Ty Majeski has always been a force in short-track racing. But his performance during Snowball Derby qualifying on Friday night showcased something even more remarkable: tenacity (and a bit of well-deserved good fortune).

The Snowball Derby holds a special place in Majeski’s heart, having won it twice while also boasting the track record. Yet, the reigning NASCAR Truck Series champion stunned fans—and himself—by grabbing the pole position after a tumultuous Thursday practice session that left his team scrambling.

A stellar lap and a strategic starting spot

With a lap time of 16.175 seconds, Majeski claimed his second career Snowball Derby pole at Five Flags Speedway, falling just short of the 16.120 seconds track record he set in 2015. For the driver of the No. 91 iRacing Toyota, qualifying at the top is a point of pride especially given the circumstances, even if the pace did come as a bit of a shock.

“It did surprise me a little bit,” Majeski admitted, speaking to Matt Weaver. “I didn’t really feel like we had that raw speed all weekend. Sometimes when the sun goes down and the lights come on, it favors different cars and their packages. Tonight, it was ours.”

“Everyone talks about Friday qualifying,” Majeski added. “The atmosphere is just electric. It’s definitely the most exciting qualifying session we have as drivers. It feels good to sit on another pole, and it’s a testament to how great our late models are right now.”

Starting up front in the Snowball Derby isn’t just an advantage—it’s a shield against the chaos that often unfolds mid-pack. The race’s history is riddled with incidents that turned strong campaigns into heartbreak. In 2020, Bubba Pollard’s promising run ended early in a multi-car crash while battling in the pack. Similarly, a Turn 3 pile-up in 2017 eliminated contenders like past winner Augie Grill. Even Chase Elliott, the 2014 defending champion, saw his back-to-back hopes dashed when mid-pack contact knocked him out of contention. At Five Flags Speedway, there’s little room for error.

Majeski knows this all too well. “When you’re in the pack, stuff can happen. You can get caught up in somebody else’s wreck, and your Snowball can be over before it starts,” he said. “Having that track position lets you stay out of trouble and save your tires for when it matters most.”

Majeski’s strategic mindset will be crucial as he navigates the 300-lap feature alongside formidable competitors like Kaden Honeycutt, who qualified second, and NASCAR Xfinity Series standout William Sawalich, who posted the third-best time. Majeski’s commanding performance came on the heels of a Thursday practice session filled with adversity.

From setback to success

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While shaking down his car, a loose piece of asphalt from the aging Five Flags track damaged the front end, sidelining Majeski for a significant portion of practice.

“It was a tough day,” Majeski said. “A piece of the track came up, and it damaged the nose and the ductwork. My crew chief, Toby [Nuttleman], and the rest of the guys worked really hard to get the car fixed. We had a lot of help from other teams, too, which shows the camaraderie in short-track racing.”

Despite the challenges, the repairs held up under the intense pressure of Friday night’s qualifying session. “I didn’t really expect this kind of raw speed,” Majeski said. “I’m blessed to drive such great late models. Our guys have been together for 13 years, and we love coming down here to compete.”

Already a two-time winner of the event, he’s chasing history as only the second driver to win the Derby three times—a feat that would put him alongside short-track legend Rich Bickle.

“This race means so much to me,” Majeski shared. “It’s not just about winning. It’s about the tradition, the fans, and the competition. Every year, it feels like the stakes get higher.”

With the field stacked with talent and the pressure mounting, Majeski knows that his team’s resilience will be tested once again on race day. “We’ve got a long race ahead,” he said. “ I hope we keep right in the lead but if we can just kind of hang around the top five early and kind of scope everybody else’s race car out and remember what we need to win this thing [we can do it].”

Majeski and his team have already proven their mettle by overcoming significant setbacks. Now, the question is whether they can translate that perseverance into a historic victory.