When Ty Majeski roared in 3.9 seconds ahead of Corey Heim at Phoenix in 2024, it made fans rejoice in happiness. After all, seeing a fresh talent and a new face make it to the victory lane was long awaited. But how did he manage to pull off this feat and what did he do differently for the monumental win that he accounted for in 2024?

Majeski had toppled seasoned Truck Series drivers and one of them was three-time champion and teammate, Matt Crafton. Most Truck Series fans would be able to tell you that Crafton was a legend. He has a record of 25 straight seasons in a single series and his last championship win came in 2019. However, things have not been going in his favor, and here’s what he had to say. 

Crafton points out strategic differences as the major pitfall 

For years, Matt Crafton has been a dominant force in NASCAR, securing three championships and earning the respect of fans and fellow drivers alike. However, the 2024 season told a different story. While his ThorSport Racing partner Ty Majeski celebrated three victories at Richmond, Indianapolis, and Phoenix Speedway, Crafton struggled, failing to secure a single win. To make matters worse, for the first time since the NASCAR Truck Series introduced playoffs in 2016, Crafton did not qualify. The contrast between the two drivers’ performances has left many wondering—what went wrong for the seasoned veteran? 

Addressing the disparity in an interview, Crafton candidly shared his perspective, “I think more of it is every crew chief has his own philosophy and own ideas. You might take three-quarters or ninety percent of the recipe, it’s not going to work [the] same if we do not do that whole thing from top-bottom, you’re not gonna get the same results.” He continued, “And not saying that’s what we always were. But those times, we’re just a little bit off from where they were, and that might have been it. And some other driver style might have been different as well.”

Crafton’s struggles can be traced back to a significant shift in leadership. In 2023, his long-time crew chief, Shane Wilson retired, making way for Jeriod Prince to take over. The transition proved to be a challenge, as Crafton had built a strong rapport with Wilson over the years. Adjusting to a new crew chief’s style and approach is never easy, and it may have played a role in his underwhelming season.

On the other hand, Apart from his wife’s presence on the track, Majeski’s bond with his crew chief, Joe Shear Jr., has been a defining factor in his success. The two share a deep connection, often seen together even after races, strategizing and analyzing their performance. This camaraderie and understanding between driver and crew chief have undoubtedly contributed to Majeski’s standout season. Crafton had also shared in a post-race interview how he looks up to Majeski. He said, “My biggest thing right now is just trying to look at what Ty’s doing. I mean, Ty’s been in a league of his own. I mean, he is been incredible. What they’ve done all year, they’ve had speed (and) at the end of the year, they really put the consistency down.”

Despite the difficult year, Crafton’s legacy remains intact. With 561 races, 15 Truck Series race wins, and an impressive 2,715 laps led, he remains a force in the sport. Whether he can reclaim his dominance in the coming seasons remains to be seen, but one thing is certain Matt Crafton is not one to back down from a challenge. Given that he is still in the running, things could turn in his favor at any given point. 

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Crafton opens up on the support from team owners

In a situation like this, when there has been back-to-back three-season downtime, it would be an instinct for most owners to replace the driver with someone more compatible with the selling talent. In this case, someone as skillful as Ty Majeski could benefit the team more. However, it seems that ThorSport Racing owners are not of the same build. Speaking of the support that has been extended towards him, Matt Crafton seemed to be quite high of his bosses. 

He said, “Duke and Rhonda (Thorson) have been incredible owners and I could not ask for anyone better to be honest. And when Duke shook my hand and told me he was a man of his word and we’re going to win races and championships, build it as a business, that’s what we went and did — we built it as a business each every year and made it better.” Crafton and ThorSport have been together since 2000 and it was together that they won 15 races and three championships with three different manufacturers.

At Miami, Crafton had entered the championship without a single race victory and yet secured the trophy. Whether he will be able to avenge his position this season and ensure a smooth move forward is a test of time.