Avondale, AZ – The Craftsman NASCAR Truck Series marks its 30th season this year, kicking off in February at Daytona International Speedway and concluding in November at Phoenix Raceway.
The four championship finalists are No. 19 Christian Eckes, No. 98 Ty Majeski, No. 11 Corey Heim, and No. 9 Grant Enfinger. Eckes, driving the No. 19 truck, clinched his spot in the championship race with a dominant win in Martinsville, joining the others in the Phoenix showdown. Majeski, who began racing trucks part-time four years ago and also competed in the Xfinity Series during the 2017-2018 season, is a first-generation driver who started racing at the age of nine.
This year’s finale brings another championship appearance for ThorSport Racing, whose crew chief was visibly emotional after the race, marking ThorSport’s sixth championship in 11 years.
Throughout the race, Majeski showcased impressive control, maintaining a strong lead over Heim and Eckes, while Enfinger fought hard to break into the top five. Heim put pressure on Majeski, challenging his lead, while Eckes and Enfinger battled fiercely to stay in the championship mix.
This is Eckes’ fourth appearance in the Craftsman Truck Series playoffs, entering as the No. 2 seed. However, this is his first time advancing to the Championship 4 after being eliminated early in his previous three playoff runs. Reflecting on his team’s support, Eckes commented, “Just having the confidence to rely on them. They’re going to bring a quality product for me to race. It’s a very tight-knit group we have, and I have lots of faith in them for sure.”
Also catching attention was Frankie Muniz, well-known from “Malcolm in the Middle.” Muniz, who has long aspired to race, made his stock car debut in 2021 and has announced plans to compete full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2025.
During the race, Muniz was involved in a serious multi-truck collision that included Connor Mosack, William Sawalich, Tyler Ankrum, and Stefan Parsons. Fortunately, he only sustained minor injuries, seen limping into an ambulance with a few bruises.
In a post-race interview, Muniz shared, “It’s unfortunate. I had a good opportunity to run with some great guys, made some passes, and lost a few spots on restarts but gained them back. I just had nowhere to go when I got hit from behind into the No. 42, with the No. 18 stopped right there. I went right into him.”
