Gilliland's Runner-Up No Surprise

Doubtless many were surprised Sunday when David Gilliland earned second place at NASCAR's tough Infineon Raceway in northern California. The demanding road course is known as an unforgiving track that offers little passing opportunity.

But it's also Gilliland's home track, and he's finally competing this year with not only quality (Yates) motors, but good Roush Fenway Racing chassis. And it's the equipment quality that's going to make the difference (I remember the first time I worked in a motorsports capacity being struck by how all the leading teams X-rayed every component that went in the motor, so concerned were they with identifying and eliminating potential fatigue issues that could lead to failure).

Any of the team's performance trouble (the team is currently ranked 21st, I believe, in the points standings) certainly isn't because of its driver. Gilliland's already proved he knows how to drive a race car. He proved that at Kentucky (I still have the hat he gave me that night).