Corey Heim, the standout driver in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, prepares to chase his third straight victory at Kansas Speedway this Saturday night, as the Heart of Health Care 200 attracts top talent, including NASCAR Cup Series drivers. The event, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET, promises intense competition, yet Heim’s dominant form this season places him firmly in the spotlight as the favorite, despite the high-caliber field joining the race.
Heim’s recent successes speak volumes; the 22-year-old has captured two wins on 1.5-mile speedways this year, securing victories at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway. As the only multiple winner in the series so far, with three season wins, Corey Heim continues to impress, especially in the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota. Not only is he defending a Kansas sweep from last year, but he is also carving out history as the youngest driver to reach 14 Truck Series wins. One more win would see him tie veteran Matt Crafton for 10th on the all-time series victory list.
However, Corey Heim faces a significant challenge with Cup drivers William Byron and Carson Hocevar joining the lineup, both racing in Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverados. Byron, reflecting on his opportunity this weekend, stated,
“I’m excited to get back in a truck this weekend, especially at Kansas. This is a track where I’ve run well at during my career, but extra laps are always helpful no matter where it is. I appreciate Spire giving me the chance to run a truck again this year and hopefully we can have a good showing for them and (sponsor) HendrickCars.com.”
Byron’s history at the track adds intrigue, as he notched his first Truck Series win at Kansas in 2016.
Carson Hocevar joins a group that has finished second at Kansas but has yet to win, along with Ben Rhodes, Ty Majeski, and Layne Riggs. The competitive lineup intensifies the challenge for Corey Heim, making his pursuit of three consecutive Kansas wins a momentous storyline. Success for Heim would cement his place among the series‘ elite, with fans and experts alike watching to see if he can maintain his exceptional momentum against such determined adversaries.
