September 30, 2023; Talladega, Alabama, USA; Panoramic view of groups passing the Talladega signal at Love’s RV Cease 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. Necessary Credit score: Douglas DeFelice-Imagn Photos TALLADEGA, Ala. — House crowd favourite Grant Enfinger took the win in Friday afternoon’s Love’s RV Cease 225 playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway, It was the Alabama native’s second and most vital NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence win on the massive observe.
The win offers Enfinger an computerized berth into subsequent month’s season championship finale at Phoenix Raceway.
Enfinger, driving the No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet, led 34 of 85 laps to win the second stage and retained factors when the race ended with a warning on the ultimate lap.
“We knew issues have been going to get harmful,” the 39-year-old Enfinger mentioned of getting to carry on to the lead with 9 laps to go after the race restart to assert his first win of the season – the staff’s. First victory – mentioned.
“We did not make all the right selections at the moment, however we had a championship energy plant Chevrolet that was quick sufficient to get the job achieved at the moment, so even when we selected the surface (restart lane) a couple of times, perhaps we should always haven’t … Simply Talladega is true there and hopefully all of the followers get pleasure from it.
“There’s nothing higher than successful at your house observe. My household is right here, my daughter and son and I win right here for the primary time. And most significantly, we get to compete for a championship in Phoenix.”
It was a sometimes frenzied occasion on the sport’s largest observe (2.66 miles), as soon as once more determined by a mad sprint to the checkered flag – Enfinger’s main playoff driver Tricon Storage Taylor Grey crossed the end line below warning.
Daniel Dye and Tyler Ankrum collided whereas working fifth and sixth, leading to a multi-car accident 200 yards from the end line and a yellow and checkered flag, The sport is formally over. McAnally-Hilgemann Racing driver Dye completed third, whereas Spire Motorsports’ Rajah Caruth (additionally a playoff driver) completed fourth. Reaume Brothers Racing’s Lawless Alan completed a career-best fifth place.
McAnally-Hilgeman’s common season champion Christian Akers completed sixth. He was adopted by Ryan Reed, Stefan Parsons, Brett Holmes and Spencer Boyd.
Two playoff drivers, Tricon Storage’s Corey Heim and ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski, completed eleventh and twelfth respectively. McAnally-Hilgemann’s Tyler Ankrum was 14th.
“We had a quick truck and made a nasty choice,” mentioned a annoyed Majeski. “I jumped out of line and value us some factors within the second interval, so I do not know the place that places us within the factors, however I believe if we completed twelfth it may have been worse. We’ll Head to Homestead.
Rev Racing’s Nick Sanchez led 10 laps and completed twenty second after a busy day. He was concerned in a number of incidents and was ultimately referred to as to the pits by NASCAR for an tools inspection with 9 laps left within the race.
Enfinger’s victory marked the primary time in 9 Talladega playoff races {that a} playoff driver took the checkered flag. Enfinger didn’t qualify for the playoffs when he received on the observe in 2016. Competing for the end-of-season trophy for the third time.
“Clearly, we will begin Phoenix straight away, which I believe is a big benefit,” Enfinger mentioned. “In my view, we do not have to fret about factors from the following two video games… I am very, very happy with what this win means, however realistically we nonetheless have rather a lot to do for the following two video games. Getting ready for the sport.
With two races left within the quarter-finals to determine which three riders be a part of Enfinger within the title race, Heim leads Akers by one level. Majeski was 25 factors behind however solely 5 forward of Carruth.
Grey is 13 factors behind Majewski, Sanchez is 20 factors behind and Ankram is 23 factors behind. Any considered one of these seven who wins mechanically will get a ticket to compete for the championship.
The sequence has a three-week break earlier than the playoffs on Oct. 26 at South Florida’s 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway (midday ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Carson Hocevar is the defending champion.
–By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service. Particularly appropriate for reside stage media.
