PHOENIX, Ariz.: Ty Majeski could have easily given up on his NASCAR career after his opportunity with Roush Racing evaporated in 2018, but he’s not one to walk away from a challenge.
Given his success on short tracks and iRacing, the 28-year-old Seymour, Wisc. native could have elected to run late models rather than stock cars. But an opportunity to use his engineering skills while racing part-time for Thorsport Racing changed Majeski’s career path.
And in his first full season in the Camping World Truck Series, Majeski will race for the tour’s title on Friday night.
“I feel a lot of relief,” Majeski said. “I don’t want to say I was feeling pressure, but I feel like people maybe didn’t think I could truly succeed at this level and throughout the season I’ve been able to build up my confidence and have a good sense of you know what I need to do to be successful at this level. I think that’s shown throughout the season.
“We’ve been able to put the little things together and finally come out and win two of the last three (races). So, it’s just been a relief and if we’re able to bring this championship home, that be the icing on the cake to a great season so far.”
Majeski scored wins at Bristol Motor Speedway and Homestead Miami Speedway—two of the last three races—to advance to the Championship 4 Round. He’s posted 10 top fives and 15 top 10 in 22 starts—a far cry from his limited Xfinity Series opportunity with Roush Fenway Racing.
In 2016, RFR announced Majeski would share driving duties with Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe. Cindric’s lineage allowed him to be fast-tracked through Team Penske. Briscoe had established allies within Ford. Majeski ran 15 races over the 2017-2018 seasons.
The three drivers combined for 27 wrecks in 33 races during the 2018 season After that, the Roush Xfinity program shuttered.
“I don’t think I would be in this position if I was handed an opportunity,” Majeski said. “I’m glad I’ve had to work for it because I’ve learned so much throughout my career. I think a lot of that experience and what I’ve learned having to do it the old fashion way has yielded results for us this season.”
After a limited schedule with Niece Motorsports, Majeski was recruited by Thorsport Racing in 2021—more so for his engineering talents than his driving. Fellow Wisconsinite Johnny Sauter, who wrote a letter of recommendation for Majeski as a candidate for the Alan Kulwicki driver development program in 2015, also paved the way for the driver at Thorsport.
“There are no guarantees, but it was a risk I was willing to take, just knowing where ThorSport was at and what the age of some of their drivers were,” Majeski said. “I felt like within a decent amount of time there was going to be an opportunity there. I didn’t know it was going to
be for 2022, but it happened quicker than I thought, but I’m certainly glad I took that risk in taking a backseat and hoping it would turn into this.”
Majeski completed three years towards a mechanical engineering degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Like Ryan Newman, the racer is a triple threat. He worked on his own cars, understands the mechanics and drives with incredible precision.
“I love being a part of the conversations with Joe (Shear Jr., crew chief), and our engineer on what we need to do to these race trucks to be better and be a part of the decisions on how we go to the racetrack,” Majeski said. “And I take a lot of pride in that. I love being a race car driver, but I also love being a part of it on the mechanical and engineering side.
“That’s something I take a lot of pride in—on the short track level, my late model and now I’ve gotten to the point where I feel like I know enough about these trucks to help us be better week to week, and I think that’s something that’s been a ton of fun for myself this year.”
Like Josh Berry on the Xfinity Series side, Majeski honed his skills on short tracks. And also, like Berry, he has raced under the radar for most of the season, winning at opportune moments to advance into the Championship 4 round.
But both veterans amassed tremendous bodies of work before stepping into a national racing spotlight this year. The experience they gained running for short-track wins and titles should prove beneficial against their younger contenders this weekend at Phoenix Raceway.
“We’ve had to each pave our path a different way,” Majeski said. “I think Josh is in his low 30s. I’m 28. That’s probably on the old side for developing in the lower series. But each of us in good opportunities where we could perform. We’re kind of wearing that hat for short-track, late model guys to pave their way to this level almost solely by winning races.
“I think that’s something that I certainly take pride in—and I know he does as well. Hopefully, we can each bring home a championship. That would be really, really cool for just short-track racers in general.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer
