Grant Enfinger Martinsville Speedway Preview
Grant Enfinger, No. 98 ThorSport Racing/Curb Records Ford F-150
NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series
Martinsville Speedway – NASCAR Hall of Fame 200
Race No. 21 of 23
Team Info/Stats:
Crew Chief: Jeff Hensley
2019 Driver Points Standings: 8th
2019 Owner Points Standings: 8th
Spotter: Chris Lambert
News and Notes:
Martinsville Minute... Grant Enfinger will make his seventh career start at Martinsville Speedway’s “Paperclip” in Saturday’s NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series NASCAR Hall of Fame 200. In six previous starts, the ThorSport Racing driver has a track-best start of third (2018-1) and a track-best finish of fourth (2018-1), with one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
Chassis Chatter... The No. 98 ThorSport Racing team will unload chassis No. 43 for Saturday’s 42nd annual NASCAR Hall of Fame 200 at Martinsville Speedway. This is the same chassis Enfinger piloted to a seventh-place finish earlier this season at the “Paperclip.” In three starts this season, this chassis has one top-five and three top-10 finishes.
Hometown Hero… Jeff Hensley, crew chief for the No. 98 Ford F-150, is from Ridgeway, Virginia, which is 10 miles from Martinsville Speedway. Hensley, who has been in the Gander Trucks since 2004, has called the shots for 31 races at the 0.526-mile track and his success includes two wins (2007 sweep), six top-five and 13 top-10 finishes.
Ford Fact… Ford powered F-150's have found victory lane 99 times since 1995 in the Gander Trucks, including five times at Martinsville Speedway with Joe Ruttman (1995), Jon Wood (2003), Rick Crawford (2004), Ricky Craven (2005), and Joey Logano (2015).
Take Me Back – Talladega… The ThorSport Racing driver started 14th and led three laps, but got caught up in a late race incident in Turn 4, which ultimately led to a 10th-place finish in the Sugarlands Shine 250 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Truck Series Stats… Enfinger has 80 career Gander Truck starts to his credit. His success includes five poles and 567 laps led en route to two wins, 26 top-five and 50 top-10 finishes.
Catch Grant at Martinsville… Enfinger will join his fellow series drivers for the Gander Trucks autograph session Friday, Oct. 25 from 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. ET in the white tent outside Turns 3 and 4 at Martinsville Speedway. Enfinger will also join his teammates Johnny Sauter and Ben Rhodes at the Ford Stage, in the Fan Zone at Martinsville Speedway, at 9:15 a.m. ET Saturday, Oct. 26.
Chatting with Grant Enfinger...
What do you consider your biggest challenge at Martinsville, the track or your other competitors?
“The biggest challenge at Martinsville (Speedway) is being able to manage your race. You have to mange your brakes, fenders and track position. This place is tough on your equipment and emotions.”
What track in the final three races of the season do you see as your biggest challenge and which track would you consider your best shot for your first win of 2019?
“I feel like over the final three races, our best shot for a win would be Homestead, given how good our intermediate package has been this year. Phoenix is a good place for us as well. Martinsville has honestly been somewhat of a struggle for us, so we’re going to try something a little different this time around.”
