Atlanta Preview
Grant Enfinger, No. 98 RIDE TV Toyota Tundra
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Atlanta Motor Speedway - Active Pest Control 200
Race No. 2 of 23
Team Information:
Crew Chief: Jeff Hensley
Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Triad Racing Technologies
2017 Driver Point Standings: 14th
2017 Owner Point Standings: 17th
Sunoco Rookie of the Year Contender
Gearing up with Grant Enfinger:
Now that we've completed the first race of the 2017 NCWTS season with the new race format, how do you feel that will impact racing at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend?
"I think the new format added some excitement when the laps got close to the end of each stage at Daytona, but Daytona and restrictor plate racing is its own style of racing. I anticipate that drivers will be racing harder at the end of each stage at Atlanta as well, but the trucks won't be as close together on track, hopefully eliminating a lot of torn up equipment."
Last year you had a top-five finish at Atlanta. How do you feel heading into the race this weekend?
"Last year at Atlanta I struggled to get the truck where I needed it early in the race. I learned a lot that weekend and by the end of the race, we had some good speed and were able to finish fifth. This weekend we're heading to a track that I have some experience on, combined with my crew chief Jeff Hensley, who has found lots of speed in the past. I look forward to a good weekend in Atlanta with our RIDE TV Toyota Tundra."
News & Notes:
Chassis Chatter... The No. 98 ThorSport Racing team will unload chassis No. 55 for Saturday's Active Pest Control 200 at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway (AMS). This chassis was utilized in 2016 by Rico Abreu at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, and Homestead-Miami (Fl.) Speedway, but has been rebuilt for 2017.
All About Atlanta... Enfinger made his AMS debut in 2016 with Gallagher Motorsports. Starting from the fourth position, the RIDE TV driver brought home his first top-five finish in NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) competition, finishing fifth.
Changes for 2017... Atlanta will feature three stages (Stage 1 - 40 laps, Stage 2 - 40 laps, Final Stage - 50 laps), with approximately a five-minute break in between.
Race Rewind - Daytona... Making his second start at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) in the NCWTS, Enfinger started 11th, ran as high as first, and finished 16th following a last lap accident in the 100-lap event.
Rookie Stripe: Following a 16th-place finish at DIS, the ThorSport Racing driver was the fourth highest finishing Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender in Friday night's season opener.
Catch Grant at Atlanta... Enfinger, along with his TSR teammates, will participate in the series autograph session from 9-9:45am in the ballroom at AMS.
Enfinger's Career NCWTS stats:
Starts: 15 since 2010
First Full-time Season: 2017
Poles: 1 (Daytona, 2016)
Wins: 1 (Talladega, 2016)
Top-5 Finishes: 2
Top-10 Finishes: 5
Laps Completed: 1754
Laps Led: 50
First Start: Talladega (2010)
Avg. Start: 12.7
Avg. Finish: 14.3
Race Information:
Date: Saturday, March 4, 2017
Time: 4:30pm ET on FOX Sports 1
Track: 1.5-mile oval
Distance: 130 laps/200.2 miles
About Ride Television Network, Inc.
Ride Television Network, Inc. is a privately held corporation based in Fort Worth, Texas. The company was formed in 2011 for the purpose of launching a 24-hour, high definition, television network. RIDE TV launched on October 1, 2014 in the United States and is now available internationally. The network features high-quality television programming showcasing both English and Western disciplines and lifestyles and includes live events, reality shows, talk shows, children's programming, documentaries and more. For more information about RIDE TV, please visit www.ridetv.com.
About Curb Records:
Celebrating over 50 years in the entertainment business, Curb Records is one of the world's leading independent music companies. Owned and operated under The Curb Group by Mike Curb since 1962, Curb Records has achieved 433 number one records, over 1,500 hundred Top Ten records and charted over 4,500 total records. Today's roster includes some of the top names in Country, Christian and Pop/Rock music. Curb Records has produced over 100 Billboard awards and achievements and was recently honored as the 2015 Mediabase Gold Label of The Year. For more information visit: Curb.com.
About ThorSport Racing:
ThorSport Racing, based in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. ThorSport Racing, which has competed in the NCWTS since 1996, will run the No. 88 Menards Toyota Tundra driven by two-time NCWTS drivers' champion Matt Crafton, the No. 13 JEGS/RIDE TV Toyota Tundra driven by Cody Coughlin, the No. 27 Toyota Tundra driven by Ben Rhodes, and the No. 98 RIDE TV/Champion Power Equipment/Jive Communications/Curb Records Toyota Tundra driven by Grant Enfinger. For more information visit www.ThorSport.com.
