Grant Enfinger; Allgaier Motorsports Looking Forward To Backyard Battle

Grant Enfinger; Allgaier Motorsports Looking Forward To Backyard Battle

Topics: Grant Enfinger, Allen Crowe 100

Grant Enfinger; Allgaier Motorsports Looking Forward To Backyard Battle

Chris Knight
Knight Motorsports Management
Allgaier Motorsports
August 15, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (August 15, 2011) - - After mounting another impressive top-five performance at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway two weeks ago, Grant Enfinger and his Allgaier Motorsports team are prepared for battle in their own backyard as the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards invades the Illinois State Fairgrounds (Springfield) for the running of Sunday’s Allen Crowe 100.

Allgaier Motorsports, located not far from the one-mile dirt track enters the 14th race of the season not only looking to keep their commendable season on-track but make a return trip to victory lane. In 2006, Justin Allgaier, the 2008 ARCA champion scored his first career-win at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. With Enfinger, a native of Fairhope, Alabama elusively still searching for his first career ARCA victory – it would only seem fitting that Springfield is one of the team’s best opportunities yet.

“It’s nice to race so close to the shop,” said Enfinger, driver of the No. 36 Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger. “That doesn’t give an excuse though to come unprepared or not stay focused on what we’ve been achieving all season long. We’ve been good everywhere, not haven’t been able to find ourselves taking the checkered flag first. I know it would mean a lot to the Allgaier family and it would mean a lot to me to win at Springfield, so we’re going there this weekend – looking to do that with all of our fingers crossed.”

The strong season that Enfinger has been referring to has propelled the family-owned team to second in the ARCA championship standings, but a huge gap separates Enfinger from point’s leader Ty Dillon. “He (Ty) has had a good of a season as you can possibly hope for,” offered Enfinger. “Rightfully so, that’s why he is leading the points. We’re working on a strict budget with limited sponsorship, so I’m tickled to be sitting second. I know it’s not over until it’s over, but our goal right now is just try and protect our position and see if we can’t make some dents with our No. 36 Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger against that No. 41 along the way.”

In order to escape the first dirt race of the season still hoisting the runner-up position, Enfinger must tackle the dirt in a stock-car for the first time in his career. To help him achieve his goal of notching a strong run, the 26-year old is relying on the input of his Allgaier Motorsports colleagues which includes the former champion and crew chief Kelly Kovski.

“I’m not too worried,” Enfinger said. “I’ve been to a lot of new tracks before and have been fortunate enough to be able to get adapted quickly. The Allgaier Motorsports team has plenty of notes and resources, so they know what it takes to win at Springfield. The rest lies in my hands and I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

For the first time this season though, Kovski won’t be sitting on top of the pit box as he’ll actually be racing against Enfinger in the Allen Crowe 100. Kovski, a native of Springfield is often seen partaking in ARCA’s diverse detour to the dirt. The switch doesn’t have Enfinger bothered too much, but rather as a plus.

“Of course, it will be different not hearing Kelly on the radio,” Enfinger said. “But, who better to learn about Springfield other than from someone like him. The good thing is even though we’re racing as two separate entries, we’ll be working together too. I plan to follow Kelly around and talk to him as much as possible before the start of the race to gain as much insight as I possibly can. I know though that once that green flag drops, I’m on my own.”

Pitch-hitting for Kovski as crew chief this weekend will be Tommy Bear. Enfinger has little worries about his substitute as the two have worked together in the past which puts the communication worries at ease heading into Sunday’s race.

“Tommy knows what he is doing,” Enfinger said. “I know he’ll be working with Kelly as much as he can, but if Kelly can’t be on the box, I don’t think there is a better person available right now other than Tommy. We’ve contended for wins together, so if we’re able to pull off the victory in our No. 36 Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger - it would be a nice reunion for sure.”

Entering Springfield, Enfinger has 31 ARCA Racing Series starts to his credit. In those events, he has maneuvered 12 top-fives and 21 top-10 finishes including a career-best finish of second three times at Kentucky Speedway (July 2009), Chicagoland Speedway (August 2009), and Toledo Speedway (May 2011). He has controlled the field nine times for 216 laps. His best qualifying run occurred at Berlin (Mich.) Raceway where Enfinger bolted to his first career pole.

The Allen Crowe 100 (100 laps / 100 miles) is the 14th of 19 events on the 2011 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. The 29th ARCA event held at the Illinois State Fairgrounds is a one-day show. Practice begins Sunday, August 21 with a one hour practice session planned from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Menards Pole by Ansell qualifying is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. The field will take the green flag Sunday afternoon shortly after 1:00 p.m. The event will not be televised but race coverage including live timing and scoring throughout the 1,326th race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards since it was formed in 1953 will be available through the ARCA Racing Network (ARN) online at arcaracing.com presented by ARCANation.com. All times are local.

For more on Grant Enfinger, please visit grantenfinger.com.

Additional input on Allgaier Motorsports is available by logging on to AllgaierMotorsports.com.

PHOTO CAPTION: Grant Enfinger, driver of the No. 36 Hoosier Tire Midwest / racetires.com Dodge Charger for Allgaier Motorsports in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

MEDIA CONTACT:

NAME: Chris Knight, Knight Motorsports Management
PHONE: 239.834.9797
EMAIL: chris@chrisknightpr.com