In a highly charged finish to the 58th Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Ty Majeski became embroiled in controversy after being black-flagged for jumping the final restart, sparking debate among officials, fans, and drivers around the integrity of the result. The Ty Majeski Snowball Derby controversy overshadowed Stephen Nasse’s ultimate victory, with Majeski maintaining he followed the rulebook and should have clinched his third win at the storied event.
Black Flag at Five Flags: A Contested Decision
Ty Majeski, renowned for his dominance on short tracks and current NASCAR Truck Series competitor, initially appeared to clinch a landmark win at the Snowball Derby. Despite crossing the finish line first after the rain-delayed 300-lap race, Majeski was stripped of his anticipated triumph after officials deemed he jumped the final restart. Instead, Stephen Nasse was awarded the win, while Dawson Sutton and Jake Garcia completed the podium, finishing second and third, respectively. Kasey Kleyn, Jake Finch, Matt Craig, Ty Fredrickson, Preston Peltier, Haeden Plybon, and Derek Thorn rounded out the top ten in the official results.
Although Majeski was instructed to leave the track, he persisted in completing the race in his No. 91 car. His determination to finish stood in stark contrast to his official result: 23rd place, five laps behind the leader, while two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch settled for 19th, three laps down. The only drivers credited with no completed laps were Ryan Preece and Max Reaves.
Majeski Calls Out Rule Ambiguity After Penalty
Majeski’s frustration was palpable in the aftermath, as he questioned the rationale behind officials’ decision-making in the race’s final moments. He argued that his actions on the last restart were consistent with earlier restarts and cited ambiguity in the application of the rules.
“Rule states that you can increase your speed to the line. Got a fire in the box. Felt like I did that. With the way the rules are, you know, there’s a little bit more of a gray area with the way the rule’s written. And, yeah, they made a… I’m judging the call in the biggest race of the year and probably took away the win from us.”
– Ty Majeski, Driver
“I felt like I had a really good argument, especially looking at the replay and looking at some of my previous restarts from earlier in the race were exactly the same, and they never called it earlier in the race,”
Ty Majeski continued.
“So, that’s why it bothers me quite a bit…why is the last restart of the race any different from the restart on lap 217 if the rule is the rule. Clearly, the rule is not the rule. So yeah, very disappointed, to say the least.”
– Ty Majeski, Driver
Majeski Challenges “Ball and Strike Calls” by Race Officials
The atmosphere at Five Flags Speedway was tense as Ty Majeski, hailing from Seymour, Wisconsin, brought his fast Menards Ford Fusion to technical inspection, seeking answers and clarity on the controversial ruling. According to Majeski, his car had been the strongest throughout the event, intensifying the sting of the officials’ decision to penalize him – not just once, but twice in the closing 12 laps.
“The way the rule is written is not black and white. So, it leaves a lot of questions and kind of balls and strike calls,”
Ty Majeski explained.
“Yeah, I don’t know. I don’t have much to say. Fast Menards Ford Fusion with iRacing on the hood. Obviously, the dominant racecar.”
– Ty Majeski, Driver
“So, yeah, I’d like to talk to somebody. So, whoever race control is, I’d like to at least have a conversation about it,”
he added. – Ty Majeski, Driver
The Fallout and What Lies Ahead for Ty Majeski
The dispute over the restart ruling highlights ongoing frustrations among drivers when it comes to officiating consistency and transparency in major short track events. The repercussions of the Ty Majeski Snowball Derby controversy may lead to further scrutiny of rule interpretations by officials and increased dialogue within the competitive racing community.
As Majeski turns the page, his focus shifts to the upcoming Truck Series opener at Daytona International Speedway. Scheduled for February 13, 2026, Majeski is set to pilot the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford in what promises to be his second full season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, looking to build momentum and put the Snowball Derby disappointment behind him.
.@TyMajeski ‘s thoughts after the restart call takes the Snowball Derby from his grasp
Race director Nicholas Rogers confirmed that despite Majeski’s protest the call is final. pic.twitter.com/SqTGVAxFII
— The Buddy Pulley (@BuddyPulley) December 8, 2025
