Ty Majeski closes regular season with win at Richmond Raceway

PHOTO: Carol D'Agostino for Skirts and Scuffs

When everything is on the line to make the Playoffs, the racing gets a little crazy. Add in a season finale at one of the most challenging tracks on the circuit and you have the makings of an epic race. That scenario played out tonight for 35 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers at Richmond Raceway’s Clean Harbors 250.

 

Richmond Raceway has gained a reputation as a long green-run track, but not tonight – the race featured nine cautions for 69 laps. The last 23 laps of the race played out like a movie, and just when you thought you knew who would win, a different driver emerged. In the end, ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski would not be denied.

 

The win was his first at Richmond, his second win this season, having earned his first win three weeks ago at Indianapolis Raceway Park before the Olympics break, and his fifth Truck Series win of his career. Like his last victory, Saturday's win was not easy.

 

Majeski started the race second on the grid, but fell victim to a strategy call at Lap 57 when the team chose to stay out after a Matt Mills spin that drew the first caution of the race. The field except for Majeski, Tyler Ankrum and Connor Zilisch came in for tires. Majeski fell back to 18th. At the Stage 1 break Majeski came in for tires, but had an uncontrolled tire and had to start Stage 2 at the tail end of the field.

 

Majeski patiently worked his way through the field up to 12th by the end of Stage 2. By Lap 195 Majeski wheeled his No. 98 car to sixth, and was the fastest truck on the track in the closing laps. With 35 to go made it to third. With 19 laps to go Majeski made his final move, taking the lead from Grant Enfinger, and never looked back.

“Thankfully we executed when we needed to. I am so proud of the effort and the ability to fight back after the mistake. The cautions fell our way. I really feel good about where our team is,” says Majeski. 

 

Christian Eckes finished second after starting in the pole position, and clinched the season championship, earning him 15 bonus points going into the Playoffs. Rounding out the 10 drivers postseason roster are Corey Heim, Nick Sanchez, Rajah Caruth, Grant Enfinger, Tyler Ankrum, Taylor Gray, Ben Rhodes, and Daniel Dye. With his eighth place finish, Dye becomes the first Truck Series driver to race his way into the Playoffs below the elimination line in the season closer.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series begins its Playoffs at the Milwaukee Mile Speedway on August 25th at 4 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.