Ty Majeski, driver of the #98 Road Ranger Ford, race during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
West Allis, WI – Current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point leader, Ty Majeski was at the Milwaukee Mile to help announce, after a fourteen-year absence, the return of NASCAR to the oldest operating motor speedway in the world.
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series 175-lap race at the Milwaukee Mile on Aug. 27 will be named the Clean Harbors 175. Clean Harbors is a long-time race partner and worldwide sustainability leader.
Ty Majeski at the Milwaukee Mile to talk about the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Clean Harbors 175 race at the Mile on August 27th, 2023. [John Wiedemann photo]
One person with a vested interest in the historic track’s return to NASCAR is ThorSport Racing’s driver Majeski. “When the 2023 NASCAR schedule came out, I don’t know that there was a track I would have been more excited about over Milwaukee. There is so much history with the truck series here. It’s a playoff race, it’s the second race in the first round of the playoffs. We expect to come here in our Thorsport Ford F150 and be super strong.”
Majeski, a native of Seymour Wisconsin, accomplished the dream of winning at “The Mile” in the Midwest Tour Series race on Father’s Day weekend in 2021. “It’s cool to finally have won here at the Mile. I think I’ve won at every paved racetrack in the state of Wisconsin, including Road America. You only get so many chances to race at the Milwaukee Mile. That was one that I always had circled on my schedule, one that we wanted to win, and we finally got it done in 2021.”
The 2023 Craftsman Truck Series season has started off hot for Majeski and with seven races complete he sits on top of the standings. Majeski only has one finish outside of the top six in the seven races, an eleventh place run at Atlanta.
Looking to be in the playoffs when August rolls around, Majeski is happy to see Milwaukee as the second race in the Truck Series playoffs. “Just coming to a racetrack that I have a lot of experience at over the other competitors and having it be a playoff race is a huge benefit to the entire race team and we expect to come here and run well and hopefully have a chance to win at the end.”
“I think having experience here is going to be a leg up on everyone else. I think there are only a couple drivers in the series now that have had experience here in a truck so knowing the racetrack is going to be an advantage over everyone else. NASCAR doesn’t allow us to come test anymore so we’ll just have a short 50 minute practice session on the 27th. Just to have that experience level will be crucial.”
Majeski started racing karts at the age of nine and started touring Wisconsin in a late model when he was fifteen. Moving to Super Late Models, Majeski was a threat to win every race he went to. One of those victories was at the Milwaukee Mile and that experience gives him confidence at the track even with a different vehicle. “With Super late models, this is a big track for us and coming here in a truck it is a small one. It’s a different mindset, the trucks are a lot heavier. In the truck it will be a lot more tire management with a lot of tire fall off, definitely a different mindset.”
Being a home-state favorite, look for a Majeski crowd in the Milwaukee stands in August. “Oh yeah, we have busses lined up. There is one coming from LaCrosse, where my Late Model team is from and also from the Valley, where I am from, so definitely a lot of people in the stands.”
In addition to the Clean Harbors 175, fans will be treated to a double-dose of side-by-side racing action when the ARCA Menards Series opens the day’s racing card with the Sprecher 150.
“This race was always a battle and this year, in its return, won’t be any different,” said Milwaukee Mile promoter and Track Enterprises president Bob Sargent. “The relatively flat mile means lots of gear shifting, lots of lead changes and, most importantly, lots of action. The whole Track Enterprises team looks forward to NASCAR’s return to the historic Milwaukee Mile. We’re excited to see some great CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series Racing.
“A lot of people missed this race. There’s nostalgia and there’s excitement – the best of both worlds. We think this is a win-win for everyone and anticipate the teams, fans, sponsors and local community to enjoy a fantastic weekend of action at this incredible race track.”
For more information or to purchase tickets for the Clean Harbors 175 weekend, please log on to trackenterprises.com.
The Clean Harbors 175 from the Milwaukee Mile will be televised live on FS1 Sunday, August 27 beginning at 4 p.m. EDT. The race will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
John Wiedemann is the owner, editor and developer of the RacingNation.com website.
A motorsports fan from his earliest memories, John started going to local short tracks and the Milwaukee Mile with his parents, brother and sister. John enjoys drivers racing side by side and battling for the same piece of real estate on the racetrack as much as he appreciates the technical aspects of the sport.