Truck Series: Enfinger clinches spot in Final 4 with Talladega victory

Written by Sean McKean

Credit - Sean Gardner / Getty Images

Through the crashes on the last lap, playoff driver Grant Enfinger held onto the lead to clinch his spot into the finale at Phoenix with victory at Talladega. It was Enfinger's second victory at the track.

As it unfolded

William Sawalich led the field to the green flag from his first ever pole position, but Grant Enfinger soon took the lead with help from his fellow Chevrolets. 

As Matt Mills and Chase Purdy led the two lines, outside pole sitter Ben Rhodes came to the pits on Lap 4. Rhodes received a penalty for jumping the start, thus having to serve a drive-through penalty. Rhodes came back one lap later to serve another penalty for not blending onto the track properly.

Former champion Johnny Sauter also peeled into the pits on Lap 11 – this time, for a portion of the spoiler coming loose. He fell two laps down.

Notably, playoff driver Nick Sanchez came into the pits prior to the end .As it came to a close, it was between Enfinger and Mills. The latter held on to take victory in the stage.

Stage 1 Results:

1. No. 42 - Matt Mills

2. No. 9 - Grant Enfinger [Playoffs]

3. No. 13 - Jake Garcia

4. No. 7 - Connor Zilisch

5. No. 1 - William Sawalich

6. No. 5 - Dean Thompson

7. No. 98 - Ty Majeski [Playoffs]

8. No. 33 - Lawless Alan

9. No. 17 - Taylor Gray [Playoffs]

10. No. 15 - Tanner Gray

Under caution, Sawalich stayed for multiple laps with a reported battery issue. This effectively put him out of the running.

Sanchez and Enfinger led the field on Lap 28. They each led their respective lines as Stewart Friesen began forming a third on the high side.

Sanchez contended well, but a crash with three to go in the stage gave him damage. He received a big shot to the rear, sending him into a spin that collected Ben Rhodes and Chase Purdy. 

The stage ended under caution with Enfinger in front followed by Jake Garcia and Christian Eckes. 

Stage 2 Results:

1. No. 9 - Grant Enfinger [Playoffs]

2. No. 13 - Jake Garcia

3. No. 19 - Christian Eckes [Playoffs]

4. No. 33 - Lawless Alan

5. No. 5 - Dean Thompson

6. No. 71 - Rajah Caruth [Playoffs]

7. No. 11 - Corey Heim [Playoffs]

8. No. 15 - Tanner Gray

9. No. 18 - Tyler Ankrum [Playoffs]

10. No. 75 - Stefan Parsons

Sanchez's spin | Credit - Sean Gardner / Getty Images

Most drivers took the chance to pit. Rajah Caruth won the race off pit road. 

Caruth led the way, but Daniel Dye quickly took control of the inside line and the lead. Eckes also formed the high line. Once a few drivers took to the pits for fuel, Eckes then took the outright lead.

The remaining drivers came in on Lap 58 as well. Once everything cycled out, the top three was Sanchez, Enfinger, and Eckes – all of which were playoff drivers.

Before they could, though, a big crash unfolded in Turn 1. A bad push from Stefan Parsons sent Jake Garcia into a spin, coming back into the racing surface and collecting Layne Riggs, Tanner Gray, Connor Zilisch, Tyler Ankrum, and Taylor Gray. Zilisch, Mills, Riggs, and Tanner Gray retired from the crash.

Kaden Honeycutt led the way on the restart, but a strong push from Eckes got Sanchez to the lead with 16 laps remaining. But, the caution soon came back out for another spin from Nick Sanchez. Whilst the Rev Racing driver drove away unscathed, a collision in avoidance between Keith McGee and Mason Maggio sent both trucks out of the race.

Grant Enfinger and Taylor Gray led the way with only nine laps remaining. Although they started single-file, the high line began forming with four laps to go. 

However, little could be done to stop Grant Enfinger, who went on to take his first victory of the season following a big crash behind. He was barely followed by Taylor Gray and Daniel Dye.

Provisional Results:

1. No. 9 - Grant Enfinger (CR7 Motorsports) [Playoffs]

2. No. 17 - Taylor Gray (TRICON Garage) [Playoffs]

3. No. 43 - Daniel Dye (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing)

4. No. 71 - Rajah Caruth (Spire Motorsports) [Playoffs]

5. No. 33 - Lawless Alan (Reaume Brothers Racing)

6. No. 19 - Christian Eckes (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing) [Playoffs]

7. No. 91 - Ryan Reed (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing)

8. No. 75 - Stefan Parsons (Henderson Motorsports)

9. No. 32 - Bret Holmes (Bret Holmes Racing)

10. No. 76 - Spencer Boyd (Freedom Racing Enterprises)

11. No. 11 - Corey Heim (TRICON Garage) [Playoffs]

12. No. 98 - Ty Majeski (ThorSport Racing) [Playoffs]

13. No. 52 - Stewart Friesen (Halmar Friesen Racing)

14. No. 18 - Tyler Ankrum (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing) [Playoffs]

15. No. 95 - Clay Greenfield (GK Racing)

16. No. 04 - Cory Roper (Roper Racing)

17. No. 22 - Jason White (Reaume Brothers Racing)

18. No. 21 - Mason Maggio (Floridian Motorsports)

19. No. 44 - Danny Bohn (Niece Motorsports)

20. No. 45 - Kaden Honeycutt (Niece Motorsports)

21. No. 6 - Norm Benning (Norm Benning Racing)

22. No. 2 - Nick Sanchez (Rev Racing) [Playoffs]

23. No. 88 - Matt Crafton (ThorSport Racing)

24. No. 25 - Dawson Sutton (Rackley WAR) +4 laps

25. No. 77 - Chase Purdy (Spire Motorsports) [DNF]

26. No. 28 - Keith McGee (FDNY Racing) [DNF]

27. No. 1 - William Sawalich (TRICON Garage) [DNF]

28. No. 38 - Layne Riggs (Front Row Motorsports) [DNF]

29. No. 13 - Jake Garcia (ThorSport Racing) [DNF]

30. No. 15 - Tanner Gray (TRICON Garage) [DNF]

31. No. 42 - Matt Mills (Niece Motorsports) [DNF]

32. No. 5 - Dean Thompson (TRICON Garage) [DNF]

33. No. 7 - Connor Zilisch (Spire Motorsports) [DNF]

34. No. 16 - Johnny Sauter (Hattori Racing Enterprises) [DNF]

35. No. 99 - Ben Rhodes (ThorSport Racing) [DNF]

36. No. 41 - Bayley Currey (Niece Motorsports) [DNF]

After a race that saw mixed fortunes for all playoff drivers, the standings look like this:

Provisional Playoff Standings:

1. No. 9 - Grant Enfinger: [ADVANCED]

2. No. 19 - Christian Eckes: +30

3. No. 11 - Corey Heim: +30

4. No. 98 - Ty Majeski: +5

Playoff Cut Line

5. No. 71 - Rajah Caruth: -5

6. No. 17 - Taylor Gray: -13

7. No. 2 - Nick Sanchez: -20

8. No. 18 - Tyler Ankrum: -21