Grant Enfinger - Pocono Preview
Grant Enfinger, No. 98 Champion Power Equipment/Curb Records Ford F-150
NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series
Pocono Raceway – Gander RV 150
Race No. 14 of 23
Team Info/Stats:
Crew Chief: Jeff Hensley
2019 Driver Points Standings: 1st (+34)
2019 Owner Points Standings: 2nd (-12)
Spotter: Chris Lambert
News and Notes:
Tricky Triangle Stats… Grant Enfinger has two NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (Gander Trucks) starts at Pocono Raceway since 2017, including a track-best start of fifth (2018) and a track-best finish of sixth (2018). Additionally, the ThorSport Racing driver has eight ARCA Menards Series starts, which include 25 laps led, en route to one win (2016), five top-five and seven top-10 finishes.
This Week's No. 98 Champion Power Equipment/Curb Records Ford F-150... The No. 98 ThorSport Racing team will unload chassis No. 42 for Saturday’s Gander RV 150 at Pocono Raceway. In three starts this season, this particular chassis has not qualified or finished outside the top-10. Furthermore, it had two top-five finishes; Dover International Speedway (fourth) and Iowa Speedway (fourth) earlier this year.
Off-Weekend Fun… Enfinger joined fellow Ford Performance driver’s Ben Rhodes, Johnny Sauter, Chase Briscoe, Cole Custer and Austin Cindric at the Team O’Neil Rally school last week, in advance of New Hampshire, for two days of loose surface training. The drivers were able to get behind the wheel of a few different types of cars and drive on mostly wet gravel, on mountain type roads.
Playoff Profile… With only three races remaining to lock yourself in to the 2019 Playoffs, Enfinger, who is currently leading the driver points standings, with a 34-point lead, is currently in on points – the Regular Season Champion is guaranteed a spot in the Playoffs.
At A Glance - 2019… Enfinger, the current Gander Trucks points leader, has earned two poles, four stage wins and led 233 laps en route to six top-five and 10 top-10 finishes in the seasons first 13 races.
Ford Fact… Ford powered F-150's have found victory lane 99 times since 1995 in the Gander Trucks, including once at Pocono Raceway with Ryan Blaney (2013).
Take Me Back – Kentucky Speedway… Enfinger earned the pole for the Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway, finished second in Stage 1, but an accident on lap 64 of 150 relegated the Champion Power Equipment driver to his first DNF of the season. The No. 98 team was credited with a 24th-place finish.
Truck Series Stats… Enfinger has 73 career Gander Trucks starts to his credit. His success includes five poles, and 504 laps led en route to two wins, 24 top-five and 45 top-10 finishes.
Chatting with Grant Enfinger...
Right now you are in the cat bird seat as the Regular Season Champion. How big are those 15 bonus points that are awarded to the winner?
“That’s equivalent to three wins. It’s huge in regards to how that sets you up once you get seeded in the Playoffs. If we can pull off the regular season championship, you are guaranteed a spot, and those extra points. Unfortunately, the stars haven’t lined-up yet to get a win, but there is still a lot of racing left to do. We’ve had a solid season so far and some really fast Ford F-150’s. Our team is in a great place, and we are just going to keep doing what we’ve been doing all year.”
How do you navigate the Tricky Triangle?
“I’m anxious to get to Pocono. It’s a track I’ve always enjoyed racing at. From the driver’s seat, it’s an awesome place to navigate. It’s different, you can’t get in a rhythm, you have to have reference points on the track. I’ll be honest, I’m talking to myself the whole time – ‘ok here’s my point going into one, here’s my point for two’ – so that’s a little different from most of the tracks where we just get into a rhythm and you could drive blind folded. You can’t do that at Pocono. I don’t know the exact plan for the PJ1 there, but I definitely think that’ll change things, but man, Pocono is a track I really enjoy.”
