Monday, August 30th "What If" Question

Many drivers have come and gone over the years in NASCAR. Some were lucky enough to be put into the right situation and took full advantage of the opportunity before them. Others weren't as lucky and their careers fizzled before they ever really got started.

In late 2006 David Gilliland shocked the NASCAR world when he won a Nationwide Series race driving for an underfunded team, Clay Andrews, at Kentucky. A short time later Gilliland was promoted to the Sprint Cup Series where he replaced Elliott Sadler in the No. 38 M&M's Ford for Robert Yates Racing.

In 2009 Gilliland moved to TRG Motorsports but it didn't last long. He then drove a few races for Joe Gibbs Racing, Robby Gordon Motorsports, Wood Brothers Racing, before landing at Front Row Motorsports. He currently drives the No. 38 Taco Bell Ford Fusion. Gilliland's career was just another example of how things could be going great one year and hit rock bottom the next.

But ...

What if David Gilliland hadn't won the Nationwide race at Kentucky in 06. Would he have been given a Cup ride & if not, when and how?

@Talon64 Gilliland would've probably stayed in the regional series, making occasional Nationwide starts every now and then.

@kartracer3886 He was doing great in a no name Busch team for a couple months. But didnt work in Cup

@toby_christie You could argue that even with a win he had an average finish of 28.4 in Nationwide.. maybe he didnt deserve to be in cup yet. l I like David Gilliland, and I know he had a win that year in Nationwide, but overall he did pretty bad that season...

@nathanmedic No way that he makes it to Cup otherwise. He never belonged 2 begin with. Everyone looking for "immediate" gratification. By "everyone" I mean owners and sponsors.

@Emily_988 I don't think 1 win in NNS is enough to give a guy a Cup ride. I don't even know if it's enough to keep the NNS ride. In that series the championship is more important in determining who should move up. Consistent drivers should move up.

@RedChevy14 I doubt a Cup ride would have come along without that win, at least not nearly as quickly.

@SD80MAC No. He would have stayed in NNS hopefully building his skills. I'm not sure he deserves a Cup ride now. Just an also-ran.

@Bama_GLori I remember Tony Stewart having a few choice words about DG getting a Cup ride