Ty Majeski Prevails Late for Richmond Victory

Ty Majeski celebrating on the front straightaway at Richmond Raceway with his team after winning the Clean Harbors 250. (Photo: Jennie Mae Lingle | The Podium Finish)

RICHMOND, Va. — A season ago, Ty Majeski dominated Richmond Raceway only to get passed by Carson Hocevar with only four laps remaining. Coming off of a win at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Majeski looked to make it two in a row and avenge the heartbreaking defeat from a season ago.

Despite earning zero stage points throughout the race and having a costly pit road penalty during the Stage 1 pit stop, Majeski found himself in a position to win after a late race caution came out on Lap 226.

On the ensuing restart, Majeski lined up in the third position behind William Sawalich, who took two tires to gain track position, and Grant Enfinger. Sawalich started on the inside lane and missed the turn, running Enfinger up the track and opening the bottom for Majeski to fly through and take the lead.

Majeski shot out to a comfortable margin, but with 14 laps to go, another caution came out, meaning the field would have to line up and restart again.

Enfinger was able to get revenge on the next restart, beating Majeski through Turns 1 and 2 and clearing him for the lead. However, while racing to get back to the lead, Majeski made contact with the rear bumper of the No. 9 truck, getting Enfinger loose and allowing Majeski to retake the lead and claim the win.

“It feels good. We’ve had great ThorSport trucks here at Richmond the last two years but found different ways to lose them and tried to do that again tonight,” Majeski said. “We really need to clean that stuff up before playoff time, but so proud of these guys sticking behind me.”

Ty Majeski doing a burnout after winning the Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond Raceway. (Photo: Jennie Mae Lingle | The Podium Finish)

“I’m having the time of my life racing for this team.”

The win is the fifth of Majeski’s career in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and it locks up the third seed in the postseason for the 29-year-old driver.

Christian Eckes came home second in the Clean Harbors 250 and officially clinched the regular season championship after winning Stage 1, adding 15 more playoff points to his pile heading into the playoffs.

After barely missing out on the Championship Four a season ago despite earning four victories, Eckes thinks his No. 19 team is in an even better position this season headed into the Round of 10.

“I feel like we’re in a better position than we were last year and I thought we were in a pretty good position last year too,” said Eckes. “Real proud of the team. We didn’t have quite what we needed today but proud of everybody and ready to get these next seven races underway.”

Taylor Gray came home in the third position, officially clinching a playoff berth in his first full-time season and the defending champion, Ben Rhodes locked himself in with a seventh place run.

The final driver to clinch a playoff berth was Daniel Dye, who entered the race five points behind Tanner Gray for the 10th and final spot. Dye earned 13 stage points and an eighth-place finish compared to Gray’s 12th-place run with no stage points to race his way in.

“Just all the hard work these guys have put in and it’s really good to validate myself and the work I’ve put in to change up what I’ve been doing,” said Dye. “It’s so cool to have our (No.) 43 in the playoffs.”

Tanner Gray soaking in the moment after missing out on the final playoff spot at Richmond Raceway. (Photo: Jennie Mae Lingle | The Podium Finish)

On the flip side was a very demoralized Gray, who said that he and his team simply were not good enough.

“We just weren’t good enough,” Gray said. “Didn’t have the speed, didn’t have the balance and I didn’t do a good enough job, so I’m really frustrated.”

Stage 1 Top 10 Results

1. Christian Eckes
2. Taylor Gray
3. Grant Enfinger
4. Ben Rhodes
5. Layne Riggs
6. Daniel Dye
7. Matt Crafton
8. Corey Heim
9. Nick Sanchez
10. Rajah Caruth

Stage 2 Top 10 Results

1. Grant Enfinger
2. Christian Eckes
3. Daniel Dye
4. Layne Riggs
5. Corey Heim
6. Ben Rhodes
7. Rajah Caruth
8. Tyler Ankrum
9. Taylor Gray
10. Conner Jones

Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond Raceway Results