Stock car racer Ty Majeski has been leaving his competition in the dust since he was a youngster. Now he is giving back to the community where it all started.
Majeski, 20, of Seymour, has started a driver development program for go-kart drivers, ages 8-12, at Gold Star Raceway in Clintonville.
After being around the drivers for several weeks, Majeski recently selected six applicants from a list of 15 to 20 to participate in the program. They are Kayden Schlueter, of Oconto; Tyler Tellock, of Clintonville; Skyelin Krohlow, of Suamico, Jacob Hiles, of Black Creek; Alishya Kreager, of Wausau; and Blake Bartel, of Fremont.
Majeski said he selected the group based on two main criteria: on- and off-the-track attitude, involvement and race performance.
“I want to choose people who are involved with working on the kart,” he said. “I don’t want someone who just drives and then goes and plays football (prior to and after the race).”
Majeski also wanted to incorporate teams with different levels of success this season.
“I didn’t want to pick just teams up at the front,” he said. “If I helped teams that already know everything, what help would that be?”
He visits the track every Wednesday to work with the teams and their drivers.
“I am showing the teams some of the ins and outs, the good line at the track, what staggers to run, correct tire pressure,” Majeski said.
Gold Star owner Ed Bertrand sees great value in helping the kids at such a young level.
“This is where it all starts. A lot of the racers at Shawano Speedway started in karts,” Bertrand said. “I’m behind Ty 100 percent. What he’s doing is an extra candle on the cake.”
The teams will receive guidance from Majeski on how succeed in racing, including how to set up a kart or how to handle race-day struggles. At the end of the season, he will select a program winner based on race results, attitude, sportmanship, communication skills, improvement and involvement with the race car.
“I’m looking for (someone with) that drive to get better,” Majeski said.
The winner will receive $250 and a day at the track during one of Majeski’s races.
Majeski’s program is similar to the Alan Kulwicki Driver Development Program, which Majeski was selected to be a part of in March. The Kulwicki program selects stock car drivers from all over the country based on race performance, involvement on social media, and commuity service.
Majeski’s youth development program is his way of fulfilling the community service category. As of June 12, Majeski led the seven other drivers in the Kulwicki Cup points race for a chance to win more than $54,000. The program is named in honor of the late Alan Kulwicki, 1992 NASCAR champion and Wisconsin native.
Majeski, who started racing go-karts in 2005, has recorded more than 70 go-kart wins. His first win came at Hi-Go Raceway in Cecil. In 2014 he became the youngest champion of the Automobile Racing Club of America Midwest Tour stock car series.
He hopes to have a long career in racing and is studying mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
