Ty Majeski is a strong driver in the regular season. But when the playoffs start? He becomes a different beast.

Majeski won his first race of 2023 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in the first race of the Truck Series playoffs. It’s his third career win – the first two came in last year’s playoffs. He was clearly the dominant force of the day as well, sweeping the stages and leading the most laps. After seven top five finishes earlier in the season, including three second places, it’s hard to argue he wasn’t due.

Christian Eckes took second behind Majeski, but the other big story in the top five didn’t come from a playoff driver. Layne Riggs, who has driven part time this year, came home third driving for Spire Motorsports. It was Layne’s best career finish in Trucks, his second top ten (the other one was last year here) and his first top five. Someone get that kid a full time ride.

Shane van Gisbergen made his Truck Series and oval race debut, and it was relatively quiet. Though some will be disappointed with his 19th place truck finish after a debut win in the Cup Series, expectations for him should be kept low on the ovals as he learns them. For now, he had a quiet race, and that’s great for a new discipline.

No playoff contender had a disastrous day, though six drivers are currently separating themselves from the other four. Matt Crafton and Matt DiBenedetto still sit below the cut line, but only by 2 and 3 points respectively. Nick Sanchez is the driver on the bubble at +2, while Ben Rhodes’ 16th place finish – worst of the playoff drivers – puts him in danger at +4. All other drivers are currently at least 20 points clear of the cut line.

The Truck Series gets another week off this weekend, then we’ll be right back at it, returning to the Milwaukee Mile for the first time in over a decade on Sunday, August 27th.