Grant Enfinger confirmed up late to NASCAR nationwide sequence competitors, debuting as a full-time driver in Vehicles in 2017 at age 32. That was two years after he received an ARCA Menards Sequence title with GMS in 2015.
In his seven-plus seasons in Vehicles, Grant Enfinger has been a constant performer, however solely twice has he received multiple race in a season. Each of these years – 2020 and this season – he has reached the Championship 4 competing with GMS.
The tip of an period
However GMS proprietor Maury Gallagher introduced earlier this yr that he was closing his GMS Racing staff at season’s finish and specializing in his continued half possession in Legacy Motor Membership and its Cup Sequence operation.
For the reason that staff was shaped in 2012, GMS has received 5 titles throughout a number of sequence, together with the 2016 and 2020 Truck titles, Enfinger’s 2015 ARCA Menards Sequence championship, in addition to the 2019 and 2020 ARCA East titles.
“It could be enormous career-wise to convey house a championship,” Enfinger, 38, stated Thursday at Championship Media Day at Phoenix Raceway. “We’ve been shut earlier than, acquired a daily season (title), been so far earlier than however we wish the massive trophy.
“I might imply much more to me from a private standpoint. It’s one thing that I’ve labored actually, actually laborious towards. I really feel prefer it’s taken an extended highway simply to get to a degree to compete within the Truck Sequence. There’s the staff and group side as properly.
“This group goes away after Friday evening. There’s numerous causes we wish this. I feel we’ve got a little bit bit of additional want and drive, however on the similar time, we’re going to do what acquired us right here. I really feel like if we function at our greatest, we are able to beat the opposite three at their finest.”
Photograph by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Photographs
Grant Enfinger, GMS Racing, Champion Energy Gear Chevrolet Silverado
Additionally competing for the 2023 title are Ben Rhodes from ThorSport Racing, Corey Heim from Tricon Storage and Carson Hocevar from Niece Motorsports.
Enfinger’s three wins this season are the second-most in a season in his profession and his 9 top-five finishes and 232 laps led are additionally second-best in his profession.
Whereas Grant Enfinger has numerous private satisfaction at stake within the final result of Friday evening’s championship race, he additionally has a grasp on the “greater image.”
“You look out right here within the Truck storage, half the blokes out right here engaged on these tracks have been affiliated working with GMS in a single type, trend or one other. The contact GMS has had on the sequence as a complete is so much,” he stated.
“They’ve received numerous races and numerous championships and invested so much on this sequence. It’s extra than simply me. I’ve numerous private explanation why I wish to ship this championship tomorrow evening, but it surely means so much to lots of people.
“It’s undoubtedly bittersweet and unhappy to see a premier group go away in any sequence. 9 years in racing is a very long time.”
Whereas the GMS Racing group will go away, Grant Enfinger has no plans to go away the sequence anytime quickly.
“So, I shall be racing subsequent yr. I’m not prepared to speak about these plans but, there’s nonetheless numerous particulars to work out however I shall be racing subsequent yr, and I’m very, very comfortable to say that everyone on our No. 23 staff has had presents and alternatives,” he stated.
“So, I feel that’s a testomony to the laborious work and energy that’s been put into this. No one has taken our outcomes as a right and these guys have labored actually, actually laborious for all the pieces.”
