Grant Enfinger edges Jordan Anderson in thriller at Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The season premiere of the NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Trucks Series season is in the history books, and after a fight to the finish, Grant Enfinger was victorious over Jordan Anderson at Daytona International Speedway.
Coming out of Turn 4, Anderson pulled out and alongside Enfinger, and just before the tri-oval, the two made contact. After coming together a few times, Enfinger edged out Anderson by only 0.010 seconds for his first victory since Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2018.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Enfinger in victory lane. “It’s the 100th win for Ford in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, so it’s great for them. More importantly it’s the 25th anniversary for Duke and Rhonda Thorson, who have put so much into this sport.”
The second place result was a career-best for Anderson, who was mostly excited to have been so close to victory at Daytona.
Rounding out the Top 5 was Cody Rohrbaugh in third, Derek Kraus in fourth, and Natalie Decker in fifth, all three earning their best career NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Trucks Series results as well on Friday night.
Riley Herbst started on the pole position, led the first lap of the season, and was ultimately victorious in Stage 1.
Enfinger picked up the Stage 2 victory before taking the checkers for the race victory on the night.
The race ran 106 laps, six laps past the scheduled distance. Enfinger led the most laps at 41. There were five cautions for 26 laps.
NEXTERA ENERGY 250 RACE RESULTS
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There was no shortage of incidents on Friday night in the NextEra Energy 250.
The first caution of the night set the bar for what was to come, as on lap 16, Ty Majeski wound up on his roof after contact with Austin Wayne Self, who had been hit by Tate Fogleman, who had been hit by Todd Gilliland.
Majeski was uninjured in the incident, but his night would result in a last place finish.
On lap 65, Angela Ruch, Bryan Dauzat, and Fogleman all ended up out of the race after a fiery incident in Turn 4.
The final incident of the evening came on Lap 97, with four laps to go. The ‘Big One’ struck out of Turn 2, and multiple trucks were involved, including the dominant truck of Ben Rhodes. Rhodes, Johnny Sauter, Todd Gilliland, and more all wadded up and ended their chances of finding victory lane.
On the final restart, Enfinger lined up alongside Austin Hill, and had Ross Chastain right behind in third.
After an amazing save by Anderson found his way into second, but at the line, Enfinger did what he needed to do to take the checkers.
WHAT A FINISH. GRANT ENFINGER WINS IN DAYTONA! pic.twitter.com/6butJVP2mB
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 15, 2020
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Enfinger leaves Daytona as the points leader at 53 points.
The series returns to action next week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Strat 200.
SOURCES:
racing-reference.info
Ford Performance
FOX Sports on Twitter
