Grant Enfinger crossed the line just 0.041s ahead of Taylor Gray to win at Talladega, becoming the first driver to advance into the final four this year. Enfinger, who is last year’s championship runner-up, collected his eleventh career win and his first since joining CR7 Motorsports ahead of the 2024 season.
Enfinger, an Alabama native who called Talladega his home track, was quick to credit spotter Tim Fedewa for the victory. “We knew stuff was going to get dicey. We didn’t make all of the perfect decisions today, but we had a Chevy that was fast enough to get it done today … Hopefully all of the fans enjoyed it. Nothing like winning at your home track. Got my family here. First win with my daughter and my son here. Looking forward to that, and now we get to race for a championship in Phoenix.”
Race winner Grant Enfinger, CR7 Motorsports, Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet Silverado
Photo by: Matthew T. Thacker / NKP / Motorsport Images
For much of the final nine-lap run, the leaders ran single-file with Enfinger firmly in control. As the white flag flew, the outside lane surged forward as several others moved up to join it. Taylor Gray led the charge through Turns 3 and 4 with Tyler Ankrum behind. Meanwhile, Enfinger remained glued to the bottom with Christian Eckes in tow.
Lawless Alan tried to jump up in front of of Gray only to get put three-wide in the middle. Through the tri-oval, both Enfinger and Gray lost their pushers (Ankrum and Eckes) as both trucks spun. A multi-truck wreck ensued as Enfinger and Gray drag-raced to the line.
Unofficially, Daniel Dye finished third with heavy damage. Rajah Caruth was fourth and Alan earned a career-best finish of fifth. Eckes spun across the line in sixth, Ryan Reed crossed the line seventh but in flames, Stefan Parsons eighth, Brett Holmes ninth, and Spencer Boyd tenth.
The race was action-packed from the start and Enfinger was a constant presence near the front. He scored 19 of 20 possible stage points, while also winning Stage 2. The first stage was won by Matt Mills, who wrecked out of the race later.
Sanchez had an eventful day, spinning in the middle of the pack battling for the Stage 2 win but somehow escaping with only minor damage. He later fought his way back to the ground, leading with less than 20 laps to go. However, a second spin — this time from the lead — left him with the worst finish among the eight remaining playoff drivers (22nd).
Leaving Talladega, the following drivers are in the elimination zone: Caruth who is five points behind Ty Majeski, Tay. Gray who is 13 points out, Nick Sanchez who is 20 points out, and Ankrum who is 23 points out.
1
G. EnfingerCR7 Motorsports
9
Chevrolet
85
1:48’24.201
8
59
2
T. GrayTRICON Garage
17
Toyota
85
+0.041
1:48’24.242
0.041
7
37
3
D. DyeMcAnally Hilgemann Racing
43
Chevrolet
85
+0.353
1:48’24.554
0.312
7
34
4
R. CaruthSpire Motorsports
71
Chevrolet
85
+0.373
1:48’24.574
0.020
7
38
5
A. LawlessReaume Brothers Racing
33
Ford
85
+0.406
1:48’24.607
0.033
6
43
6
C. EckesMcAnally Hilgemann Racing
19
Chevrolet
85
+0.442
1:48’24.643
0.036
6
38
7
R. ReedMcAnally Hilgemann Racing
91
Chevrolet
85
+0.494
1:48’24.695
0.052
7
30
8
S. ParsonsHenderson Motorsports
75
Chevrolet
85
+0.516
1:48’24.717
0.022
8
29
9
B. HolmesBret Holmes Racing
32
Chevrolet
85
+1.212
1:48’25.413
0.696
8
30
10
S. BoydFreedom Racing Enterprises
76
Chevrolet
85
+1.810
1:48’26.011
0.598
7
27
11
C. HeimTRICON Garage
11
Toyota
85
+2.011
1:48’26.212
0.201
5
30
12
T. MajeskiThorSport Racing
98
Ford
85
+2.171
1:48’26.372
0.160
5
29
13
S. FriesenHalmar Friesen Racing
52
Toyota
85
+2.526
1:48’26.727
0.355
5
24
14
T. AnkrumMcAnally Hilgemann Racing
18
Chevrolet
85
+3.531
1:48’27.732
1.005
7
23
15
C. GreenfieldGK Racing
95
Chevrolet
85
+7.303
1:48’31.504
3.772
7
22
16
C. RoperRoper Racing
04
Chevrolet
85
+9.409
1:48’33.610
2.106
7
21
17
D. BohnNiece Motorsports
44
Chevrolet
85
+15.643
1:48’39.844
6.234
7
20
18
M. MaggioFloridian Motorsports
21
Toyota
85
+16.017
1:48’40.218
0.374
11
19
19
K. HoneycuttNiece Motorsports
45
Chevrolet
85
+16.018
1:48’40.219
0.001
8
18
20
J. WhiteReaume Brothers Racing
22
Ford
85
+16.848
1:48’41.049
0.830
9
17
21
N. BenningNorm Benning Racing
6
Chevrolet
85
+16.849
1:48’41.050
0.001
7
16
22
N. SanchezRev Racing
2
Chevrolet
85
+1’04.235
1:49’28.436
47.386
14
15
23
M. CraftonThorSport Racing
88
Ford
85
+1’09.239
1:49’33.440
5.004
7
14
24
D. SuttonRackley W.A.R.
25
Chevrolet
81
+4 Laps
1:48’46.066
4 Laps
9
13
25
C. PurdySpire Motorsports
77
Chevrolet
71
+14 Laps
1:46’16.101
10 Laps
9
12
26
K. McGeeFDNY Racing
28
Chevrolet
70
+15 Laps
1:28’08.012
1 Lap
6
11
27
W. SawalichTRICON Garage
1
Toyota
64
+21 Laps
1:49’29.092
6 Laps
10
16
28
L. RiggsFront Row Motorsports
38
Ford
61
+24 Laps
1:12’22.603
3 Laps
5
10
29
J. GarciaThorSport Racing
13
Ford
61
+24 Laps
1:12’22.653
0.050
5
25
30
T. GrayTRICON Garage
15
Toyota
61
+24 Laps
1:12’22.778
0.125
5
11
31
M. MillsNiece Motorsports
42
Chevrolet
61
+24 Laps
1:12’22.882
0.104
5
16
32
D. ThompsonTRICON Garage
5
Toyota
61
+24 Laps
1:12’22.941
0.059
5
16
33
C. ZilischSpire Motorsports
7
Chevrolet
61
+24 Laps
1:12’22.971
0.030
7
34
J. SauterHattori Racing Enterprises
16
Toyota
42
+43 Laps
54’20.339
19 Laps
13
3
35
B. RhodesThorSport Racing
99
Ford
38
+47 Laps
41’31.128
4 Laps
5
2
36
B. CurreyNiece Motorsports
41
Chevrolet
17
+68 Laps
14’43.323
21 Laps
5
1
Source : Motorsport.com