Enfinger Puts GMS Truck on Milwaukee Pole

Grant Enfinger, driver of the #23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet, poses with the pole award winner $1,200.00 check during qualifying for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Clean Harbors 175 at The Milwaukee Mile on August 27, 2023 in West Allis, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

(MILWAUKEE, WI – AUG 27, 2023 – RIS) Grant Enfinger claimed his first pole of the season and sixth career Craftsman Truck Series pole, beating out rookie Nick Sanchez by a thin sixty thousandths of a second on America’s oldest speedway with a lap of 29.744 seconds and 122.848 mph. The pole for GMS Racing came just after the announcement that the team will be closing down at the end of the current racing season.

Dexter Bean took to the historic old Milwaukee Mile first, setting a lap of 30.977 seconds and 117.958 mph. Derek Lemke next,  at 31.047/117.693, then Greg Van Alst clocked a lap of 31.434/116.244 before Spencer Boyd jumped to the top of the table with a lap of 30.700/119.023. Brad Perez set a time of 31.223/117.029, followed by Sean Hingorani’s time of 30.540/119.646 before Wisconsin native Josh Bilicki set a time of 30.901/118.249 and Josh Reaume only ran a 31.318/116.674 lap. Conner Jones, next out, ran 30.577/119.502 to move to second on the table so far before Derek Kraus’ lap of 30.465/119.941 was fastest lap so far. Tyler Ankrum eclipsed Kraus’ lap, at 30.248/120.801, the first lap over 120 mph.

Colby Howard, next out, was just a tick slower than Ankrum, at 30.453/119.988 before Dean Thompson replaced Howard in second place with a lap of 30.298/120.602. Hailie Deegan immediately bumped Thompson out of second place with a lap of 30.284/120.658 and Bret Holmes broke the string of quicker trucks with a lap of 30.665/119.159. Bayley Currey used wider lines through the turns to set a 30.193/121.021 lap to take the top spot so far with the first lap over 121 mph. Tyler Hill ran a 30.961/118.019 to put Dexter Bean in peril of losing a starting position. Lawless Alan ran 30.328/120.483, then Stewart Friesen recorded a qualifying effort of 30.347/119.646 and Daniel Dye set the first lap under 30 seconds at 29.901/122.203 in the GMS truck as the team prepares to shut down at the end of the season.

Taylor Gray immediately bumped Dye out of the first spot with a 29.877/122.301 lap then Chase Purdy ran a 29.952/121.995 lap before Tanner Gray moved into fourth so far at 30.130/121.274. Rajah Caruth, next on the track to qualify, lost time exiting the second turn and only clocked a 30.232/120.865 lap before Jake Garcia ran 30.0558/121.565 for fourth place. Then 16-year-old William Sawalich matched Tanner Gray’s time of 30.130/121.374 before Ben Rhodes clocked a fifth-fastest lap of 30.069/121.521 as the first playoffs driver to qualify. Matt DiBenetetto slipped to a 30.400/120.197 lap, before Nick Sanchez leaped to the top at 19.804/122.601 for his lap.

Grant Enfinger ran even quicker, at 29.744/122.848, then Matt Crafton ran only 30.387/120.249 before Zane Smith put in a slightly disappointing lap of 30.295/120.614. Corey Heim ran inside the top ten with a lap of 30.045/121.618 then Carson Hocevar ran just off the patch on the inside lane to run third at 29.831/122.490. Christian Eckes ran sixth at 29.908/122.175 before the final qualifier, Ty Majeski, went on the track and set a time of 30.193/121.021 to match Bayley Currey’s time.

Majeski’s truck had failed inspection due to a problem with the right rear tire valve, resulting in a loss of qualifying position and a pass-through at the start of the race, in addition to having his crew chief ejected from the track.

“I think Jeff found it,” We’ve got a brand-new truck here, hopefully this is. Sign of things to come for the rest of the year,” said Enfinger.

