: There will be some changes at Front Row Motorsports in 2024 and they could help the team be more competitive in the Cup Series. Ryan Bergenty will return as the crew chief for the No. 38 team, but Front Row Motorsports will change their alliance from RFK Racing to Team Penske in 2024. Sharing notes and simulator time with Team Penske and the Wood Brothers should be a step up for Front Row Racing. The team will also use the new Ford Mustang Dark Horse as it’s chassis in 2024. The Fords had a clear advantage on the Superspeedways, but they lacked the speed on the intermediate tracks. The reports out of the Ford camp are that the new Mustang will close the speed gap and make their teams more competitive on the 1.5-mile tracks. This will be good news for Gilliland if the reports are true. The intermediate tracks were some of his worst tracks in 2023.
So, what can we expect from Gilliland in 2024? He has talent and Front Row Motorsports is closing the gap between their team and the larger teams in the Cup Series. The competition is getting better too. The addition of John H. Nemehcek, Carson Hocevar and Zane Smith to the Cup Series will make it tough for Gilliland to improve from his 2023 season. He will have some good races, but it will be tough to trust the No. 38 car in your Fantasy NASCAR lineups.
SUPERSPEEDWAY VALUE (DAYTONA, TALLADEGA, ATLANTA)
Some of the best tracks for Todd Gilliland last year were the Superspeedways. His average starting position in the six races was 21st and his average finishing position was 18.8. He scored the 23rd-most Fantasy Live Points and the 19th-most DraftKings Points at the tracks.
Talladega ranks as the best track for Todd Gilliland. He has finished 7th, 10th and 12th in his last three races in Alabama and he has scored the 9th most fantasy points in those races. It is always important to find a sleeper pick at the Superspeedways, so you can save your top drivers for the more predictable tracks. Gilliland is a good driver to take a chance with at Talladega and it is a good track to use him in your One & Done lineup.
Most drivers who are good at Talladega are good at Daytona too. That is not the case with Todd Gilliland. Daytona ranks as one of his worst tracks. His average starting position at Daytona is 27.5 and his average finishing position is 28.8. There are better drivers to use in your Fantasy NASCAR lineups when the Cup Series competes at Daytona.
Atlanta Motor Speedway is another good track for Gilliland. It ranks as his fourth-best track on the schedule. Gilliland has finished 17th, 15th and 16th in his last three races at Atlanta. He is a better play for DFS lineups than he is in season-long games, but he could be a good sleeper pick in Group C of the Driver Group Game at Atlanta.
(Todd Gilliland ranked 23rd in fantasy points scored on the Superspeedways last year with an average finishing position of 18.8)
SHORT-FLAT TRACK VALUE (PHOENIX, RICHMOND, MARTINSVILLE, GATEWAY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, IOWA)
The short, flat tracks make up 28% of the schedule in 2024, so a driver’s overall fantasy value will be determined by how well he runs at this type of track. Todd Gilliland was OK at the short, flat tracks last year, but not good enough to have any significant value in your season long lineups. He was one of the better cheap drivers for your DFS lineups though.
Martinsville is the best short, flat track for Gilliland. It ranks as the fifth-best track on the schedule for the No. 38 team. Gilliland is much better in the fall than he is in the spring at Martinsville. Gilliland finished 10th and 13th in the last two fall races at Martinsville. He finished 25th and 30th in the last two spring race. Gilliland is a good driver to use in the Driver Group Game in the October race at Martinsville if you are out of allocations with your top drivers from Group C.
It is hard to get excited about Todd Gilliland at Richmond, New Hampshire, Gateway and Phoenix. He had some finishes inside the top-20, but his average finishing position at these tracks is 23.7. You need drivers who can finish inside the top-15 in your fantasy lineups. There are better drivers to use in your season-long lineups, but Gilliland will have some value in DFS Contests at Gateway and Richmond as a punt play so you can pay up for the drivers who will lead the most laps.
(Todd Gilliland ranked 23rd in fantasy points scored on the short-flat tracks last year with an average finishing position of 21.6)
HIGH-BANKED TRACK VALUE (BRISTOL, DOVER)
Todd Gilliland has been one of the best sleeper picks at Bristol, but his success at the high-banked concrete track in Thunder Valley has not translated into success at the Monster Mile. Gilliland finished 16th and 18th in his two races at Bristol. He also averaged 13 place differential points in those two races. Gilliland is a good driver take a chance with in your Driver Group Game lineup at Bristol. He will also be a good cheap driver for your DFS lineups in Thunder Valley. Gilliland has never finished inside the top-25 at Dover, so I recommend looking for another driver for your lineups at the Monster Mile.
(Todd Gilliland ranked 24th in fantasy points scored on the high-banked tracks last year with an average finishing position of 20.5)
ROAD COURSE TRACK VALUE (COTA, SONOMA, WATKINS GLEN, CHICAGO STREET, CHARLOTTE ROVAL)
Michael McDowell gets all of the attention from Front Row Racing at the Road Courses, but Todd Gilliland has had some success too. COTA is one of his best tracks. Gilliland finished 16th in the inaugural race at COTA and he finished 10th at the track last year. No one is going to use Gilliland at COTA, so you could gain some ground in your season-long leagues if you use Gilliland and he finishes in the top-10 again in 2024.
Todd Gilliland finished 19th at the Chicago Street Course, but it is hard to trust any of the stats from that race because it was impacted by weather and NASCAR waiving the checkered flag early. Gilliland did not have much success at the other road course races, so be sure to find another driver for your season-long lineups (Shane Van Gisbergen or AJ Allmendinger).
(Todd Gilliland ranked 24th in fantasy points scored on the road courses last year with an average finishing position of 20.7)
HIGH TIRE WEAR TRACK VALUE (AUTO CLUB, DARLINGTON, MICHIGAN, HOMESTEAD)
Saving his tires over a long run is not one of the best skills for Todd Gilliland. The high tire wear tracks are some of the worst for Gilliland. He scored the 30th-most fantasy points at these tracks. Gilliland did finish 11th in the first race at Darlington, but he returned for the Southern 500 and finished 26th. He also finished 29th at Homestead and Michigan. There are better drivers to use in your fantasy lineups at the high tire wear tracks in 2024.
(Todd Gilliland ranked 30th in fantasy points scored on the high tire wear tracks last year with an average finishing position of 21.6)
INTERMEDIATE TRACK VALUE (LAS VEGAS, KANSAS, CHARLOTTE AND TEXAS)
The cream typically rises to the top at the intermediate tracks and Front Row Racing is not one of the top organizations in the Cup Series. The four 1.5-mile tracks all rank outside the top-15 for best tracks for Todd Gilliland. He finished 24th and 25th at Kansas, 33rd in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, 27th and 31st at Las Vegas and 35th at Texas. These are not the type of stats that you want to invest any fantasy stock in. Be sure to use another driver in Fantasy NASCAR at the intermediate tracks in 2024.
(Todd Gilliland ranked 27th in fantasy points scored on the intermediate tracks last year with an average finishing position of 29.2)
Best Tracks for Todd Gilliland: 1) Talladega, 2) COTA, 3) Bristol, 4) Atlanta, 5) Martinsville
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* Team Information from Jaysky.com
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