Grant Enfinger – 2018 Martinsville Preview
Team Info/Stats:
Crew Chief: Jeff Hensley
Driver Point Standings: 3rd
Owner Point Standings: 4th
Spotter: David Pepper
News and Notes:
• This Week’s No. 98 Champion Power Equipment Ford F-150… The No. 98 ThorSport Racing team will unload chassis No. 43 for Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville Speedway. This is the same chassis Grant Enfinger piloted at both Martinsville Speedway races in 2017 (17th, and 12th, respectively), and to two top-five finishes at Gateway Motorsports Park (fifth), and New Hampshire Motor Speedway (fourth).
• Martinsville Minute… Grant Enfinger will make his fourth start at the 0.526-mile “Paperclip” on Saturday. In three previous starts the Champion Power Equipment driver has a track-best start of 10th (April 2017), and a track-best finish of 12th (October 2017).
• Hometown Hero… Jeff Hensley, crew chief for the No. 98 Ford F-150 is from Ridgeway, Virginia, which is 10 miles from Martinsville Speedway. Hensley, who has been in the NCWTS since 2004 has called the shots for 28 races at the 0.526-mile track and his success includes two wins (2007 sweep), five top-five and 11 top-10 finishes. Additionally, Hensley’s dad, Jimmy Hensley, won at Martinsville Speedway in the NCWTS on April 17, 1999, after leading 37 laps.
• Race Rewind – Las Vegas… Starting eighth, Enfinger finished 11th in Stage 1, ninth in Stage 2, and led four laps en route to a track-best fourth-place finish in the series last stop at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
• 2018 Stats… In three starts this season, Enfinger has led six laps en route to one top-five and three top-10 finishes. The ThorSport Racing driver has a season-best start of seventh (Daytona), and a season-best finish of fourth (Las Vegas).
• Truck Series Stats… Enfinger has 40 career NCWTS starts to his credit. His success includes 97 laps led en route to one pole (Daytona, 2016), one win (Talladega, 2016), 12 top-five and 23 top-10 finishes.
• Welcome Back… Champion Power Equipment, a market leader in the power equipment field, will be back on board the No. 98 Ford F-150 for their second race of the season at Martinsville Speedway. If you’re tailgating at Martinsville Speedway, with a Champion Power Equipment generator, tag Grant (@GrantEnfinger), Champion Power Equipment (@ChampionPowerEQ), and #PoweringChampions in a photo on Twitter, and Grant will stop by your campsite and say hello!
• Catch Grant at Martinsville… Enfinger will join his ThorSport Racing teammates for an autograph session on Friday, March 23, from 5:00 to 5:45 p.m. ET in front of the Martinsville Speedway Administration Building.
Chatting with Grant Enfinger…
“Martinsville is definitely a race of survival. It seems like you are always in traffic, but you need to take care of the brakes and fenders so you have something for the end. We struggled some there last year, but I feel like we have learned a lot since then. I’m looking for us to run up front, and be a factor.”
Catch the Action
Saturday, March 24 | 2 p.m. ET | FOX Sports 1 – Alpha Energy Solutions 250Race 4 of 23: Martinsville Speedway
Track: 0.526-mile “Paperclip”
Distance: 250 laps, 131.5 miles
Format: Three Stages (Stage 1: 70 Laps, Stage 2: 70 Laps, Final Stage: 110 Laps, ending at Lap 250.)Ford Fact – Martinsville Speedway
Saturday’s Alpha Energy Solutions 250 is one of 15 different racing venues on the 2018, 23-race schedule, that Ford-powered F-150’s have found victory lane. In 38 races at the 0.526-mile “Paperclip,” Ford Performance is credited with five wins: Joe Ruttman (1995), Jon Wood (2003), Rick Crawford (2004), Ricky Craven (2005) and Joey Logano (2015). Additionally, Ford has six poles at the Ridgeway, Virginia, track: Greg Biffle (1998), Mike Bliss (1999), Carl Edwards (2003), Rick Crawford (2005), Rick Crawford (2009) and Chase Briscoe (2017).ThorSport Racing at Martinsville Speedway
ThorSport Racing has made 77 starts with 17 different drivers (Terry Cook, Matt Crafton, Tina Gordon, Andy Houston, Tracy Hines, Kerry Earnhardt, Willie Allen, Shelby Howard, Johnny Sauter, Dakoda Armstrong, Todd Bodine, Jeb Burton, Cameron Hayley, Ben Rhodes, Rico Abreu, Grant Enfinger and Cody Coughlin) at Martinsville Speedway since September 26, 1998. The Sandusky, Ohio-based team’s success includes 726 laps led, three poles, four wins, 15 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes.
Saturday, March 24 | 2 p.m. ET | FOX Sports 1 – Alpha Energy Solutions 250Race 4 of 23: Martinsville Speedway
Track: 0.526-mile “Paperclip”
Distance: 250 laps, 131.5 miles
Format: Three Stages (Stage 1: 70 Laps, Stage 2: 70 Laps, Final Stage: 110 Laps, ending at Lap 250.)Ford Fact – Martinsville Speedway
Saturday’s Alpha Energy Solutions 250 is one of 15 different racing venues on the 2018, 23-race schedule, that Ford-powered F-150’s have found victory lane. In 38 races at the 0.526-mile “Paperclip,” Ford Performance is credited with five wins: Joe Ruttman (1995), Jon Wood (2003), Rick Crawford (2004), Ricky Craven (2005) and Joey Logano (2015). Additionally, Ford has six poles at the Ridgeway, Virginia, track: Greg Biffle (1998), Mike Bliss (1999), Carl Edwards (2003), Rick Crawford (2005), Rick Crawford (2009) and Chase Briscoe (2017).ThorSport Racing at Martinsville Speedway
ThorSport Racing has made 77 starts with 17 different drivers (Terry Cook, Matt Crafton, Tina Gordon, Andy Houston, Tracy Hines, Kerry Earnhardt, Willie Allen, Shelby Howard, Johnny Sauter, Dakoda Armstrong, Todd Bodine, Jeb Burton, Cameron Hayley, Ben Rhodes, Rico Abreu, Grant Enfinger and Cody Coughlin) at Martinsville Speedway since September 26, 1998. The Sandusky, Ohio-based team’s success includes 726 laps led, three poles, four wins, 15 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cards, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles an Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 203,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit corporate.ford.com.About ThorSport Racing
Entering its 23rd season of competition, ThorSport Racing, based in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team, competing in the series since 1996. With 1,017 starts to its credit, the team has amassed three driver championships, 26 wins, 199 top-five and 420 top-10 finishes, 22 pole awards and 4,121 laps led in NCWTS and the ARCA Racing Series.For more information, visit ThorSport.com.
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cards, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles an Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 203,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit corporate.ford.com.About ThorSport Racing
Entering its 23rd season of competition, ThorSport Racing, based in Sandusky, Ohio, is the longest-tenured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team, competing in the series since 1996. With 1,017 starts to its credit, the team has amassed three driver championships, 26 wins, 199 top-five and 420 top-10 finishes, 22 pole awards and 4,121 laps led in NCWTS and the ARCA Racing Series.For more information, visit ThorSport.com.
