Taylor Gray (born March 25, 2005) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 17 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 19 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Racing career
Early career
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.
ARCA Series
2020: DGR-Crosley
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 were 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]
2021-2022: David Gilliland Racing
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]
2023: Joe Gibbs Racing and TRICON Garage
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.
Truck Series
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2021-2022: David Gilliland Racing
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 a 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.
2023-present: TRICON Garage
On October 27, 2022, David Gilliland Racing announced that they will be moving to Toyota Racing Development in 2023, and rename to Tricon Garage (with Tricon styled in all-capital letters). Gray would remain with the team and contest 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 will return to TRICON Garage in 2024, running his first full season.[26]
Xfinity Series
2024: Joe Gibbs Racing
On December 13, 2023, Joe Gibbs Racing announced their driver lineup for the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Gray will run select races in the Xfinity Series in 2024 for JGR, driving the No. 19 car, sharing the ride with Ryan Truex, Joe Graf Jr., and William Sawalich.[27]
Personal life
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.[28] Since 2021, Johnny Gray has co-owned Tricon Garage.[29] One of Taylor's hobbies is wakeboarding.[30]
Two high school students, Samuel Thomas and Dresden Whitney, made a documentary about Gray titled "Legacy" in May 2022.
Motorsports career results
NASCAR
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Xfinity Series
| 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 | MAR | TEX | TAL | DOV | DAR | CLT | PIR | SON | IOW | NHA | NSH | CSC | POC | IND | MCH | DAY | DAR | ATL | GLN | BRI | KAN | TAL | ROV | LVS | HOM | MAR | PHO | |||||
Craftsman Truck Series
| 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 | [31] | |
| 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 | [32] | |||
| 2023 | Tricon Garage | 17 | 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 | [33] |
| 2024 | DAY | ATL | LVS | BRI | COA | MAR | TEX | KAN | DAR | NWS | CLT | GTW | NSH | POC | IRP | RCH | MLW | BRI | KAN | TAL | HOM | MAR | PHO | ||||||
ARCA Menards Series
(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 | [34] |
| 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 | [35] | ||||
| 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 | [36] | ||
| 2023 | Joe Gibbs Racing | 18 | Toyota | DAY | PHO | TAL 7 |
36th | 120 | [37] | |||||||||||||||||
| 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
| 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 | [38] | ||
| 2021 | David Gilliland Racing | NSM 3 |
FIF 3 |
NSV | DOV | SNM | IOW 3 |
MLW 4 |
BRI 3 |
8th | 208 | [39] | ||
| 2022 | NSM 2 |
FIF 3 |
DOV 1* |
NSV 3 |
IOW 18 |
MLW 2 |
BRI 3 |
2nd | 335 | [40] | ||||
ARCA Menards Series West
| 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 | [41] |
| 2021 | David Gilliland Racing | PHO 9 |
SON | IRW | CNS | IRW | PIR 1 |
12th | 245 | [42] | |||||||
| 17E | LVS 1* |
AAS 22 |
|||||||||||||||
| 71 | PHO 2 |
||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | 17 | PHO 1 |
IRW | KCR | PIR | SON | IRW | EVG | PIR | AAS | 19th | 164 | [43] | ||||
| 71 | LVS 1* |
PHO 27 | |||||||||||||||
References
- 1 2 "Taylor Gray Makes Stock Car Debut in Impressive Fashion". Speed Sport. March 20, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ↑ "Gray Scores First Career Late Model Victory at Hickory". Speed51.com. May 15, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray Scores First Win at Hickory Motor Speedway". Speedway Digest. May 13, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ↑ Weaver, Matt (October 6, 2019). "VIDEO: Taylor Gray unharmed after flipping a Late Model at Martinsville". Short Track Scene. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray Dominates Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway". DGR-Crosley. Leading Edge Marketing. October 22, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ↑ Tomlinson, Joy (December 18, 2019). "Taylor Gray Running Full ARCA Schedule for DGR-Crosley". Frontstretch. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ↑ Page, Scott (December 16, 2019). "Gray set to run full Truck series schedule in 2020". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ↑ Weaver, Matt (March 7, 2020). "Taylor Gray snookers and outduels CARS Tour elite at Southern National". Short Track Scene. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray Penalized For Rulebook Violations During Daytona Test". ARCA Menards Series. January 19, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
- ↑ Srigley, Joseph (February 8, 2021). "Max Gutierrez Edges Out Sammy Smith, Taylor Gray for Shocking Triumph in ARCA East Season Opener". TobyChristie.com.
- ↑ "ARCA Menards Series Race Advance: Elko Speedway". David Gilliland Racing. July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
- ↑ "David Gilliland Racing hauler involved in 'major' crash near Longview". Longview News-Journal. March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ↑ "David Gilliland Racing Hauler Driver Killed in Accident". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
- ↑ "2022 General Tire 150". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ↑ Fenwick, Adam (March 11, 2022). "Taylor Gray scores emotional ARCA Menards Series win at Phoenix Raceway". ARCA. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ↑ Long, Dustin (March 11, 2022). "Taylor Gray's ARCA win honors hauler driver killed in traffic accident". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ↑ Starcevic, R. J. (July 8, 2022). "Taylor Gray Scores ARCA Victory in Wild Rain Race at Mid-Ohio". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ↑ Starcevic, R. J. (July 22, 2022). "Taylor Gray Wins Darkness-Shortened ARCA Race at Pocono, While Sammy Smith Beefs With Venturini Team". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ↑ Branscum, Benjamine (October 15, 2022). "Taylor Gray Dominates, Leads Flag To Flag, And Wins At The Las Vegas Bullring". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray involved in street accident; in stable condition: UPDATE". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. April 8, 2021. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ↑ Nguyen, Justin (July 7, 2021). "Taylor Gray cleared after 13-week recovery, set for Truck debut at WGI". TheCheckeredFlag.co.uk. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ↑ Kristl, Mark (July 26, 2021). "Taylor Gray Racing Part Time Trucks, ARCA in 2022". Frontstretch.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ↑ Srigley, Joseph (July 30, 2022). "Video: John Hunter Nemechek Spins Taylor Gray from Lead, Triggers NASCAR Overtime". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ↑ "Toyota Racing Development Announces Partnership with TRICON Garage". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. October 27, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray Earns Career-Best Runner-up Finish". Speedway Digest. September 8, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ↑ Srigley, Joseph (November 10, 2023). "Taylor Gray to Continue in Truck Series with TRICON Garage in 2024". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ↑ "Sheldon Creed, Chandler Smith join Joe Gibbs Racing; Aric Almirola to run partial schedule". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ↑ "How drag racing became the sport of millionaires". Fortune.com. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
- ↑ "David Gilliland Partners With Johnny Gray To Form David Gilliland Racing". ARCAracing.com. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
- ↑ "About-Taylor Gray". Taylor Gray Racing. Truex Management Group. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2021 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2020 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2021 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2022 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2023 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2020 ARCA Menards East Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2021 ARCA Menards East Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2022 ARCA Menards Series East results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2020 ARCA Menards Series West results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2021 ARCA Menards Series West results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ↑ "Taylor Gray – 2022 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- Taylor Gray driver statistics at Racing-Reference