Grant Enfinger delivered a stellar performance in front of his home crowd at Talladega Superspeedway, taking the checkered flag in Friday’s Love’s RV Stop 225 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoff race. This marks the Alabama native’s second career win at the famed superspeedway and arguably the most crucial of his career, as it guarantees him a spot in the season finale championship race at Phoenix next month.
Enfinger, driving the No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet, dominated the race, leading a race-best 34 of the 85 laps. He secured the victory after a caution ended the race on the final lap, adding to his impressive NASCAR resume with his 11th career win. This victory also represents the first for his team this season.
“We knew things would get dicey,” Enfinger said, reflecting on the high-stakes race. “We didn’t make all the right choices today, but our Champion Power Equipment Chevy was fast enough to pull it off. There’s nothing like winning at your home track, especially with my family here.”
With this monumental win, Enfinger not only celebrates a victory on home soil but also locks in his place to compete for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship at Phoenix on November 8, marking the third time in his career he’ll fight for the title.
The race was as chaotic as ever at the 2.66-mile Talladega track, known for its dramatic finishes. In the final laps, Enfinger managed to fend off fellow playoff driver Taylor Gray of Tricon Garage to claim the win under caution. The caution was brought out after Daniel Dye and Tyler Ankrum collided just before the finish line, causing a multi-truck wreck. Dye managed to slide across the line in third, while Rajah Caruth, also a playoff contender, finished fourth. Lawless Alan achieved a career-best fifth-place finish.
The remainder of the top 10 was rounded out by Christian Eckes, Ryan Reed, Stefan Parsons, Bret Holmes, and Spencer Boyd.
Corey Heim and Ty Majeski, both playoff drivers, finished 11th and 12th respectively, with Majeski expressing frustration over a poor decision during Stage 2 that cost him valuable points.
Nick Sanchez, who led 10 laps, endured a difficult race and finished 22nd after being involved in multiple incidents. A final restart mishap led NASCAR to call Sanchez to pit road for an equipment check, derailing his chances for a strong finish.
This race marked the first time in nine Talladega playoff races that a playoff driver took home the victory, and for Enfinger, it was sweet redemption after his 2016 Talladega win when he wasn’t playoff-eligible.
“We can focus on Phoenix now,” Enfinger said after the race. “That’s a huge advantage. We don’t have to worry about points for the next two races, but we still have a lot of work ahead to prepare for the championship.”
With two races left in the Round of 8, the playoff battle is heating up. Heim holds a slim lead over Eckes by just one point. Majeski sits 25 points back but is only five points ahead of Caruth. Taylor Gray, Sanchez, and Ankrum are all within striking distance, needing a win to secure their own championship opportunity.
The next playoff race will take place at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 26. Defending race winner Carson Hocevar will be looking to repeat his success on the 1.5-mile track, but all eyes will be on the playoff contenders fighting for a championship berth.
