After eight episodes of the Ram: Race for The Seat actuality present competitors, Kaulig Racing has finalized the motive force of its fifth truck for the 2026 Craftsman Truck Sequence season. Mini Tyrrell, aged 21, bested 14 different drivers to win the competitors and safe a full-time deal within the Truck Sequence.
The competitors featured varied races at street programs and ovals, that includes late mannequin inventory vehicles, Legends, and even go-karts. There have been additionally off-track competitions, testing drivers with press conferences, commercials, and rewarding them based mostly on their character, bodily endurance, and management expertise.
Title showdown to safe full-time trip within the #14 truck
Factors had been awarded for all of this, and going into the ultimate episode, Tyrrell was one level behind Carson Ferguson within the championship standings. Underneath the lights at South Boston Speedway, the contenders confronted off in Lade Mannequin Inventory Automobiles.
Tyrrell received his warmth race, which meant Ferguson needed to do the identical to keep up his slender one-point championship lead. He began fourth, however needed to win as a way to deny Tyrrell. He struggled to make ahead progress, ending fifth (final).
“The truth that I got here out on prime is loopy, man,” mentioned Tyrrell. “It is unreal. I cant wait to get to work.” He later added: “That is the craziest day of my life, man. Greatest day of my life. Every part I’ve ever labored for has paid off.”
Ferguson was emotional after the powerful loss, and was comforted by Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Rice. “It hurts somewhat bit extra as a result of as a result of I do know I used to be so shut,” remarked Ferguson.
Battle for $50k and Martinsville #25 seat
In a twist, the hosts introduced that the winner of the ultimate race would get an opportunity to compete within the Truck Sequence anyway, however as the motive force of the No. 25 in a one-race deal at Martinsville Speedway.
Landon Huffman and Jared Fryar joined Tyrrell and Ferguson in that last race for the $50,000 prize. And past Tyrrell, who was simply chasing the money, the opposite three nonetheless had an opportunity to safe a one-race deal and race the No. 25 Ram truck at Martinsville.
Ferguson drew pole place, and led a lot of the 20-lap race. On a restart, they practically went three-wide as Ferguson maintained the benefit, taking the checkered flag. It was a fairly good comfort prize after dropping out on the full-time trip, because the dust racer netted the aforementioned $50,000 prize and an opportunity to race at Martinsville later this yr. It is going to be his NCTS debut.
“Everyone goes to suppose it is scripted,” joked Tyrrell. “The highest two, proper? The one man wins the seat, and the man that does not win the seat wins the 50k. Glad it was a cheerful ending for the each of us.”
Who’s Mini Tyrrell?
All through the present, Tyrrell received his warmth race within the Legends vehicles at Ace Speedway, and in Late Mannequin Shares at VIR. He additionally received a contest surrounding a mock business, selling Kaulig and Ram.
Tyrrell has by no means raced on the nationwide degree of NASCAR, nor has he competed within the ARCA Menard’s Sequence. Nonetheless, he’ll make his ARCA debut at Daytona with Cook dinner Racing Applied sciences in preparation for the upcoming Truck season.
He’s an skilled driver within the CARS Late Mannequin Tour, securing his first win in 2021, just some days after his seventeenth birthday at Tri-County Motor Speedway. This previous yr, he added three extra CARS Tour victories to his resume, and has completed inside the highest 5 within the standings in back-to-back seasons.
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