Gateway / WWT Raceway Enjoy Illinois 300 Fantasy NASCAR Mid Pack Predictions / The Low Tier

Todd Gilliland
Gateway / WWT Raceway Fantasy Outlook – At shorter-flat tracks, you can typically just pencil in Todd Gilliland for a mid-pack finish and at Gateway, it’s wise to do so again. At Gateway over his combined starts, Gilliland has a 21.3 average finish (22nd best) but he also ranks 31st for both Speed and Driver Rating. This year at shorter-flat tracks, Gilliland started the season hot with a 12th and 8th in the first two races but over the last three he’s come home with finishes of 22nd, 30th and 21st, which has his 2026 track type average finish at 18.6 and in terms of Speed for the season at these venues he ranks 20th.
Gateway / WWT Raceway History – At Gateway, Todd Gilliland has finished in the mid-teens in 2 of the last 3 races, so there’s some hope. Last year, he did not and finished an ugly 32nd. In the race, Gilliland started 30th, had a 28.2 average running position and ranked 33rd for Speed. In 2024, Gilliland started 35th, earned the 23rd best Driver Rating, had a 21.5 average running position and then finished 16th. In terms of speed stats, Gilliland ranked 19th for Speed Late In A Run and had the 24th best Total Speed Ranking. In 2023, Gilliland was respectable and finished 15th. In 2022, Gilliland had an uneventful afternoon and finished 22nd.

Riley Herbst
Gateway / WWT Raceway Fantasy Outlook – At Gateway, I would view Riley Herbst as a high teen’s to mid 20’s driver. This year at shorter-flat tracks, Herbst is 4 for 5 at finishing between 18th to 24th and over the combined races minus New Hampshire his average finish is 20.3 and his Speed Ranking over all the combined races is 23.6.
Gateway / WWT Raceway History – Riley Herbst has one start on his resume at Gateway, and it was an ugly one. Last year, Herbst started 33rd, had a 24.8 average running position and then finished 32nd. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Herbst ranked 26th.

Noah Gragson
Gateway / WWT Raceway Fantasy Outlook – Noah Gragson has been running better and over the last three races held at shorter-flat tracks his average finish is 15th, and that’s highlighted by a 10th at New Hampshire. That said, he’s hard to trust so it’s best to just view him as a 20’s driver with upside. This year at shorter-flat tracks over all the combined races, Gragson has a 21.2 average finish and ranks 26th for Speed.
Gateway / WWT Raceway History – At Gateway in the Next Gen, Noah Gragson is 2 for 3 at finishing in the 30’s, has a 28.3 average finish and ranks 30th for Speed. Last year, Gragson had an uncompetitive afternoon and finished 30th. Additionally, Gragson ranked 23rd for Speed, 21st for Driver Rating and had a 19.6 average running position. In 2024, Gragson was simply a low 20’s performer. In the race, Gragson finished 22nd, had a 23.5 average running position and ranked 29th in terms of Total Speed Rankings. In 2023, Gragson started 32nd and then finished 33rd when the race reached its conclusion. On lap 198 while running in 24th, Gragson had a brake rotor failure and crashed hard which marked the end of his race.

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