Ty Majeski’s pursuit of back-to-back titles in his truck championship defense reached a dramatic conclusion Friday night at Phoenix Raceway, as he narrowly missed retaining the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series crown. Despite a strong run and high-stakes strategy, the ThorSport Racing driver was outpaced in overtime, bringing his season-long efforts to a close in Avondale, Arizona.
Strategies and Pivotal Moments Shape the Title Chase
Throughout most of the championship race, Majeski was locked in pursuit of Corey Heim, who set a fierce pace by leading 98 of the first 150 regulation laps and sweeping the opening two stages. The race dynamic shifted with less than three laps remaining when Connor Mosack’s incident brought out a caution. At this critical juncture, Majeski’s crew chief, Joe Shear Jr., opted for a two-tire pit stop, a move mirrored by fellow contenders Kaden Honeycutt and Tyler Ankrum, while Heim took four fresh Goodyears and dropped to tenth following his stop.
The restart proved chaotic, with Heim surging aggressively through the pack as the field went seven-wide in a scramble for position. Majeski briefly emerged with the lead after exiting Turn 2, but Heim rapidly closed the gap, advancing eight spots to claim second place. Meanwhile, a multi-truck incident unfolded deeper in the field, leading to another caution and setting up a high-pressure series of restarts.
CAUTION IS OUT. We’ll have another restart. Majeski leads Heim and Honeycutt.
(Also … WHAT A MOVE BY HEIM 👀) pic.twitter.com/9MC0KHzu6D
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) November 1, 2025
Key Decisions and Escalating Drama During Overtime
After the restart, Ty Majeski explained what unfolded as the field battled through Turn 2 and back onto the straightaway:
I came out of [Turn] 2 in the lead,
Majeski, Driver
He noted that Heim was already challenging for position almost immediately:
“Unfortunately [Heim] was pulling on my quarter panel down the backstretch already after one corner. If that restart plays out differently, somebody goes lower into one and takes air away from him, it could pan out differently.”
Majeski further backed his team’s late-race pit call:
I thought that was our best shot at it, I really did. I’m totally behind Joe’s call for two tires. It just didn’t quite work out.
Majeski, Driver
The race entered double overtime, with strategic lane choices and track position on the line. Majeski lined up on the outer lane, while Heim—and Honeycutt behind his Toyota—occupied the bottom groove. This final restart proved decisive. Heim surged past Majeski in turns 1 and 2, completing a pass on corner exit to claim the front spot for good. His triumph not only sealed the night’s win but also delivered the championship to Tricon Garage for the first time.
Once he got out in front of me, it was over. I knew that,
Majeski, Driver
Reflecting further, Majeski added,
“If that restart goes like I said before just a little bit differently and somebody takes his air away and he gets caught up in traffic, I break free there, that could have been the race-winning move.”
Despite the challenge, Majeski remained appreciative for the opportunity:
Just didn’t pan out that way. Thankful to have the opportunity to come back here and race for a championship once again for the third time in four years.
Majeski, Driver
Performance Highlights and Team Reflection
Although Majeski was unable to repeat as champion and did not win a race this season, the No. 98 ThorSport Racing team showcased remarkable consistency. The group achieved 12 consecutive top-ten results, ending the campaign with a career-best 18 finishes among the top ten.
Tyler Ankrum, another key contender and championship hopeful, shared perspective on the team’s journey throughout the season:
It was a tale of two seasons,
Ankrum, Driver
We had a very stern meeting with ourselves in early June and we looked each other in the eye and said, ‘We’re champions. We deserve to be here,’ and we got our season turned around. We went on a streak of now 12 top 10s in a row, nine of them being top fives, and felt like we were poised to defend our title tonight. We were in position to do that, but just a little bit short.
Ankrum, Driver
Looking Ahead After a Dramatic Truck Championship Defense
Majeski’s quest to capture back-to-back truck championships fell just short, but the race underscored his competitiveness and the high level of competition among the series’ top drivers including Corey Heim, Kaden Honeycutt, and Tyler Ankrum at Phoenix Raceway. With a solid foundation established and the number 98 team’s late-season momentum, Majeski and ThorSport Racing remain strong contenders for future Craftsman Truck Series titles as the sport turns its attention to the upcoming season.
CAUTION IS OUT. We'll have another restart. Majeski leads Heim and Honeycutt.
(Also … WHAT A MOVE BY HEIM 👀) pic.twitter.com/9MC0KHzu6D
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) November 1, 2025
