10/14/2011
Five Flags Speedway
Five Flags Familar Face Grant Enfinger Earns Cup Series Deal
Anyone who has seen Grant Enfinger drive knows the Five Flags Speedway regular has a bright future.
It lit up like a 100-watt bulb on Friday at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
Startup team Sinica Motorsports tapped Enfinger, a late model staple at Five Flags the last few years, to drive its No. 93 Chevy in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series next year.
The Fairhope, Ala., native finished second to track champion Augie Grill in the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Blizzard Series this year.
Enfinger currently sits fourth in the Automobile Racing Club of America Series heading into the season finale Sunday in Toledo, Ohio.
“Definitely a dream come true,� Enfinger told Doug Demmons of The Birmingham (Ala.) News. “Something I’ve been working for all my life.�
Enfinger’s schedule will include 10-15 Cup races next season. He’ll get his first taste of NASCAR life next week when he’ll compete in the Camping World Truck Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.
After ’dega, Enfinger’s focus will turn to testing his new ride. There is some thought Enfinger could make his Cup debut before the season is over at either Phoenix (Nov. 13) or Homestead (Nov. 20).
Despite this new commitment, Enfinger still has the first week in December circled for the 44th annual Snowball Derby, America’s most prestigious short-track race at Five Flags.
It has been a wonderful whirlwind for Enfinger, a stark contrast from just a year ago.
Enfinger funded his own ARCA team in 2010. The headaches and expenses made him feel like beating his head against the steering wheel.
The only moments he embraced came when he climbed inside the car.
“That was about it,� Enfinger said in an interview earlier this year. “Everything else, it was tough. The toughest part was making it to the track. We didn’t have big open checkbook. We had a lotta borrowed parts.�
Those days are long gone.
Now driving for Allgaier Motorsports, Enfinger has impressed in with 13 top-fives and 23 top-10s in 36 ARCA starts since 2008.
Now he’s taking another leap. To the biggest league stock-car racing has to offer.
And with a team that seems extremely loyal to their new bright star.
“We’re not going to start and park. We’re going to race,� Sinica Motorsports General Manager Jason Miles told Demmons of the News. “(Enfinger) doesn’t want to start and park and neither do we.�
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