Qualifying: Clean Harbors 175, Milwaukee Mile Speedway
Pos, Driver, Truck, Time, Speed, Lap #, # Laps, -Fastest, -Next
1) Grant Enfinger (P), No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet, 29.744 sec, 122.848 mph, 1, 1, ---, ---
2) Nick Sanchez # (P), No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 29.804, 122.601, 1, 1, 0.060 sec, 0.060 sec
3) Carson Hocevar (P), No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 29.831, 122.490, 1, 1, 0.087, 0.027
4) Taylor Gray #, No. 17 JBL Toyota, 29.877, 122.301, 1, 1, 0.133, 0.046
5) Daniel Dye #, No. 43 Hamlin & Associates Chevrolet, 29.901, 122.203, 1, 1, 0.157, 0.024
6) Christian Eckes (P), No. 19 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet, 29.908, 122.175, 1, 1, 0.164, 0.007
7) Chase Purdy, No. 4 Bama Buggies Chevrolet, 29.952, 121.995, 1, 1, 0.208, 0.044
8) Corey Heim (P), No. 11 Safelite Toyota, 30.045, 121.618, 1, 1, 0.301, 0.093
9) Jake Garcia #, No. 35 Adaptive One Calipers Chevrolet, 30.058, 121.565, 1, 1, 0.314, 0.013
10) Ben Rhodes (P), No. 99 Farm Paint/1848 Coffee Ford, 30.069, 121.521, 1, 1, 0.325, 0.011
11) Tanner Gray, No. 15 Serial 1 Premium E-Bikes Toyota, 30.130, 121.274, 1, 1, 0.386, 0.061
12) William Sawalich, No. 1 Starkey/Soundgear Toyota, 30.130, 121.274, 1, 1, 0.386, 0.000
13) Ty Majeski (P), No. 98 Road Ranger Ford, 30.193, 121.021, 1, 1, 0.449, 0.063
14) Bayley Currey, No. 41 GlobalTranz Chevrolet, 30.193, 121.021, 1, 1, 0.449, 0.000
15) Rajah Caruth #, No. 24 Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet, 30.232, 120.865, 1, 1, 0.488, 0.039
16) Tyler Ankrum, No. 16 LiUNA! Toyota, 30.248, 120.801, 1, 1, 0.504, 0.016
17) Hailie Deegan, No. 13 Ford Performance Ford, 30.284, 120.658, 1, 1, 0.540, 0.036
18) Zane Smith (P), No. 38 Birch Gold Group Ford, 30.295, 120.614, 1, 1, 0.551, 0.011
19) Dean Thompson, No. 5 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota, 30.298, 120.602, 1, 1, 0.554, 0.003
20) Lawless Alan, No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet, 30.328, 120.483, 1, 1, 0.584, 0.030
21) Stewart Friesen, No. 52 Ferris Commercial Mowers Toyota, 30.347, 120.407, 1, 1, 0.603, 0.019
22) Matt Crafton (P), No. 88 Ideal Door/Menards Ford, 30.387, 120.249, 1, 1, 0.643, 0.040
23) Matt DiBenedetto (P), No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet, 30.400, 120.197, 1, 1, 0.656, 0.013
24) Colby Howard, No. 9 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet, 30.453, 119.988, 1, 1, 0.709, 0.053
25) Derek Kraus (i), No. 7 gener8tor Skills Accelerator Chevrolet, 30.465, 119.941, 1, 1, 0.721, 0.012
26) Matt Mills (P), No. 51 J.F. Electric Chevrolet, 30.503, 119.791, 1, 1, 0.759, 0.038
27) Sean Hingorani, No. 61 Fidelity Capital Toyota, 30.540, 119.646, 1, 1, 0.796, 0.037
28) Conner Jones, No. 66 TSPORT Ford, 30.577, 119.502, 1, 1, 0.833, 0.037
29) Bret Holmes #, No. 32 Precision Garage Doors Chevrolet, 30.665, 119.159, 1, 1, 0.921, 0.088
30) Spencer Boyd, No. 12 Cronauer Law Chevrolet, 30.700, 119.023, 1, 1, 0.956, 0.035
31) Josh Bilicki (i), No. 02 Insurance King Chevrolet, 30.901, 118.249, 1, 1, 1.157, 0.201
32) Tyler Hill (OP), No. 56 MF1 Fantasy Racing Toyota, 30.961, 118.019, 1, 1, 1.217, 0.060
33) Derek Lemke (OP), No. 33 Super Cubes LLC Ford, 31.047, 117.693, 1, 1, 1.303, 0.086
34) Brad Perez (OP) (i), No. 30 Bread Rocket Toyota, 31.223, 117.029, 1, 1, 1.479, 0.176
35) Josh Reaume (OP), No. 22 JAG Metals LLC Ford, 31.318, 116.674, 1, 1, 1.574, 0.095
36) Greg Van Alst (OP), No. 20 CB Fabricating Chevrolet, 31.434, 116.244, 1, 1, 1.690, 0.116
37) Dexter Bean (i), No. 21 Badger Environmental/IUOE 139 Chevrolet, 30.977, 117.958, 1, 1, 1.233, 0.457
(OP) Top 30 in Owner Points, (PC) Past Champion, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) rookie

