In a dramatic finish under the lights at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, Corey Heim etched his name in the record books, overtaking Kyle Busch as the youngest driver ever to claim 14 wins in the NASCAR Truck Series. Heim, just 22 years old, captured the historic victory after a gritty double-overtime battle in the SpeedyCash.com 250, making his third trip to Victory Lane this season and cementing his meteoric rise in NASCAR’s competitive landscape.
The achievement by Heim marks a major milestone that previously belonged to Kyle Busch, who reached his 14th NASCAR Truck Series win at 24 years of age in 2009 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Heim’s swift ascent to this win total, achieved in only his third full-time season, stands in sharp contrast to Busch, who needed seven seasons—albeit mostly part-time—to achieve the same feat.
During Friday’s race in Texas, Heim’s determination was on full display as he led a race-high 96 laps and outlasted seasoned challengers Daniel Hemric and Ben Rhodes through two heart-stopping overtime restarts. The exciting conclusion drew attention across the racing world, with NASCAR Insights acknowledging Heim’s record-breaking run on social media:
Corey Heim joins elite company by surpassing Kyle Busch as the youngest to 14 Truck Series wins.
Kyle Busch remains a towering figure in the sport’s history. His fourteenth win, achieved with Billy Ballew Motorsports in the #51 Miccosukee Resort Toyota, came after leading 75 laps, narrowly defeating Ron Hornaday Jr., who dominated most of that race. Over his legendary Truck Series career, Busch has delivered staggering numbers, amassing 67 wins in just 176 attempts. His relentless pace, combined success in both the Xfinity and Truck Series, and two-decade legacy have earned him acclaim as possibly the best ever in NASCAR’s lower ranks—fans even coined him the “Buschwhacker.”
Interestingly, Heim’s breakthrough and rise are closely intertwined with Busch’s career. Having begun his national NASCAR journey under the banner of Kyle Busch Motorsports, piloting the well-known #51 Toyota, Heim learned from one of the sport’s greatest. His part-time debut in 2021 included a breakthrough victory in Atlanta. Still competing part-time, Heim earned Rookie of the Year honors the following year and scored two wins along with eight top-tens in just 16 races.
Heim’s switch to TRICON Garage in 2023 marked another leap forward, as a full-time driver he quickly clinched the regular-season championship. The momentum carried into 2024, where he amassed six triumphs and missed the season championship by the slimmest of margins, finishing second in Phoenix. The new season began in 2025 with wins at Daytona and Las Vegas, before Heim’s victory in Texas propelled him to the top of the Truck Standings with 368 points.
Heim’s achievement reflects both his talent and the influence of veterans like Kyle Busch, demonstrating how NASCAR’s rising stars continue to push the boundaries set by the legends before them. With this new record, Heim joins the elite company once inhabited by Busch, hinting at a future rich with promise and the possibility of setting even more milestones in seasons to come.
