Considering the announcements from this past week, there is a certain level of irony that exists with Grant Enfinger scoring the victory for GMS Racing in Saturday’s Heart of America 200 at Kansas Speedway.
Driving the No. 23 Chevrolet Military Appreciation Silverado, Enfinger likely had the fastest truck in Saturday’s eighth event of the season, leading a race-high 65 laps en route to his eighth career victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
The pass for the victory, which came with 32 laps to go, was a product of a two-car battle for the lead between Corey Heim and Zane Smith on the final restart of the event. As the top-two drivers battled for the lead, Enfinger closed in dramatically and made a three-wide move on the backstretch to take over the lead.
While Corey Heim, who won the series’ last event at Martinsville Speedway, was able to hang with Enfinger over the first half of the race’s final run, but began to lose touch with Enfinger as the laps went on.
Heim would come home in the runner-up position but finished 4.358 seconds behind the eventual winner, who scored the first victory of the season for GMS Racing. Zane Smith finished in third place, after leading six laps.
Stewart Friesen, working with a brand-new crew chief this weekend, finished fourth, with Ross Chastain rounding out the top-five driving the No. 41 for Niece Motorsports, his fourth start of the season thus far.
Nick Sanchez came home in sixth place, while Kyle Busch finished an uncharacteristic seventh in the No. 51 for Kyle Busch Motorsports, meaning the hunt for the 100th victory for Kyle Busch Motorsports will have to wait another week.
Jake Garcia continued an impressive streak to open the season, finishing eighth, while Taylor Gray and Tyler Ankrum completed the top-10 in the 134-lap contest. Matt Crafton and Hailie Deegan finished 11th and 12th.
In the 15th position, Toni Breidinger maintained an impressive result in her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut, driving the No. 1 Toyota Tundra for TRICON Garage. A couple of spots behind her, Justin Carroll finished 23rd in his series debut.
Leaving Kansas, Zane Smith and Ty Majeski are tied for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points lead after eight races, while Ben Rhodes, Corey Heim, and Grant Enfinger round out the top-10 spots in points.
Up next for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is Darlington Raceway, where the field will dress their trucks in the colors of many of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, as a tribute to the sport’s 75-year history.
Heart of America 200 – Race Results:
Race Results: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Heart of America 200 at Kansas
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