Taylor James Gray (born March 25, 2005) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 54 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Taylor James Gray (born March 25, 2005) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 54 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Gray made his debut in a late model in March 2018 at age 12, driving for Lee Faulk Racing and Development at Hickory Motor Speedway in the Paramount Auto Group Limited Late Model Series. He had an impressive showing, finishing sixth in the race. [1] Two months later, he returned to Hickory in the same series and won his first late model race after running in either first or second place for the entire race. [2]
Both Gray and his brother Tanner were signed by DGR-Crosley in 2019, with Tanner driving full-time in the K&N Pro Series East and Taylor driving full-time in the CARS Late Model Stock Tour since he was under the age of 15 and therefore not eligible to compete in a NASCAR series at that time.
In his season racing in CARS, Gray picked up a win at Hickory Motor Speedway in just his second start, [3] which meant he now had two wins at the track. Gray ended the year ninth in points, competing in all but two races which he skipped mid-season. Additionally, he entered the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race at Martinsville, where he flipped and his car came to a halt upside down, but he was uninjured in the crash. [4] Just a few weeks later, he was already back in action, again at Hickory, where he ran the Whelen All-American Series' Fall Brawl event. Gray would have an outstanding performance, leading all 200 laps in the race en route to the win, [5] and this put him with a total of three wins there at only age 14.
On December 18, 2019, it was announced that Gray would drive all races in the ARCA Menards Series East (formerly the K&N Pro Series East) in 2020 with DGR in their No. 17 Ford (the team switched manufacturers from Toyota) once turning 15 on March 25 of that year. In addition, he will run the nine races of the 10-race ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown that he will be able to compete in after he becomes eligible to race in the series. [6] His older brother subbed for him at the season-opener at New Smyrna, and Bubba Pollard was announced to fill in at the following race at Five Flags. However, the Five Flags race along with all others through May was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, which means Gray would be 15 when the rescheduled race is run and eligible to compete in it after all. DGR has yet to announce who will drive the No. 17 car at that one race as a result of this, but since Gray is running full-time for the championship, they presumably would move Pollard to a second car for the team, which has been announced to be fielded in select races sometime in the season for Tanner Gray. [7]
Gray also returned to the CARS Series part-time in 2020, winning their season-opener at Southern National Motorsports Park. [8]
On January 15, 2021, Gray was penalized for recording a video on his cell phone while on the track for an official ARCA test session at Daytona, a violation of the series rulebook's Section 20C – 6.7 (restriction of onboard devices, including cell phones). occurred during an official ARCA Menards Series test session at Daytona International Speedway. Gray was placed on probation for the rest of the season and fined $1,000. [9]
Gray returned for another full-time season in the East Series in the No. 17 for the renamed David Gilliland Racing. He finished third in the season-opening race at New Smyrna Speedway in a photo finish with race winner Max Gutiérrez and second-place finisher Sammy Smith. [10]
After being involved in a single-car accident in Statesville, North Carolina, on April 8, he was officially cleared to return on July 6, allowing him to run the weekend's ARCA race at Elko Speedway. [11]
After ARCA West Rookie Jake Drew was penalized in the Portland 112 along with Eric Nascimento, Gray won his second ARCA West race. He later won at the Star Nursery 150.
On March 8, 2022, a hauler carrying Gray's car on its way to Phoenix Raceway collided with a Honda Passport near Longview, Texas, killing hauler driver Steven C. Stotts. Two passengers in the hauler and the driver of the SUV survived the accident. [12] [13] Three days later on March 11, Gray won the General Tire 150 after starting second and leading 43 laps, dedicating the win to Stotts. [14] [15] [16] He also won the ARCA East race at Dover with the new Ford Mustang body. He also scored wins at Mid-Ohio and Pocono throughout the season, along with another ARCA West win at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring. [17] [18] [19]
Gray returned to the ARCA Series in 2023, driving the No. 18 car for Joe Gibbs Racing at Talladega, and the newly renamed Tricon Garage No. 17 car at Kansas and Charlotte.
In 2021, Gray was originally scheduled to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Richmond Raceway in April for David Gilliland Racing, but on April 8, he suffered a fractured L4 vertebra, left foot, and ankle in a single-car accident in Statesville, North Carolina, forcing him to miss his debut. [20] He later made his Truck debut at Watkins Glen International, finishing in 35th. [21] He ran five races that season and earned the best finish of 8th at Martinsville.
