Ty Majeski battled back from a pit road speeding penalty to claim his first top-ten finish of the 2018 season with a 7th-place effort at Iowa Speedway.
In his eighth NASCAR Xfinity Series race and third at the short track, Majeski began the day by advancing to the second round of qualifying and earning a 17th-place starting spot. His No. 60 Ford Performance Mustang started the day with a tight handling condition, but improved over the course of long green flag runs. Majeski would finish the first stage of the race in 14th place.
Crew chief Mike Kelley brought the Wisconsin native down pit road at the stage break for four tires and a round of handling adjustments that would free the car up and give Majeski the forward drive he needed to start moving through the field. Majeski restarted 12th for stage two and quickly began moving through the field. Just 25 laps into stage two he would claim the ninth position, which he maintained until the end of the segment.
Majeski pitted again for four tires, fuel and minor handling adjustments, but was penalized by race officials for speeding on pit road. The penalty forced Majeski to the rear of the field for the final stage restart. Despite the disadvantage, Majeski was able to quickly move back through the field and was in the tenth position when the fourth caution of the day flew on lap 194.
Kelley brought Majeski down pit road one final time for a fresh set of tires and fuel. His crew worked quickly, gaining three spots on pit road and allowing Majeski to restart eighth. He would move as high as sixth before the fifth and final caution of the day came out on lap 232. Majeski lost one spot on the restart with 12 laps remaining in the race, and finished the race in seventh.
The finish is the high mark for Majeski in eight career NXS races, and the best for the No. 60 team this season.
After an off weekend, the NASCAR Xfinity Series resumes June 30 at Chicagoland Speedway.
RFR PR/Photo Credit Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
