All Ty Majeski wanted was a green-flag run to complete off his domination of Friday evening’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Collection Championship Race—a victory that earned him his first sequence title.
Majeski led 132 of 150 laps at one-mile Phoenix Raceway, and when the race-ending 27-lap green-flag run lastly got here, Majeski pulled away to a 3.945s victory over Corey Heim, who recovered from a restart violation to complete second.
The No. 98 truck is coming to life!@TyMajeski passes @CoreyHeim_ for the lead! #Championship4 pic.twitter.com/vBy6ADx6cH
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Vehicles (@NASCAR_Trucks) November 9, 2024
“I can’t consider it,” stated Majeski, who gained for the primary time at Phoenix, the third time this season on the sixth time in his profession. “Enormous thanks to (ThorSport Racing crew homeowners) Duke and Rhonda Thorson, (crew chief) Joe Shear Jr.—he’s one dangerous dude.
“That is a lot enjoyable racing with this group. I’m so proud to have the chance to drive these nice race vans. There’s plenty of instances in my profession when this seemed like a far dream. Duke and Rhonda actually gave me my third alternative after I had two alternatives that failed—man, I can’t thank them sufficient.”
The championship was the second for Shear, who guided Johnny Sauter to the title with GMS Racing in 2016. For ThorSport, it was a series-record sixth championship, including to a few with Matt Crafton and two with 2023 champion Ben Rhodes.
ThorSport has gained three of the final 4 Truck Collection titles.
Heim restarted nineteenth on lap 108 after his penalty and shortly moved ahead, however the driver of the No. 11 TRICON Storage Toyota couldn’t overcome the pace in Majeski’s No. 98 Ford.
“I’m actually dissatisfied to return up brief like that,” stated Heim, who will return for a 3rd season with TRICON subsequent 12 months. “It’s laborious to even be upset. I did virtually the whole lot proper apart from that restart violation (altering lanes earlier than the beginning/end line).
“However we had been capable of get our monitor place again fairly fast and profit from it. I simply had nothing for the No. 98. All day, he was so quick… We’ll transfer ahead with our heads up excessive, a six-win season—profession highs for myself my crew, group, everyone—only one spot wanting the championship.”
Championship 4 drivers Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger completed third and fifth, respectively, after pitting for contemporary tires on lap 113. Although they had been capable of transfer by means of the sphere, they’d nothing for the race winner.
Earlier than the ultimate green-flag run, three fast cautions—together with a 6m9s purple flag for a nine-truck wreck on the backstretch—interrupted the motion at first of the ultimate stage, bringing the entire for yellows to 6 for 43 laps. After Majeski obtained away in clear air from a restart on lap 124, nonetheless, the race was over.
Ranging from the pole place, Majeski streaked to a lead of greater than 2s, however Heim tracked him down in visitors and handed the No. 98 Ford for the highest spot on lap 39.
Three laps later the Ford of Frankie Muniz spun after contact with William Sawalich’s Toyota, ending the primary 45-lap stage below warning.
Majeski reclaimed the lead, with Eckes advancing to second, after Heim slid previous the marks in his pit stall below the warning for the stage break and got here out third.
Heim complained on the crew radio channel that the concrete pit stall was one of many slickest he had ever skilled.
Majeski flipped the script in Stage 2, passing Heim for the highest spot on lap 71, six circuits after a restart that adopted Jack Wooden’s laborious crash into the Flip 2 wall.
By the top of the stage at lap 90, Majeski had expanded his benefit to three.597s. However stage wins had been inconsequential to the Championship 4 contenders, who would settle possession of title within the frenetic ultimate section of the race.
Nick Sanchez completed fourth as the one non-Championship 4 driver to crack the highest 5. Taylor Grey was fifth, adopted by Kaden Honeycutt, Connor Mosack, Rhodes and Layne Riggs.