Gray increased his schedule to eight races in 2022. [22] At the Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in July, Gray was in contention of earning his first career win, leading the race until he got spun by John Hunter Nemechek with two laps to go. [23] He had a best finish of 6th at Richmond late in the year.
On October 27, 2022, David Gilliland Racing announced that they will be moving to Toyota Racing Development in 2023, and renaming to Tricon Garage (with Tricon styled in all-capital letters). Gray would remain with the team for a full season, and compete for Rookie of the Year. [24] He missed the first three races of the season due to age restrictions but received a playoff waiver to stay eligible for the playoffs. He earned four top tens throughout the regular season, including a third-place run at Pocono, but failed to make the playoffs. During the playoffs, he scored two consecutive top-five finishes at Kansas and Bristol, finishing 2nd and 5th, respectively. [25] He ended the season 15th in points.
On November 10, 2023, it was announced that Gray would return to Tricon Garage in 2024, running his first full season. [26]
During the 2024 Truck Series opening race at Daytona, Gray was involved in a flip. On the last lap of the race, Gray was in position for the win off of turn 2 when the truck beside Gray in Jack Wood got turned by Rajah Caruth which turned Wood into Gray and Gray spun. Gray's truck hit the outside wall before he got t-boned in the driver side door by Daniel Dye at an angle which lifted Gray's truck off the ground and did a barrel roll on top of two trucks with both being Christian Eckes and his brother Tanner before the truck landed on the hood of another truck in Bayley Currey and on all four wheels on the pavement. Gray was able to walk out under his own power uninjured and also expressed his displeasure at Caruth in his interview. [27] Due to his consistency throughout the regular season, Gray would make the Playoffs for the first time. At The Martinsville Playoff race, Gray was leading with 5 laps to go and had a shot at winning and making it into the Championship 4. However, entering turn 3, Christian Eckes would make contact with Gray which sent the latter up the track, costing him the win. Eckes would go on to win after dominating. Gray went on to finish 4th and would come up just short of making the Final 4. After the race, Gray would confront Eckes and would get into a heated argument with him.
On December 13, 2023, Joe Gibbs Racing announced their driver lineup for the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Gray will run 10 races in the Xfinity Series in 2024 for JGR, driving the No. 19 car, sharing the ride with Ryan Truex, Aric Almirola, Ty Gibbs, Joe Graf Jr., William Sawalich, and other drivers to be announced. [28] Gray made his debut at Richmond Raceway, starting 27th and finishing an impressive 3rd. [29] The next two weeks he would finish 13th at Martinsville and 11th at Texas, respectively.
On October 16, 2024, it was announced that Gray will run full-time for the 2025 season, driving the No. 54 Toyota for JGR. [30]
He is the younger brother of Tanner Gray, who also drives for Tricon Garage in their No. 15 Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He is also the son of Shane Gray, an NHRA driver, and grandson of Johnny Gray, a Funny Car driver and businessman. [1] In addition to racing, Johnny Gray was the president of Marbob Energy. [31] Since 2021, Johnny Gray has co-owned Tricon Garage. [32] One of Taylor's hobbies is wakeboarding. [33]
Two high school students, Samuel Thomas and Dresden Whitney, made a documentary about Gray titled "Legacy" in May 2022.
