Crew chief Ryan Bergenty fuming at safety team after Todd Gilliland spin: 'This is so stupid dude'
Early on in the Wurth 400 at Dover, Todd Gilliland took a spin and found himself with a flat tire needing a tow back to pit road. Well, it took a while. Crew chief Ryan Bergenty was fuming mad at how long it took to get Gilliland off the NASCAR track.
Todd Gilliland went down multiple laps as the safety team tried to hook his car up to the tow truck and get him moved off the track. Drivers like Joey Logano have had similar complaints in the past that the safety crews take too long and cause too much damage to the cars.
This is a tough setback for Gilliland. He has had a good season, led laps, and had good finishes. Today is going to be a long day at the Monster Mile after this early incident.
Bergenty was on the radio letting his feelings be known.
“This is wonderful dude. They do better than this at a f***ing short track on a Saturday night … this is so stupid dude,” Bergenty said, via Davey Segal.
“Is this their first f***ing time doing this? That’s a valid question.”
By the time the race got going again, Todd Gilliland was more than five laps down. Soon after the catuion was lifted, Gilliland would be seven laps down to the leaders. For that to happen so early on in this race is just a killer. When the 400 miles are over, I’m sure Gilliland will be relieved.
Todd Gilliland’s day is over before it begins
You just hate to see a driver have their race taken from them so early. Todd Gilliland was able to record his first top-10 of the season last week at Talladega. Now he’s on the opposite end of things, finishing second to last at Dover.
Front Row Motorsports has come into this season with a ton of speed. Teaming up in an alliance with Team Penske and being added as a Tier 1 Ford program, FRM has more resources than ever. It has shown early in the year, too.
While the speed has been there, the finishes are still up in the air. But NASCAR is about consistency. If these drivers are able to keep showing up with speed then the finishes will follow eventually.
Todd Gilliland is going to have a tough day in Dover. But he can always bounce back at Kansas or Darlington in the next couple of weeks.