Grant Enfinger -- Texas Motor Speedway Preview

Chatting with Grant Enfinger...

How do you prepare for such a hot race, like Saturday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway?

“Man, that’s the toughest part about what we do. Luckily it’s a night race, so it wont be quite as bad. I do a lot of running, heat condition any way that I can, hydrate all I can and hope for the best.”

Last year you won the regular season points title, but did not win a race during the regular season. Has there been an emphasis this year on winning and getting those Playoff Points? Last year you had just four Playoff Points, this year you already have 11.

“Definitely. (Jeff) Hensley has changed how he’s called the race, as far as trying to set us up better for the end of the race, set us up for a better shot to win, and not put such a premium on stage points. There’s been a few times this year we’ve given up stage points in the first or second stage to set us up better for the end of the race. We’ve honestly been more consistent than our finishes have shown, it’s just been kinda strange, the last few weeks anyway, with not getting the results we deserve. Overall, I’m proud of our two wins, that we’re locked-in to the Playoffs, and we can afford to be a little risky these days.”

Let’s go back to Kentucky last week. Talk about your 12th-place finish in the rain shortened race.

“We actually had pretty good speed in our Champion Power Equipment F-150. It was a little bit of a handful underneath guys, but it seemed like everyone was like that. Unfortunately, it was a one groove track for us. That was one of those instances where (Jeff) Hensley tried to put us in position to be better at the end of the race. Unfortunately, the rain came and shortened the race at the end of Stage 2 and put a damper on what we were hoping was going to be a really good day there. It was unfortunate, but it seems like that’s how the last few weeks have played out for us. Fortunately, we’re going to Texas (Motor Speedway), which has historically been a really good track for us. Hensley has a really good package there and we’re taking a fresh bullet, so I’m really excited about this weekend.”

News and Notes:

Lone Star State Stats… Grant Enfinger will make his seventh NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series start in the 45th annual Vankor 350 at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) Saturday night. In six previous starts at the 1.5-mile track, the ThorSport Racing driver has one pole (2019-1) and has led 60 laps en route to four top-five and five top-10 finishes, with a track-best finish of third (2017-1).
2020 Playoff Outlook… Enfinger’s two wins in 2020 have him atop the Playoff standings with 11 Playoff Points. However, if the Playoffs were to start today, he would be ranked second on the Playoff grid.
This Week's No. 98 FarmPaint.com/Curb Records Ford F-150... The No. 98 ThorSport Racing team will unload chassis No. 41 for Saturday’s Vankor 350 at Texas Motor Speedway. This brand new chassis will make its debut in the Lone Star State with the No. 98 ThorSport Racing team.
Welcome Back… FarmPaint.com and Curb Records artist, Tim Dugger and his last EP, “Signs of a Good Time,” will once again adorn the No. 98 Ford F-150 of Enfinger.
Intermediate Track Strength… In 40 starts on an intermediate-size track (1.5-1.54-miles) in his Gander Trucks career, Enfinger has three poles (Homestead, 2018, Texas-1, 2019 and Kentucky, 2020), two wins (Las Vegas, 2018 and Atlanta, 2020), and has led 288 laps en route to 11 top-five, and 25 top-10 finishes.
Truck Series Stats… Enfinger has 90 career Gander Truck starts to his credit since 2010. His success includes 622 laps led en route to four wins, five poles, 30 top-five and 55 top-10 finishes.
Take Me Back – Kentucky… Enfinger started seventh, based on a random draw, finished seventh in Stage 1 and 12th in Stage 2. Unfortunately, a rain shortened Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway resulted in a 12th-place finish for the Champion Power Equipment driver.
Ford Fact… Ford-powered F-150's have found victory lane 101 times since 1995 in the Gander Truck Series, including three times in 44 races at Texas Motor Speedway with Kenny Irwin, Jr. (1997), Tony Raines (1998), and Greg Biffle (2000).