Todd Gilliland has been a bit of a puzzle in the NASCAR Cup Series. At just 24, he’s flashed real talent—leading laps at Daytona and Atlanta, racking up top-10s at Sonoma, Talladega, and even the tricky Chicago Street Course. But turning those glimpses into consistent results has been the real challenge. Now, as he moves from Front Row Motorsports’ No. 38 to the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in 2025, he’s hoping an old friend can help him take that next step. That friend? Chris Lawson, his former Truck Series crew chief. If anyone can bring out the best in Gilliland, it might just be him.
Gilliland and Lawson: Back together again
Gilliland’s shift to the #34 isn’t just a change of car—it’s a fresh start. And for the first time in his Cup career, Gilliland has had a hand in putting his team together. Right at the center of it all is Chris Lawson, a familiar face who knows exactly what makes him tick. The two have history—good history. Back in their Truck Series days, they worked together to notch a win, 13 top-fives, and 24 top-10s. Now, after a stint at Rick Ware Racing, Lawson is back, and Gilliland couldn’t be more excited.
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“This has definitely been the most I’ve been involved in picking a team since our first Truck team at Front Row,” Gilliland said. “It’s the same crew chief and all that, so yeah, definitely some familiar faces. Chris Lawson becoming my crew chief again—it’s like old times, but with a new challenge.”
Lawson brings more than just familiarity; he brings results. He played a big role in Zane Smith’s 2022 Truck Series championship and got some Cup experience at Rick Ware Racing, where he helped Justin Haley and Corey LaJoie snag top-10 finishes. Now, the goal is simple—take what they’ve learned and make it work at the Cup level. “I feel confident that me and Chris can hit the ground running,” Gilliland said. “But anytime you get a whole new group of people together, it takes a little time to get used to it.”
Not everything is brand new, though. Some of the No. 34 crew members were around last season, and Gilliland has worked with them before. That continuity, he believes, could be a game-changer. “It’s definitely been nice to be involved with all that,” he said. “We’re bouncing information off each other, and I think we’re building something strong.”
Todd Gilliland and Lawson aren’t the only moving parts at Front Row Motorsports. With Michael McDowell heading to Spire Motorsports, the team is shaking things up, bringing in Noah Gragson and Zane Smith to join Gilliland in the Cup Series. On top of that, they’ve secured a new charter and are in the middle of a legal fight against NASCAR’s charter system—an anti-trust lawsuit filed alongside 23XI Racing. Thus making a statement that they are going to be competitive organization going into 2025.
The Bowman Gray incident: Apologies to Byron
NASCAR has a way of keeping things interesting. One second, you’re fighting for a good finish; the next, you’re apologizing for wrecking a competitor. That’s exactly where Gilliland found himself at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray, after an unfortunate moment where he put William Byron into the wall.
It all happened in Turn 4—a tight track with zero room for mistakes. Gilliland, already a lap down, got into Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet. The result? Byron spun, slammed into the wall, and lost a lap. And Gilliland knew it was his fault.
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“Did I just run him up into the wall?” he asked over the radio. When his spotter confirmed, he didn’t hesitate. “Sorry,” he said, as reported by The Racing Underdogs on X. Byron managed to fight his way back onto the lead lap at halfway, but the moment was a stark reminder of how fast things can turn in NASCAR.
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For Gilliland, it was a lesson in track awareness. “I told you to leave him more room,” his spotter pointed out—one of those hard truths that drivers sometimes need to hear.
With Gilliland moving to the No. 34 car, it is an opportunity to hit the reset button. He’s shown he can run up front—now, it’s about making sure he finishes there. With Lawson back on the pit box and a team he’s had a role in building, all the right pieces are in place. The question now is whether he can put it all together. One thing’s for sure—Todd Gilliland will be hoping to fly under the radar no more.