Event Preview | Bristol Motor Speedway

Grant Enfinger, No. 98 ADS/Lucas Oil/Curb Records Ford F-150
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series
Bristol Motor Speedway – UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics
Race No. 17 of 23

Team Info/Stats:
Crew Chief: Jeff Hensley
2020 Reseeded Driver Point Standings: 4th
2020 Reseeded Owner Point Standings: 4th
Spotter: Chris Lambert
Bristol Motor Speedway Starting Position: 1st

News and Notes:

Chatting with Grant Enfinger…

You’re the most recent winner in the series. How important is that momentum for you and ThorSport Racing – that has now claimed the last two checkered flags – as you head into the Playoffs Thursday night at Bristol?

“That momentum is huge. We’ve been in a little bit of a slump here the last couple months. We struggled with finding our speed, finding what we wanted from the truck. Jeff Hensley (crew chief) was able to give us that, right from the beginning at Richmond, so that’s great. Even if we had left Richmond without the checkered flag, I was still gonna feel good. I feel like we found some speed, we found some of what we’ve been looking for with the truck. We’ve had the opportunity to be in a position to try some things this year, with winning at Daytona, and I feel like we’ve hit on some stuff. It was great to see ThorSport Racing finish 1-2-3 there at Richmond, that was pretty special.”

As you look towards the first three races of the Playoffs, you’ve won at two of the three tracks. How do you rank the tracks in the first round?

“I feel like for us personally, on the No. 98 ThorSport Racing team, I worry about Bristol, even though I’m a short-track guy, I love the short tracks and Jeff Hensley is great at the short tracks, but for whatever reason, we struggled there last year, even though we finished fifth. We just didn’t have the speed we wanted to. There again though, we’ve learned some stuff this year to help that. Outside of that, I feel really good about Vegas, it’s a place we’ve had success at before and I feel like our mile-and-a-half program is strong. Anything can happen at Talladega, but man that’s a place I enjoy going to – it’s my home track and I always get pumped up for that. Hopefully, we’re not in a must win or even a must finish situation when we get to Talladega. Hopefully, we can solidify our position before we get there.”

You’ve been with crew chief Jeff Hensley for four years now. How does that familiarity with each other and the proven success help you in yet another Playoff appearance?

“I think it’s important. I think mine and Jeff Hensley’s relationship has done nothing but get stronger over the last three-and-a-half, going on four years. I feel like we’re clicking more than we ever have. Not only with the win at Richmond, but the performance, the speed, us working together through the challenges at Richmond, helps us – gives us a boost of confidence going into the Playoffs. It’s not just about us though. We’ve got a great team, that for the most part, has stayed together from when I first went over to ThorSport Racing in 2017. It’s been pretty much the same core group of guys. Man those guys are diggin’ hard, workin’ their tails off. When you get into the Playoffs, at these higher levels, it’s all about the details, it’s not all about the wins and the big stuff, it’s the details. Our guys are doing those things that really add up and really count right now.”

Thursday night will be your 100th series start in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series. Do you remember start number one? What do you remember about being in the national spotlight for the first time in 2010 at Talladega?

“2010 at Talladega (Superspeedway), yes, I made a big splash there at the end. We wrecked a lot of trucks there at the end, but ran good all day – we were fast. I believe that was the time when I ran for Danny Gill, which happened to be an F-150 as well. I’ve ridden this roller coaster for so long, so it’s definitely going to be special. I didn’t realize it was going to be my 100th series start at Bristol, until about a week ago, but there were a lot of times that I didn’t think I would have this kind of opportunity, especially not a great one like I have right now at ThorSport Racing. It’ll definitely be special…It’s crazy how things unfold and life turns out, but I’m very blessed to have the career I’ve had.”

About Advanced Distribution Services:
ADS is a full line distributor with divisions focused on sales, e-Commerce fulfillment, 3PL and brand development. Our vendor partners include top brands over multiple categories including Lucas Oil, Champion Power Equipment, Orion Safety Products, Shell Oil, Rain-X, The Fountainhead Group and Winston Products. ADS also maintains relationships with clients including The Home Depot, Target, Sam’s Club, Amazon, and Walmart. As a company, ADS is focused on bringing value back to the supply chain through integrity, resources and commitment. For more information on Advanced Distribution Services, www.advancedds.com.

About Lucas Oil Products, Inc.:
Founded in 1989 by Forrest and Charlotte Lucas, Lucas Oil Products, Inc. is the world leader of high performance lubricants and problem solving additives and produces and markets more than 270 unique formulations in more than forty countries. Products include engine oils, greases, gear lubes, problem-solving additives and car-care products. In the USA, Lucas Oil is sold in more than 30,000 auto parts stores displaying the biggest variety of shelf products of any oil company, and at every truck stop nationwide. Lucas Oil has two major plants in the United States: the original one in Corona, California, which also houses Lucas Oil Corporate Headquarters, Lucas Oil Production Studios, Team Lucas, LucasOilRacingTV and MAVTV, plus a state-of-the-art, 350,000-square-foot oil products facility in Corydon, Indiana. For more information on Lucas Oil, visit: www.lucasoil.com.

About Curb Records:
Celebrating 56 years in business, Curb Records is one of the world’s leading independent music companies. Owned and operated by Mike Curb since 1964, Curb Records has achieved 435 number one records, over 1,500 Top Ten records and charted over 4,500 total records. With over a half century in operation, Curb Records has been influential in the careers of some of the biggest names in music, including: Tim McGraw, Hank Williams, Jr., Rodney Atkins, Lee Brice, LeAnn Rimes, The Judds, Dylan Scott, Sawyer Brown, Wynonna, Lyle Lovett, Jo Dee Messina, Hal Ketchum and Desert Rose Band, among many others. Today’s roster includes some of the top names across multiple genres of music.For more information visit: Curb.com.

About Champion Power Equipment:
Since 2003 Champion Power Equipment has earned a reputation for designing and producing the market’s finest power equipment. From our original headquarters in Santa Fe Springs, California, Champion has expanded its North American footprint to include facilities in Jackson Tennessee, Milwaukee Wisconsin and Toronto Canada. Today Champion’s product line has expanded to include portable generators, home standby generators, inverter generators, engines, winches and log splitters. With over 2.5 million generators sold in North America, Champion is a market leader in the power equipment field. For more information visit: ChampionPowerEquipment.com.

About ThorSport Racing:
Entering its 25th season of competition, ThorSport Racing, based in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series team, competing in the series since 1996. For more information, visit: www.ThorSport.com.

Blackstone Management Partners