Toledo Speedway

(TOLEDO, Ohio – May 17, 2015) – Todd Gilliland is a third-generation race car driver and will become the youngest driver in ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards history when he takes the green flag for race at Toledo Speedway today. Having been racing since the age of 5, Gilliland said he’s learned a few things along the way about racing.

For example, Friday was his first time ever to Toledo Speedway. Soon after he got to the track, he took a walk.

“I like to do that, to get out and walk around a track,” Gilliland said. “I like to see where the bumps are and the corners. It helps me to know when I can get back on the gas.”

His father, NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Gilliland, has also taught him something important.

“Patience,” Todd said. “He always tells me, you have to be around for the full 200 laps. He’s right. I have to be patient.”

Gilliland turned 15 on Friday, making him 15 years and two days old. He will eclipse the old mark for the youngest driver that was held by J.J. Haley. Gilliland will be in the No. 55 Core Power/#Everyday Awesome Venturini Motorsports Toyota Camry.

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Gilliland isn’t the only son of a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver in today’s field. Matt Wallace also will be making his ARCA Racing Series debut in the No. 69 Kimmel Racing Ford.

Wallace is the son of NASCAR driver Mike Wallace, who made 21 ARCA starts over the years before moving into the NASCAR ranks. Wallace won six ARCA races over a three-year span - at Daytona, Talladega, Atlanta, and three times at Pocono.

Wallace is also the nephew of NASCAR championship driver Rusty Wallace. His sister, Chrissy Wallace, also made her ARCA debut at Toledo Speedway.

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Toledo Speedway will host the fourth round of the Calypso Lemonades Short Track Challenge for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, and it's tied at the top times three.

After three short track races already this year, Austin Wayne Self, Kyle Weatherman and Brandon Jones are tied for the lead with 555 points each headed into the Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care at Toledo. Grant Enfinger, who leads the overall national championship standings, is next in line in the Calypso Short Track Challenge, just 15 points from the leaders.

Of those four drivers, Brandon Jones is not racing at Toledo.

The Calypso Short Track Challenge will consist of 11 ARCA short tracks on this year's schedule. Short tracks, as deemed by series officials, are tracks one mile in length or less. The remaining Calypso Short Track Challenge races in 2015 are Toledo, Winchester, Iowa, Lucas Oil Raceway, Berlin, Illinois State Fairgrounds, the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds and Salem.  

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Veteran late model racer Brian Campbell won the ARCA/CRA Super Series race at Toledo Speedway on April 11. Saturday, Campbell won his second ARCA/CRA Super Series race of the season when he took the checkered flag at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan.

Campbell now has seven ARCA/CRA wins at Berlin, which is his home track.

Cody Coughlin, a regular on the ARCA Racing Series national tour, finished fifth in the ACRA/CRA race at Berlin Saturday.

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The national anthem prior to today’s Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care, will be sung by Jimmy Fallon, who is a member of Ken Schrader Racing’s Federated team.

Fallon is making his singing debut when it comes to the ARCA Racing Series, but is a veteran with the microphone. Not only does he sing in a band, he sang the national anthem once prior to a NASCAR event at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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On-track activities begin at noon today with an autograph session with the drivers, followed by driver introductions at about 1:30 with the Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care going green shortly after 2 pm.