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
| NASCAR Xfinity Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | NXSC | Pts | Ref | ||
| 2024 | Joe Gibbs Racing | 19 | Toyota | DAY | ATL | LVS | PHO | COA | RCH 3 | MAR 13 | TEX 11 | TAL 15 | DOV 34 | DAR 18 | CLT 12 | PIR | SON | IOW | NHA | NSH | CSC | POC 5 | IND | MCH 8 | DAY | DAR | ATL 28 | GLN | BRI | KAN 38 | TAL 32 | ROV | LVS 33 | HOM | MAR | PHO | 83rd | 01 | [34] | ||
| 2025 | 54 | DAY | ATL | COA | PHO | LVS | HOM | MAR | DAR | BRI | CAR | TAL | TEX | CLT | NSH | MXC | POC | ATL | CSC | SON | DOV | IND | IOW | GLN | DAY | PIR | GTW | BRI | KAN | ROV | LVS | TAL | MAR | PHO | -* | -* | |||||
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | NCTC | Pts | Ref |
| 2021 | David Gilliland Racing | 17 | Ford | DAY | DRC | LVS | ATL | BRD | RCH | KAN | DAR | COA | CLT | TEX | NSH | POC | KNX | GLN 35 | GTW 12 | DAR | BRI 29 | LVS | TAL | MAR 8 | PHO 29 | 40th | 76 | [35] | |
| 2022 | DAY | LVS | ATL | COA 26 | MAR 26 | BRD | DAR | KAN | TEX | CLT | GTW 36 | SON | KNX | NSH | MOH 15 | POC | IRP 22 | RCH 6 | KAN | BRI 16 | TAL | HOM | PHO 17 | 34th | 147 | [36] | |||
| 2023 | Tricon Garage | Toyota | DAY | LVS | ATL | COA 11 | TEX 24 | BRD 34 | MAR 8 | KAN 9 | DAR 21 | NWS 21 | CLT 10 | GTW 13 | NSH 14 | MOH 15 | POC 3 | RCH 14 | IRP 20 | MLW 13 | KAN 2 | BRI 5 | TAL 18 | HOM 13 | PHO 23 | 15th | 490 | [37] | |
| 2024 | DAY 19 | ATL 4 | LVS 4 | BRI 7 | COA 2 | MAR 6 | TEX 7 | KAN 27 | DAR 8 | NWS 13 | CLT 12 | GTW 30 | NSH 34 | POC 4 | IRP 16 | RCH 3 | MLW 5 | BRI 12 | KAN 18 | TAL 2 | HOM 10 | MAR 4 | PHO 6 | 6th | 2247 | [38] | |||
* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
| ARCA Menards Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | AMSC | Pts | Ref |
| 2020 | DGR-Crosley | 17 | Ford | DAY | PHO | TAL | POC | IRP 4 | KEN | IOW 5 | KAN | TOL 3 | TOL 11 | MCH | DRC 4 | GTW 8 | L44 3 | TOL 5 | BRI 7 | WIN 5 | MEM 9 | ISF 4 | KAN | 11th | 460 | [39] |
| 2021 | David Gilliland Racing | DAY | PHO 9 | TAL | KAN | TOL | CLT | MOH | POC | ELK 5 | BLN 4 | IOW 3 | WIN 5 | GLN 7 | MCH | MLW 4 | BRI 3 | SLM 11 | KAN | 8th | 428 | [40] | ||||
| 46 | ISF 3 | DSF 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 17 | DAY | PHO 1 | TAL | KAN | CLT | IOW 18 | BLN 4 | ELK 4 | MOH 1 | POC 1* | IRP 3 | MCH | GLN 8 | ISF 8 | MLW 2 | DSF 12 | KAN | BRI 3 | SLM 5 | TOL 4 | 10th | 606 | [41] | ||
| 2023 | Joe Gibbs Racing | 18 | Toyota | DAY | PHO | TAL 7 | 36th | 120 | [42] | |||||||||||||||||
| Tricon Garage | 17 | Toyota | KAN 3 | CLT 3 | BLN | ELK | MOH | IOW | POC | MCH | IRP | GLN | ISF | MLW | DSF | KAN | BRI | SLM | TOL | |||||||
| ARCA Menards Series East results | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | AMSEC | Pts | Ref |
| 2020 | DGR-Crosley | 17 | Ford | NSM | TOL 8 | DOV 9 | TOL 5 | BRI 7 | FIF 4 | 8th | 237 | [43] | ||
| 2021 | David Gilliland Racing | NSM 3 | FIF 3 | NSV | DOV | SNM | IOW 3 | MLW 4 | BRI 3 | 8th | 208 | [44] | ||
| 2022 | NSM 2 | FIF 3 | DOV 1* | NSV 3 | IOW 18 | MLW 2 | BRI 3 | 2nd | 335 | [45] | ||||
| ARCA Menards Series West results | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | AMSWC | Pts | Ref |
| 2020 | DGR-Crosley | 17 | Ford | LVS | MMP 4 | MMP 11 | IRW | EVG | DCS | CNS | LVS | AAS 7* | KCR 1* | PHO 3 | 13th | 161 | [46] |
| 2021 | David Gilliland Racing | PHO 9 | SON | IRW | CNS | IRW | PIR 1 | 12th | 245 | [47] | |||||||
| 17E | LVS 1* | AAS 22 | |||||||||||||||
| 71 | PHO 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 17 | PHO 1 | IRW | KCR | PIR | SON | IRW | EVG | PIR | AAS | 19th | 164 | [48] | ||||
| 71 | LVS 1* | PHO 27 | |||||||||||||||
David Leonard Gilliland is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. Since 2017, he has operated Tricon Garage, a team that races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The team has also competed in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series West and CARS Tour.
