Majeski achieves a dominant performance in the IRP Truck race, while SVG secures the 19th position.

The first two wins of Majeski’s career came in last season’s playoffs, which helped him advance to the Championship 4 at Phoenix.

On Friday night, Majeski used a dominating performance at Indianapolis Raceway Park to overpower his competition and cruise to a 3.422-second win over Christian Eckes and pick up his first victory of the 2023 season.

Majeski and his No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford team secure a spot in the second round of the series playoffs with their victory, regardless of how they perform in the next two races.

Majeski, 28, led twice for 179 of the 200 laps. He also collected both stage wins.

 

“That was incredible! What do you think, Indy?” Majeski exclaimed. “It’s really amazing. I feel a great sense of pride for everyone involved. Last week’s defeat at Richmond was tough, but we all share in the victories and losses as a team.”

“I am pleased with the effort, but this marks only the beginning of our journey in the playoffs.”

Layne Riggs secured the third position, Carson Hocevar claimed fourth place, and Zane Smith, the current series champion, finished in fifth.

The top-10 finishers included William Sawalich, Rajah Caruth, Corey Heim, Matt Crafton, and Matt DiBenedetto.

Three-time Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen, making his series debut and first NASCAR start on an oval track, started 28th and finished 19, the first truck one lap down. He ran as high as 15th at one point in the race.

Van Gisbergen will also participate in the Cup race for Trackhouse Racing on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course this Sunday.

Stage 1

Majeski emerged victorious after a series of exchanges with Heim, ultimately surpassing him and comfortably securing a nearly 4-second victory in Stage 1. Eckes claimed the third spot, followed by Riggs in fourth, and Jake Garcia completed the top five.

After commencing the race in the 28th position, van Gisbergen managed to secure a place within the top 20 as the initial 60-lap stage concluded.

Stage 2

Majeski claimed the Stage 2 win under caution over Heim as a spin by Chris Hacker with three laps remaining placed the race under caution. Grant Enfinger was second, Eckes third and Hocevar rounded out the top five.

Van Gisbergen was granted the opportunity to advance to the lead lap after the caution period.

Stage 3

After the pause between Stages 2 and 3, all the trucks on the lead lap made a pit stop. Majeski was once again the first to leave the pit road. Heim received a penalty for a safety violation, and Enfinger had to make an additional pit stop due to a loose wheel. As a result, both of them fell to the back of the field.

Majeski led Smith and Sawalich on the restart with 73 laps remaining.

Tanner Gray made an effort to go back to the pit road in order to fulfill a penalty for a violation during a restart. However, in Turn 3, Dean Thompson spun and was subsequently struck from the side by Spencer Boyd.

 

The incident set up a restart with 60 laps remaining in the race, but Majeski remained in command.

Landen Lewis got into Hailie Deegan shortly five laps after the restart and sent Deegan’s No. 13 truck hard into the wall. Majeski still led the way on the ensuing restart.

With only 10 laps remaining, Majeski held a significant lead over Eckes and Riggs, who had now secured the third position.