Winning back-to-back championships in the World Series of Asphalt is arguably the most challenging feat in Super Late Model racing but Ty Majeski might be the most capable in quite a while to achieve the unlikely.
The reigning champion is looking to do something that hasn’t been done since 1994 when Pete Orr captured his third-straight February title. But a cursory glance at the entry list for the two-week event reveals Majeski as the odds-on statistical favorite.
Sure, Harrison Burton, Stephen Nasse and David Rogers have all won races the historic half-mile but Makjeski has been the most dominant force in the recent history of New Smyrna Speedway. In addition to back-to-back wins in the Florida Governor’s Cup, Majeski posted three wins and three runner-ups in the 2016 World Series.
READ MORE: Complete World Series of Asphalt Coverage
For the sake of clarity, he finished no worse than second en route to capturing the championship by 24 points over Burton.
“The biggest thing is just putting all the races together,” Majeski said. “Because you’re done if you have one really bad race. You can’t take unnecessary risks. Finish fourth of fifth if that’s what it takes to avoid a precarious position.”
Majeski conceded that he was somewhat lucky in how the inverts played out last season, and that’s why he and crew chief Toby Nuttleman have arrived expecting a tougher overall challenge. With that said, Majeski likely benefits from the nightly 35 lap format too.
“I think that’s part of our success,” Majeski said. “But I think you have to have different modes as a driver. You have to have a 35-lap mode, a 100-lap and a 200-lap mode. It doesn’t matter what you’re asked to do, you just have to get it done.
Majeski got it done last year in the World Series but can he go back-to-back?
List of World Series of Asphalt Super Late Model champions
2016 – Ty Majeski
2015 – Zane Smith
2014 – Steve Wallace
2013 – Ryan Moore
2012 – Kyle Benjamin
2011 – Tim Russell
2010 – BJ McLeod
2009 – David Rogers
2008 – Jeff Choquette
2007 – Jeff Scofield
2006 – Travis Kittleson
2005 – Louie Mechalides
2004 – Mike Fritts
2003 – Wayne Anderson
2002 – Jimmy Cope
2001 – David Rogers
2000 – Wayne Anderson
1999 – David Rogers
1998 – Jason Shuler
1997 – Lowell Bennett
1996 – David Russell
1995 – Bruce Lawrence
1994 – Pete Orr
1993 – Pete Orr
1992 – Pete Orr
1991 – Dick Anderson
1990 – Junior Hanley
1989 – Frank Wood
1988 – Joe Shear
1987 – David Rogers
1986 – Dick Trickle
1985 – Dick Trickle
1984 – Dick Trickle
1983 – Mark Malcuit
1982 – Dick Trickle
1981 – Junior Hanley
1980 – Junior Hanley
1979 – Mike Miller
1978 – Mark Martin
1977 – Mike Eddy
1976 – Freddy Fryar
1975 – Pete Hamilton
1974 – Pete Hamilton
1973 – Larry Rogero
1972 – Joe Rutman
1971 – Gary Balough
1970 – Randy Tissot
1969 – Dave McInnis
1968 – Tom Pistone
