Home/NASCAR

via Imago

via Imago

With the end of 2024, Ty Majeski had one thing on his mind. It’s not the Truck Series title, but the chance to make history. He could have been one of the first three-time Snowball Derby winner. Yet, he came up short as Kaden Honeycutt managed to outrun him in a dramatic twist.

Despite the setback, Majeski exemplified true sportsmanship, taking full responsibility for falling short and praising Honeycutt’s performance. The NASCAR Truck Series champion continues to push his limits each season, and his graceful acknowledgment of defeat highlights the poise and brilliance that defines his career.

Majeski fails to clench to the top charter, irrespective of a good run

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“We saw it yesterday in happy hour. This is one of those races where it’s long run, long run, long run. You’ve got to be good enough on the long run to stay in the game to set yourself to the short run at the end,” Majeski told Matt Weaver. “This race always comes down to a 20, 25 lap shootout. We just didn’t have that raw speed in our car today. We saw that at a different point in the race when the 21 got me on the short run, and I was able to reel him back in, pass him, and pull away on the long run.”

The struggles, in the long run, were evident in Dylan Capello’s Allen Turner Snowflake 100 performance. Despite starting on the pole, Capello could not create a gap in the front, having to fight Matthew Craig in the early stages of the race. It allowed Nasse to make up crucial ground from 24th, and eventually take the victory. The victory came thanks to the final lap shootout where Nasse gained the upper hand and despite not leading for a sizeable chunk of the race; he managed the win.

Similarly, Majeski’s struggles in short-run speed ultimately defined the race, with a margin of 1.702 seconds separating him from victory. Majeski admitted, “You can’t ever be fast enough to win the Snowball Derby. It’s got to go your way. Today, with the way the race played out, it didn’t suit our strong suit today.” Reflecting further on his performance, he added, “You gotta have a good enough longer car to keep yourself in the mix and it’s game for the short run and the right adjustments to get it fired. I don’t know, I felt like if I could have fired off similar balance-wise to the run before when I got to leave on the outside away, I checked down. I feel like maybe we could have won, but I don’t know.”

Throughout the race, Majeski looked settled in the lead, driving comfortably for the first 192 laps, before being challenged for 1st place. Even though he regained the lead at some points, he failed to hold in the penultimate moments of the race. With 18 laps left, Honeycutt surged ahead, and just 8 laps later, so did Stephen Nasse, leaving Majeski with a third-place finish. 

What’s your perspective on:

Does Ty Majeski's gracious defeat make him a true champion, even without the Snowball Derby win?

Have an interesting take?

While tire performance was a talking point for several drivers, Majeski refrained from blaming his struggles on the rubber. “We didn’t really change too much, so I really hate blaming the tires… It just came down to a short run,” he said. Majeski may not have had any choice but to contradict his crew chief’s assessment of the tires, since he was amongst the drivers who praised the Hoosier tires early on in the weekend. Moreover, his blistering pace in qualifying of 16.120 seconds was enough to spare the tires from being blamed.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Despite the setback, Majeski’s determined drive and honest introspection underscored the razor-thin margins between triumph and defeat in a race as grueling and unpredictable as the Snowball Derby.

Majeski turns candid with Honeycutt

Trending

HMS Legend’s Demise Has Emotional Jeff Gordon Echoing Rick Hendrick’s Humble Admission

NASCAR’s Setback Against Michael Jordan Could Potentially Open the Gates for Other Teams to Follow Suit

NASCAR 2025 Schedule: Iconic Short Track Added After 66 Years

Dale Jr’s Iconic Return With $101 Billion Partner, Outshines Kyle Larson & Chase Elliott

Despite Ditching Kyle Busch, NASCAR Driver Redeemed by Chevrolet

After the fight to bring in his third Snowball Derby victory, fans expected fireworks to fly between Majeski and Honeycutt. After all, when Majeski clipped Honeycutt’s tires, the 2024 Snowball Derby champion hit back with an angry, “Did this motherf—er just hit me?” on the radio. However, Majeski was quick to ensure things were diffused after the race, showering the young racing prodigy with praise.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

He explained, “It’s special. It’s the pinnacle, right here, this race. Short track racing. Anytime you can conquer that feat, it’s very special. Kaden is a good kid, look forward to racing him next year in the Truck Series. He’s a racer and it’s good to have more racers in the Truck Series. Happy to be here, happy to have the opportunity to sit on the podium. Just not good enough today.” It’s not just Majeski praising him. The performance at the derby was enough to turn heads, especially after Honeycutt’s strong performances in the Truck Series this season.

Winning the Snowball Derby might just be the perfect end to this year for Kayden Honeycutt. The cherry on top? Honeycutt has a ride with Niece Motorsports next year. It feels like the perfect stepping stone for him into the Truck Series, and getting approval from the reigning Truck Series champ is the right way to get his 2025 campaign off!

Have something to say?

Let the world know your perspective.

0
  Debate

Debate

Does Ty Majeski's gracious defeat make him a true champion, even without the Snowball Derby win?