Enfinger strategy spoils lock-in chance for other Truck playoff drivers
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Only Grant Enfinger can say he will race for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship at Phoenix as his strategy spoiled a lock-in opportunity for his other playoff competitors at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Grant Enfinger led the final 22 laps of the Baptist Health 200 and went to victory lane for the second week in a row, marking the first time he has won back-to-back races in his career. Enfinger now has 12 wins on his career.
Enfinger’s last pit stop was on lap 80, like Stewart Friesen who finished sixth. They pitted with one lap to green after a caution on lap 77 for Matt Mills slamming the outside wall in turn three after a bump from Conner Jones.
Connor Mosack finished third after pitting on lap 78 and choosing not to top off before green, just like playoff driver Tyler Ankrum who claimed fifth.
Playoff driver Nick Sanchez also pitted on lap 78 and ran second on the final lap before running out and finishing 13th. That cost him 11 points and puts him 43 points below the cutline heading to the Round of 8 finale next week at Martinsville Speedway.
In second, Ty Majeski, finished best of the drivers who decided to pit on lap 99 during the final run to the checkered flag. He came up 17 seconds shy of advancing from the Round of 8 to the Championship 4.
A second back of Majeski was Corey Heim, in fourth, who pitted a lap after Majeski. Heim appeared to have the pace to catch Layne Riggs, who led from laps 86 to 112 before Enfinger tore through him and made the winning pass.
Other drivers on the same strategy as Majeski and Heim include Daniel Dye (seventh), Rajah Caruth (eighth, playoffs), Christian Eckes (ninth, playoffs) and Taylor Gray (10th, playoffs).
Riggs finished 22nd, one lap down, after running out of fuel with two laps to go.
Baptist Health 200 Wrap-Up
STAGE ONE TOP-10 (LAP 30): Corey Heim, Kaden Honeycutt, Ty Majeski, Taylor Gray, Christian Eckes, Grant Enfinger, Connor Mosack, Nick Sanchez, Rajah Caruth, Dean Thompson
During the break for stage one, NASCAR caught Sanchez speeding on pit road. According to his team, Sanchez was 0.03 mph over his limit.
STAGE TWO TOP-10 (LAP 60): Enfinger, Heim, Eckes, Majeski, Honeycutt, Gray, Daniel Dye, Mosack, Caruth, Matt Crafton
Leaders (5): Heim (Three times for 68 laps), Enfinger (twice for 32 laps), Riggs (27 laps), Gray (twice for four laps), Eckes (twice for three laps)
Playoff standings after Homestead-Miami Speedway
- Grant Enfinger – 2 Wins
- Corey Heim +49
- Christian Eckes +38
- Ty Majeski +22
- Rajah Caruth -22
- Taylor Gray -24
- Tyler Ankrum -41
- Nick Sanchez -43
NEXT: Zip buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway, Nov. 1 (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
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Jonathan Fjeld View All
Jonathan Fjeld is the co-owner of the The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2010.
A Twin Valley, MN, native, Fjeld became a motorsports fan at just three years old (first race was the 2002 Pennsylvania 500). He worked as a contributor and writer for TRE from 2010-18. Since then, he has stepped up and covered 24 NASCAR race weekends and taken on a larger role with TRE. He became the co-owner and managing editor in 2023 and has guided the site to massive growth in that time.
Fjeld has covered a wide array of stories and moments over the years, including Kevin Harvick's final Cup Series season, the first NASCAR national series disqualification in over 50 years, Shane van Gisbergen's stunning win in Chicago and the first Cup Series race at Road America in 66 years – as well as up-and-coming drivers' stories and stories from inside the sport, like the tech it takes for Hendrick Motorsports to remain a top-tier team.
Currently, he resides in Albuquerque, N.M., where he works for KOB 4, an NBC station. He works as a digital producer and does on-air reports. He loves spending time with friends and family, playing and listening to music, exploring new places, being outdoors, reading books and writing among other activities. You can email him at fjeldjonathan@gmail.com