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Enfinger Charges To Playoff Win At Milwaukee Mile

Grant Enfinger on his way to victory at the Milwaukee Mile. [John WIedemann Photo]

Grant Enfinger on his way to victory at the Milwaukee Mile. [John WIedemann Photo]

West Allis, WI – After a late race pitstop, Grant Enfinger charged through the field at the historic Milwaukee Mile to capture his third win of the season in the Clean Harbors 175 and punch his ticket to the Round of Eight as he challenges for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship.

Enfinger pitted under caution after an incident in turn three involving the trucks of playoff contenders Nick Sanchez and Corey Heim. Carson Hocevar, who took the lead at the start of stage three, stayed on track and retained the lead. Several other drivers stayed out as well and with 27 laps to go, Enfinger was restarting in the 14th position. Starting on the pole, Enfinger had led the race twice for 77 laps to that point.

The Craftsman Truck Series returns to the Milwaukee Mile on a pace lap past the crowd in the stands. [John Wiedemann Photo]The Craftsman Truck Series returns to the Milwaukee Mile on a pace lap past the crowd in the stands. [John Wiedemann Photo]
The start of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Clean Harbors 175 at the Milwaukee Mile. [John Wiedemann Photo]The start of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Clean Harbors 175 at the Milwaukee Mile. [John Wiedemann Photo]
#16 Tyler Ankrum, #88 Matt Crafton [Roy Schmidt Photo]#16 Tyler Ankrum, #88 Matt Crafton [Roy Schmidt Photo]
#11 Corey Heim, #23 Grant Enfinger [Roy Schmidt Photo]#11 Corey Heim, #23 Grant Enfinger [Roy Schmidt Photo]
Playoff contenders Matt DiBenedetto, Corey Heim and Christian Eckes race into turn one at the Milwaukee Mile. [John Wiedemann Photo]Playoff contenders Matt DiBenedetto, Corey Heim and Christian Eckes race into turn one at the Milwaukee Mile. [John Wiedemann Photo]
Zane Smith and Ty Majeski battle for position at the Milwaukee Mile during the Clean Harbors 175. [John Wiedemann Photo]Zane Smith and Ty Majeski battle for position at the Milwaukee Mile during the Clean Harbors 175. [John Wiedemann Photo]
#1 William Sawalich, #33 Derek Lemke [Roy Schmidt Photo]#1 William Sawalich, #33 Derek Lemke [Roy Schmidt Photo]
#35 Jake Garcia, #4 Chase Purdy, #13 Hailie Deegan, #98 Ty Majewski [Roy Schmidt Photo]#35 Jake Garcia, #4 Chase Purdy, #13 Hailie Deegan, #98 Ty Majewski [Roy Schmidt Photo]
#2 Nicholas Sanchez and #11 Corey Heim bring out the final caution as #35 Jake Garcia, #4 Chase Purdy, #17 Taylor Gray, #38 Zane Smith, #98 Ty Majewski race past. [Roy Schmidt Photo]#2 Nicholas Sanchez and #11 Corey Heim bring out the final caution as #35 Jake Garcia, #4 Chase Purdy, #17 Taylor Gray, #38 Zane Smith, #98 Ty Majewski race past. [Roy Schmidt Photo]
#2 Nicholas Sanchez, 43 Daniel Dye [Roy Schmidt Photo]#2 Nicholas Sanchez, 43 Daniel Dye [Roy Schmidt Photo]
#23 Grant Enfinger, #42 Carson Hocevar [Roy Schmidt Photo]#23 Grant Enfinger, #42 Carson Hocevar [Roy Schmidt Photo]
#23 Grant Enfinger (Winner) [Roy Schmidt Photo]#23 Grant Enfinger (Winner) [Roy Schmidt Photo]
Hailie Deegan (13) battles ThorSport Racing teammate Conner Jones (66) for position at the Milwaukee Mile. [John WIedemann Photo]Hailie Deegan (13) battles ThorSport Racing teammate Conner Jones (66) for position at the Milwaukee Mile. [John WIedemann Photo]
Grant Enfinger on his way to victory at the Milwaukee Mile. [John WIedemann Photo]Grant Enfinger on his way to victory at the Milwaukee Mile. [John WIedemann Photo]
Hailie Deegan races down the frontstretch at the Milwaukee Mile. [John Wiedemann Photo]Hailie Deegan races down the frontstretch at the Milwaukee Mile. [John Wiedemann Photo]

With his fast Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet, Enfinger quickly drove through the field to get to Hocevar and with 16 laps to go in the race, Enfinger retook the lead.

