Ty Majeski, the driver of the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford F-150, has raised concerns over the weather at Kansas Speedway as he prepares for the upcoming Kubota Tractor 200 race. Set to take place on Friday night, this race is crucial as it marks the final battle in the Round of 10 for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs. Majeski will start from pole position, having clocked an impressive qualifying lap time of 30.853 seconds at a speed of 175.023 mph.
However, the seasoned driver has identified his biggest challenge:
“Well, the wind is a little bit of a hurdle for sure,” he noted. “Just not sure when it’s going to come. Got a little bit free in the center of [Turns] 3 and 4. Kind of felt it bog down the truck a little bit, but thankfully it was enough.”
Despite this, Majeski’s skill behind the wheel has earned him his fifth pole of the season and the tenth of his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career over 85 starts.
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On the starting grid, Majeski will be closely followed by strong talent. Connor Mosack, behind the wheel of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado, will start in second place, while Christian Eckes in the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet is slotted in third. Eckes has already secured his spot in the Round of 8. Meanwhile, Ben Rhodes, the defending series champion, faces a challenging race starting from the fourth position and trailing by 12 points below the cutline, signaling a tight fight ahead.
Dawson Sutton will replace Ty Dillon in the No. 25 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet Silverado, starting fifth. Other entries in the top 10 include Kaden Honeycutt (sixth), Nick Sanchez (seventh and locked into the Round of 8), Stewart Friesen (eighth), Jake Garcia (ninth), and Daniel Dye (tenth), who is currently seven points below the cutline.
The Kubota Tractor 200 is particularly critical as it serves as the deciding race for drivers to advance into the Round of 8. With Majeski leading by 58 points above the cutline, his primary concern will be to navigate the variable wind conditions effectively. The wind can significantly impact handling, especially in critical turns like 3 and 4, where Majeski described feeling “a little bit free” and noticing how it “bogged down” his truck but ultimately managed to secure his pole position.
For playoff contenders, their starting positions and current point differentials will dictate aggressive strategies and potential risks come race day. Tyler Ankrum, starting 14th with 25 points above the cutline, Rajah Caruth in 16th place with a 28-point advantage, Taylor Gray in 17th with +23 points, and Grant Enfinger in 19th barely making it with 7 points above the cutline, will all need to secure strong finishes. Intriguingly, Corey Heim will start from a distant 33rd position despite being locked into the Round of 8.