Starting Line Up: Clean Harbors 175, Milwaukee Mile Speedway
Pos, Driver, Truck, Time, Speed
1) Grant Enfinger (P), No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet, 29.744 sec, 122.848 mph
2) Nick Sanchez # (P), No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 29.804, 122.601
3) Carson Hocevar (P), No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 29.831, 122.490
4) Taylor Gray #, No. 17 JBL Toyota, 29.877, 122.301
5) Daniel Dye #, No. 43 Hamlin & Associates Chevrolet, 29.901, 122.203
6) Christian Eckes (P), No. 19 Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet, 29.908, 122.175
7) Chase Purdy, No. 4 Bama Buggies Chevrolet, 29.952, 121.995
8) Corey Heim (P), No. 11 Safelite Toyota, 30.045, 121.618
9) Jake Garcia #, No. 35 Adaptive One Calipers Chevrolet, 30.058, 121.565
10) Ben Rhodes (P), No. 99 Farm Paint/1848 Coffee Ford, 30.069, 121.521
11) Tanner Gray, No. 15 Serial 1 Premium E-Bikes Toyota, 30.130, 121.274
12) William Sawalich, No. 1 Starkey/Soundgear Toyota, 30.130, 121.274
13) Ty Majeski (P), No. 98 Road Ranger Ford, 30.193, 121.021
14) Bayley Currey, No. 41 GlobalTranz Chevrolet, 30.193, 121.021
15) Rajah Caruth #, No. 24 Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet, 30.232, 120.865
16) Tyler Ankrum, No. 16 LiUNA! Toyota, 30.248, 120.801
17) Hailie Deegan, No. 13 Ford Performance Ford, 30.284, 120.658
18) Zane Smith (P), No. 38 Birch Gold Group Ford, 30.295, 120.614
19) Dean Thompson, No. 5 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota, 30.298, 120.602
20) Lawless Alan, No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet, 30.328, 120.483
21) Stewart Friesen, No. 52 Ferris Commercial Mowers Toyota, 30.347, 120.407
22) Matt Crafton (P), No. 88 Ideal Door/Menards Ford, 30.387, 120.249
23) Matt DiBenedetto (P), No. 25 Rackley Roofing Chevrolet, 30.400, 120.197
24) Colby Howard, No. 9 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet, 30.453, 119.988
25) Derek Kraus(i), No. 7 gener8tor Skills Accelerator Chevrolet, 30.465, 119.941
26) Matt Mills (P), No. 51 J.F. Electric Chevrolet, 30.503, 119.791
27) Sean Hingorani, No. 61 Fidelity Capital Toyota, 30.540, 119.646
28) Conner Jones, No. 66 TSPORT Ford, 30.577, 119.502
29) Bret Holmes #, No. 32 Precision Garage Doors Chevrolet, 30.665, 119.159
30) Spencer Boyd, No. 12 Cronauer Law Chevrolet, 30.700, 119.023
31) Josh Bilicki(i), No. 02 Insurance King Chevrolet, 30.901, 118.249
32) Tyler Hill, No. 56 MF1 Fantasy Racing Toyota, Owner Points, 
33) Derek Lemke, No. 33 Super Cubes LLC Ford, Owner Points, 
34) Brad Perez(i), No. 30 Bread Rocket Toyota, Owner Points, 
35) Josh Reaume, No. 22 JAG Metals LLC Ford, Owner Points, 
36) Greg Van Alst, No. 20 CB Fabricating Chevrolet, Owner Points,
(OP) Top 30 in Owner Points, (PC) Past Champion, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, (#) rookie

Did Not Qualify: No. 21 Dexter Bean(i)

Track Qualifying Record: Mike Skinner, 06/22/07, 29.463 sec, 122.187 mph

Track Race Record: Dennis Setzer, 06/24/05 1:49:11, 109.907 mph