One of the most accomplished short track racers of the past decade is set to chase a grandfather clock in a Late Model Stock Car at Martinsville Speedway this weekend.
Current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Ty Majeski, whose achievements include two victories in the Slinger Nationals and a Snowball Derby win in 2020, will make his ValleyStar Credit Union 300 debut in a collaborative effort between Chad Bryant Racing and Triple R Racing
Majeski had been patiently waiting for the right opportunity to attempt the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, adding that the amount of cars that typically make the trip to Martinsville highlights the prestige and challenge of making the event.
“I’ve never been part of an entry list like this,” said Majeski, who will race for a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 4 after a victory last week at Bristol Motor Speedway. “There’s almost 100 cars at this point and that’s pretty remarkable. It’s obviously going to be a huge challenge since this is a different discipline than I’m accustomed to running, but I’m excited to get [to Martinsville].”
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Despite only having two Late Model Stock Car starts on his resume to date, Majeski has proven to be more than capable of holding his own with the discipline’s established veterans.
The inaugural South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway in 2020 saw Majeski battle that year’s NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series champion, Josh Berry, during the closing laps. He successfully passed Berry with 26 laps remaining to secure the victory.
One year later, Majeski repeated his performance in the South Carolina 400 by besting Carson Kvapil despite having to start 32nd in the field.
Majeski never imagined his first two Late Model Stock Car appearances would result in victories, but he said the efficient start would not have been possible without the perseverance of Chad Bryant Racing that dates back to when they won three ARCA Menards Series races together in 2019.
“Going from Super Late Models to Late Model Stocks, it takes a different set of instincts and a different mindset on how to make the car work,” Majeski said. “Anytime you go to a different discipline, you race the guys who know the best more than anybody, but I guess I was fortunate enough to be in good equipment and have good people around to help me adapt quickly.”
Even though Martinsville is a much different track compared to Florence, Majeski said the experience of competing in the South Carolina 400 has made him much more comfortable behind the wheel and with relaying feedback to his crew.
The speed Chad Bryant Racing has shown in Late Model Stock Car competition in the past year has only given Majeski more confidence going into the weekend. He will have Connor Hall as a teammate for the ValleyStar Credit Union 300. Hall has won three CARS Tour races for Chad Bryant Racing this year.
Majeski believes everything is falling into place for him and Hall to be competitive in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, but he admitted that the qualifying races will create plenty of mental strain with so many drivers fighting for 40 spots in the starting grid.
“It’s obviously going to be exciting,” Majeski said. “They’re doing this format to create excitement for the fans, but I just hope we can get in the show. There’s a lot of good teams, good cars and good drivers, so we’ll see what happens.”
RACING REFERENCE: Ty Majeski’s career stats
With Martinsville more dependent on track position than Florence, Majeski understands that a strong qualifying run will be imperative for him to survive the chaos of the qualifying races and ensure he is in a great position to contend for the win on Saturday night.
There is a sense of ease for Majeski heading into the heat races knowing he will see many familiar faces from the South Carolina 400s like Kvapil, Peyton Sellers and others, yet he knows there will be desperation from everyone to get the best starting position possible.
Majeski said that bringing home a grandfather clock would be a highlight in his already stellar short track career. He expects the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 to be one of the hardest races of his career and hopes for circumstances to fall in his favor so he can show off the speed of Chad Bryant Racing’s equipment.
“Anytime you go into a different discipline, adapt quickly and win premier races like we’ve done in the South Carolina 400, it’s really special,” Majeski said. “It’s not easy to do, so you need to have good guys around you and put everything together. I’ll have a different mindset compared to Florence, but this one would be up there with the career wins that I have.”
