In a Nutshell
On Thursday (July 18), I said that all Ty Majeski needed was a win to re-cement himself in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship hunt.
He went out and did just that one day later on Friday (July 19).
Majeski took the lead from Christian Eckes with a little over 50 laps to go and never looked back, en route to winning for the second year in a row at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. This came despite a restart violation penalty after the first restart of the night that sent him to pit road for a pass-through.
Eckes held on to second, while Grant Enfinger, who looked to be the truck to beat at the beginning of the race, finished third.
The win is the first of the season for both Majeski and ThorSport Racing, both of whom have largely struggled this year. He also becomes only the fifth full-time driver to win this season.
The Top Truckers at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
Winner: Majeski
Polesitter: Rajah Caruth
Stage 1 & 2 Winner, Most Laps Led (73 of 200 laps): Christian Eckes
Biggest Mover: William Sawalich (started 26th, finished 12th)
Rookie of the Race: Layne Riggs
Top Storylines of the Race
- Two Niece Motorsports trucks, the No. 42 of Matt Mills and the No. 44 of Conor Daly, did not post times in qualifying and started the race as the final two drivers, in 34th and 35th. Mills crashed in practice and damaged his truck, while Daly had a rear gear issue that prevented him from turning a lap.
- Ben Rhodes was forced to start at the rear of the field to begin the race due to running over something in the infield. That punctured his tire and the team was forced to change it. This counted as an unapproved change, which relegated the No. 99 team to the rear to begin the event.
- It was a short day for Mason Massey, who crashed on lap 44 after blowing a right front tire. Despite Young’s Motorsports’ best efforts, Massey’s day ended shortly thereafter.
- Stewart Friesen also had a night to forget. A pit road speeding penalty forced the No. 52 to the rear, and then a broken suspension left the team in a position of just surviving until the finish. Friesen ended up 34th, six laps down.
The Winning Move
Majeski became a man on a mission following his restart violation. By the end of stage two, the No. 98 had driven like a madman, all the way up to third.
On the restart, Majeski quickly found himself in second, but Eckes had already pulled away. However, lap by lap, Majeski…
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