Earlier in the week, Enfinger’s team GMS Racing had announced it would be shutting the truck series team down at the end of the season. But that announcement wasn’t slowing Enfinger down.

“I don’t think anybody’s going to ask if we’re going to lay down again,” Enfinger said after climbing from his No. 23 Chevrolet. “(Crew chief) Jeff Hensley’s been focused the whole year. There’s been distractions going on all year long. So if anything, this has clarity.

Enfinger’s win was the 10th of his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series career.

Playoff contender Hocevar held on to second place in his Worldwide Express Chevrolet. Christian Eckes, Corey Heim, and Matt Crafton, all playoff contenders, rounded out the top five.

Wisconsin’s Ty Majeski finished seventh in his Road Ranger Ford. Majeski started at the back of the field and had to overcome a pass-through penalty at the start of the race due to issues getting through technical inspection prior to qualifying. Further penalties may be forthcoming as NASCAR had confiscated a right rear tire and ejected his crew chief, Joe Shear Jr.

The race had five lead changes with four different leaders and seven caution periods for 44 laps including the cautions ending Stage one and two.

The final race of the playoffs round of ten will take place on Friday, September 8th at Kansas Speedway.

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race – Clean Harbors 175
Milwaukee Mile Speedway
West Allis, Wisconsin
Sunday, August 27, 2023

       1. (1) Grant Enfinger (P), Chevrolet, 175.
       2. (3) Carson Hocevar (P), Chevrolet, 175.
       3. (6) Christian Eckes (P), Chevrolet, 175.
       4. (8) Corey Heim (P), Toyota, 175.
       5. (22) Matt Crafton (P), Ford, 175.
       6. (7) Chase Purdy, Chevrolet, 175.
       7. (13) Ty Majeski (P), Ford, 175.
       8. (25) Derek Kraus(i), Chevrolet, 175.
       9. (9) Jake Garcia #, Chevrolet, 175.
       10. (14) Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 175.
       11. (11) Tanner Gray, Toyota, 175.
       12. (18) Zane Smith (P), Ford, 175.
       13. (4) Taylor Gray #, Toyota, 175.
       14. (15) Rajah Caruth #, Chevrolet, 175.
       15. (19) Dean Thompson, Toyota, 175.
       16. (10) Ben Rhodes (P), Ford, 175.
       17. (24) Colby Howard, Chevrolet, 175.
       18. (28) Conner Jones, Ford, 175.
       19. (29) Bret Holmes #, Chevrolet, 175.
       20. (16) Tyler Ankrum, Toyota, 175.
       21. (20) Lawless Alan, Chevrolet, 175.
       22. (17) Hailie Deegan, Ford, 175.
       23. (27) Sean Hingorani, Toyota, 175.
       24. (2) Nick Sanchez # (P), Chevrolet, 175.
       25. (26) Matt Mills (P), Chevrolet, 175.
       26. (12) William Sawalich, Toyota, 175.
       27. (23) Matt DiBenedetto (P), Chevrolet, 173.
       28. (5) Daniel Dye #, Chevrolet, 173.
       29. (32) Tyler Hill, Toyota, 173.
       30. (21) Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 172.
       31. (33) Derek Lemke, Ford, 172.
       32. (30) Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 172.
       33. (35) Josh Reaume, Ford, 171.
       34. (36) Greg Van Alst, Chevrolet, Accident, 63.
       35. (34) Brad Perez(i), Toyota, Accident, 62.
       36. (31) Josh Bilicki(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 9.

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