Corey Heim was the favorite heading into Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway. And, when the checkered flag finally waved after some late-race drama, he and the No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota team showed why by winning the race and the title.
Surviving two overtime restarts, seven-wide racing and close pursuit by other championship contenders didn’t make it easy on Heim. But, when it mattered most the Marietta, GA native showed why he was the best of the rest to claim his first NCTS crown.
Took the Hardway to the Hardware
Heim started sixth and took the lead on lap 22 for the first of four times. Although he led a race-high 100 of 161 laps, it wasn’t until the final overtime when he was able to get out front to lead the final two circuits beating last year’s NCTS champion Ty Majeski to the line.
To do that, Heim went from 10th to second in the second overtime restart that produced four, five and seven-wide racing as the championship contenders battled for positions. The overtime was needed when the caution came out for a four-truck crash with three laps remaining.
Heim was one of seven Trucks called to pit road for four fresh tires. This put him 10th for the restart with the championship on the line.
“I don’t care if I was on 100-lap tires; nobody was going to beat me tonight,” Heim said. “It wasn’t going to happen. We struggled all weekend in practice a little bit. In qualifying, we missed it a little bit.
“You can always trust Scott (Zipadelli, crew chief) up on the box to do everything he can to put me in a position to win the race. That’s what he did.
“Drove it in deep until I couldn’t anymore. Drove away with it.”
Record Setting Year
Heim dominated the NCTS season setting several records along the way. First, he won 12 of 25 races, breaking Greg Biffle’s record. The 23-year-old driver also won 23 stages and earned 63 stage points this year, both new records.
He also led 1,625 laps setting another single-season NCTS record. Adding to the stats was the fact Heim completed 3,942 of 3,946 laps contested for a 99.9 percent completion ratio.
The newly crowned NCTS champion was very grateful for those who helped him along the way.
“Last year, I thought it was our year,” Heim said. “We had the momentum and for lack of a better word, we kind of got our teeth kicked in.
“And this year we came back, and, I mean, broke just about every record you possibly could.”
Heim Appreciates Those Who Helped
A driver’s name is above the door on every Truck. However, they don’t accomplish greatness by themselves. Heim knows that and spread the appreciation out after the race.
“I just am so grateful to be where I’m at,” Heim said. “So thankful for the TRICON Garage, Toyota taking a chance on me years ago, Safelite, Mobil 1, Yahoo, Celsius, for every bit of their support.
“I was so stressed out ever since we went to the ROVAL. I’ve been so terrible to talk to as a person, so stressed out. This is just such a relief, to say the least.
“So thankful for everybody. There are so many names I could go through, Trevor (Bayne, Competition Mentor, TRD) and Blake (Koch, Competition Mentor, TRD) for all my prep work, 23XI for everything they do for me on the development side. There’s such a long list.
“Thankful for everybody involved.”
Contenders were Close Behind
Majeski led 35 laps and looked to repeat last year’s championship until the final caution. He couldn’t hold off the hard charging Heim and ended up finishing second.
He was followed to the line by Kaden Honeycutt for third in the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota. The fourth contender, Tyler Ankrum, finished in a distant 14th place.
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