Todd Gilliland knocks team owner Kyle Busch after first NASCAR win (Video)

Gilliland later apologized for comments made about his team owner after picking up his first career NASCAR victory

Todd Gilliland is a 19 year old NASCAR drivers who’s climbing the racing ladder. Previously, the son of former driver David Gilliland, picked up 20 wins in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series over the course of 53 starts.

Now, Gilliland has spent the last three years driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He went 45 NGOTS races, without a win.

Since 2017, KBM has collected 17 wins as an organization. Kyle Busch himself has been the driver to win 10 of those.

Until Martinsville, Gilliland notched twenty-five top-10s and twelve top-5s. That performance brought some criticism from the boss himself just a few months ago.

“I don’t know how many times last year we were in meetings and I was just yelling at him about let’s go,” Kyle Busch said in February 2019.

“Our stuff is not that slow. You have got to get up on top of the wheel and make it happen. Obviously we kind of proved that here.”

“If you want to be a star in this sport, you better perform in KBM stuff – if you don’t sorry man, there’s not much left for you,” Kyle Busch concluded of his young driver earlier this year.

Todd Gilliland wins Martinsville Speedway - NASCAR Truck Series
MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA – OCTOBER 26: Todd Gilliland, driver of the #4 Mobil 1 Toyota, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 26, 2019 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images)

Todd Gilliland calls out his boss after first career NASCAR win

On his 46th career NGOTS start, Todd Gilliland went to victory lane.

With 10 laps to go at Martinsville, Gilliland started on the inside second row. He pushes Ross Chastain to the lead into turn one. He then remained on his bumper, just enough to move him off the bottom.

Gilliland drove it deep to the bottom into turn three and ran Chastain wide. But, he worked clear and to the lead off turn four.

Another caution surfaced. Gilliland held them off with a great restart.

“You guys are the best! Kyle Busch, you can stay in your fucking motorhome,” Todd Gilliland said over the team radio, directly after the win.

However, Kyle Busch greeted his driver in victory lane regardless.

Todd Gilliland and Kyle Busch in victory lane at Martinsville Speedway - NASCAR Truck Series
Todd Gilliland and Kyle Busch in victory lane at Martinsville Speedway – NASCAR Truck Series (Photo: Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images)

Todd Gilliland explains comments about Kyle Busch

“It was just kind of heat of the moment really. Just a lot of emotions. Everyone’s heard what he said. Obviously, it’s true, what he said,” Gilliland stated in the media center after the race.

“We should have been running better. I’ve wanted to win for the last year and a half as well. I’m doing all I can and the guys at the shop are.”

“I probably wish I didn’t say it now. It is what it is. He said some stuff about me.”

Gilliland later apologized via twitter:

“Like I’ve said before we should have won by now and it just hasn’t happened. I want to apologize to Kyle Busch for what I said after the race. My emotions got the best of me obviously and a lot went through my head as I took the checkered. Two more wins to chase,” the tweet from Gilliland concluded.

Todd Gillialand
Martinsville Press Conference
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Todd Gilliland | Kyle Busch | Kyle Busch Motorsports | Martinsville Speedway | NASCAR

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