Raphaël Lessard is a Canadian professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Pinty's Series for Ed Hakonson Racing. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driving the No. 24 Chevrolet Silverado for GMS Racing. He has also driven for Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Racing Series, and GMS Racing, Kyle Busch Motorsports and DGR-Crosley in the Truck Series.
Tanner Sean Gray is an American professional racing driver who has competed in drag racing and stock car racing. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 15 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. Gray is the youngest professional driver to win a national event in NHRA history, and the youngest driver to win a solo NHRA season championship.
Tricon Garage, formerly known as David Gilliland Racing, DGR-Crosley, and Team DGR, is an American professional stock car racing team that competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The team was founded in early 2017 when racing team owners David Gilliland and Bo LeMastus came together to form a collaborative effort from their respective teams, David Gilliland Racing and Crosley Sports Group, known as DGR-Crosley. DGR-Crosley fielded Toyotas in 2018 and 2019 before announcing its switch to Ford starting in 2020. The team reverted to the David Gilliland Racing name in 2021 as Johnny Gray became a co-owner. Former co-owner and driver Bo LeMastus remained with the team in a marketing and sponsorship capacity.
Thaddeus Drake Moffitt is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 46 Chevrolet Silverado for Young's Motorsports. He previously drove the No. 46 for Faction46 before the team was shut down by its owner Lane Moore due to financial constraints.
Zane Michael Smith is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports in an alliance with Trackhouse Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 91 Chevrolet Silverado for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. He won the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship driving for Front Row Motorsports.
Tyler Michael Ankrum is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 18 Chevrolet Silverado for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing. Ankrum won the 2018 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship, earning DGR-Crosley's first championship in any racing series. Ankrum is the first driver born in the 21st century or later to win a NASCAR national series race.
The 2020 ARCA Menards Series season was the 68th season of the ARCA Menards Series. It began on February 8 with the Lucas Oil 200 at Daytona International Speedway and ended on October 16 with the Speediatrics 150 at Kansas Speedway. 2020 was the first season that the series was sanctioned by NASCAR.
The 2020 ARCA Menards Series East was the 34th season of the ARCA Menards Series East, a regional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR. It began on February 10 at New Smyrna Speedway with the Skip's Western Outfitters 175, and concluded on October 11 at Five Flags Speedway with the Pensacola 200. 2020 marked the first season the series was known as the ARCA Menards Series East, after it was known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East for the previous ten years.
Andrew J. Dollar is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He has raced in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series East and the ARCA Menards Series West.
Antoinette Marie Breidinger is an American professional stock car racing driver and model. She competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 5 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage. She has also competed in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, and ARCA Menards Series West.
Corey David Heim is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 11 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage. He also serves as a reserve driver for 23XI Racing and Legacy Motor Club in the Cup Series. He has previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series, East Series, and West Series.
Jesshill Michael Gregory Love is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.
Kristofer Cole Wright is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro for Our Motorsports. He has also previously competed in sports car racing, open-wheel racing, the Euroformula Open Championship, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series. Wright is also the 2018 IMSA Prototype Challenge LMP3 class champion.
The 2021 ARCA Menards Series East was the 35th season of the ARCA Menards Series East, a regional stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season began on February 8 at New Smyrna Speedway with the Jeep Beach 175 and ended on September 16 at Bristol Motor Speedway with the Bush's Beans 200. Sammy Smith and Joe Gibbs Racing won the series championship. JGR's No. 18 car, driven by Smith and Ty Gibbs, won all but one race during the season.
Samuel L. Smith is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports.
Dean Kenneth Thompson is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 5 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage, and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. He has previously competed in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West.
Conner Jones is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 66 Ford F-150 for ThorSport Racing.
The 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series was the 29th season of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, a stock car racing series sanctioned by NASCAR in the United States. The season started with the NextEra Energy 250 on February 17 at Daytona International Speedway, and ended with the Craftsman 150 on November 3 at Phoenix Raceway.
William Sawalich is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing. He is the 2023 and 2024 ARCA Menards Series East champion.
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