Todd Gilliland On Shocking NASCAR Crash: 'Zero warning!'

Newsweek

09-06-2025

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Todd Gilliland's NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway ended unexpectedly after he encountered a flat tire at high speed. The incident led him to lose control of his car, which then crashed into the wall and ended his race. Gilliland stated that the incident came with "zero warning!"
The high-speed impact seemed brutal on video, and Gilliland confirmed that "it was a very unfortunate place" for his car to have a flat tire. Speaking to Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports, who asked if he received any tire warning, Gilliland said:
"There was zero warning at all. Obviously, everyone is kind of pushing it. We've seen some left-rears down in practice, but that was a very unfortunate place for mine to go out that's for sure.
Todd Gilliland, driver of the #34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee.
Todd Gilliland, driver of the #34 Love's Travel Stops Ford, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee."It's just wild that you have a long time to think about hitting the wall, but it's all good. It honestly wasn't even a bad hit at all, so I'm proud of my guys for making my car better throughout the day. It's unfortunate."
When asked if he was running low tire pressure, Gilliland admitted that he wasn't aware of the pressure and that he pushed the car a "bit too far." He said:
"To be honest, I don't know what we were, but we can both imagine that I'm sure we were pushing it. Everyone pushes it. We pushed ours a little bit too far."
Todd Gilliland said there was little warning on the flat tire that put him in the wall. He said teams run on the edge of tire pressures and they likely went too far. @NASCARONFOX pic.twitter.com/qq3SvoeRhO — Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 8, 2025
A video shows Gilliland's car crashing into the wall after suffering a flat tire.
The Cup Series race at Michigan was won by NASCAR icon Denny Hamlin, after Carson Hocevar, who led the race for 19 laps, suffered a left-rear tire blowout. Hamlin also battled William Byron in the last stage of the race, but they raced only until Byron ran out of fuel, leading him to pit and finish the race in P28.
The setbacks paved the way for Hamlin's third victory of the season. Speaking to NBC Sports after the race, Hamlin said:
"It's fantastic. Chris Gayle, this whole team has just done a great job. We've been so fast throughout the entire year, just haven't finished it for one reason or another. Feels good to come here at Michigan where we've been so close over the years.
"This is such a gratifying day to restart 11th or something like that and drive through the field. I knew I was going to have to go 100 percent to get around everybody. Just worked them one by one."