“He’s definitely the guy that I’m looking for,” Corey Heim said recently. The Tricon Garage driver has been on fire this year, smashing records and leaving a trail of brilliance. Heim clinched 11 trophies this year, and his 18 career wins are 10 more than those of the other Championship 4 drivers combined. He has also earned the most points this season by a margin of 284 points, or more than five races’ worth of points. Yet, he is worried about one rival – Ty Majeski.

The 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion will head to Phoenix Raceway to defend his title. Last year, Ty Majeski led for 132 of 150 laps from pole position to win the race and the title. So he has a certain level of comfort about delivering to his team and OEM.

Ty Majeski exudes confidence

Besides Corey Heim, the two other Championship 4 drivers are relatively inexperienced. Tyler Ankrum, driver of the No. 18 for McAnally–Hilgemann Racing, won earlier this year in Rockingham. Kaden Honeycutt, though winless, has quietly soared in the last few races, earning 41 points and finishing second in Martinsville. However, a huge factor for Ty Majeski is that all three of his competitors belong to Chevrolet. He is the only Ford driver, wheeling the No. 98 Thorsport Racing Ford. However, Majeski is not so bothered.

Upon being asked if he feels any pressure, Ty Majeski exuded confidence. “I really haven’t thought about that, just business as usual for the 98 team,” he told journalist Tony Christie. “You know, I’m proud to be carrying the Ford flag this weekend, and having a real shot at the driver championship. But business as usual. We’ll prepare for this race the same as we do for all the others.”

Ty Majeski has done a fantastic job of being consistent in the No. 98 Ford. Since the Truck Series at Pocono Raceway, he has been on an 11-race top ten streak. And that has been possible due to a flawless truck, as Majeski continued: “(Will) put…probably even more into this… This truck has been in the wind tunnel and was brand new at New Hampshire. Hopefully, we have a good piece for this weekend, and yeah, hopefully we can carry that flagship to Ford.” ThorSport Racing has clinched three of the last four Truck Series titles.

Ty Majeski is paired up with Joe Shear Jr., a talented crew chief. Although the two hail from different backgrounds – Majeski is a college-educated driver while Shear is a battle-tested, hands-on crew chief – the camaraderie is strong. What is more, Majeski is all geared up to play spoiler to the Truck championship. “It’d be great. I mean, social media would just explode, and I’m here for all of it,” Majeski said. “I love stirring the pot a little bit. And, yeah, I’d love to be the guy that did that.”

However, Corey Heim and another NASCAR veteran are dreading that outcome.

Getting ready for a chaotic off-season?

Well, for the past year, NASCAR has been under severe pressure. After Joey Logano won the 2024 Cup Series title with the worst average finish of 17.1, fans and drivers have clamored for a playoff format change. And the sanctioning body yielded, forming a playoff committee to determine possible tweaks. And as the 2025 championship weekend comes into view, NASCAR needs to be ready for more pressure. “It’s going to be a nuclear meltdown,” Kevin Harvick said recently. That would be the fallout if Corey Heim does not win the Truck Series title.

Corey Heim has double the top five finishes and 8 times in laps led compared to the next closest competitor, Ty Majeski. What is more, he has also averaged a finish of 5.2 all season compared to Majeski, who has averaged a 10.2. So Kevin Harvick’s worries are solid. Nevertheless, Heim is trying not to think about this jaw-dropping situation. He is trying to focus: “I haven’t really looked into any of that too much. I mean, I don’t even know how I would react if I were to lose. I haven’t really thought about it. I prepare to win, so hopefully we can go and do that.”

Evidently, it is game on for the NASCAR championship hopefuls. We can only wait and see if Ty Majeski manages to defend his title and unleash a storm in NASCAR.