Corey Heim delivered a dominant performance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, achieving his ninth win of the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season and matching Greg Biffle’s long-standing single-season victory record. This win, featuring a relentless drive and strategic prowess, firmly places Heim’s name in NASCAR history as the Truck Series playoffs intensify, with the Corey Heim ninth Truck win now a major talking point in motorsports circles.
Heim Equals Biffle’s Record with a Commanding Display
On a brisk day in Loudon, Corey Heim added to his legacy by steering his truck to victory lane after leading 124 of 175 laps, also earning pole position and finishing first in both Stage 1 and 2. His remarkable achievement matches Greg Biffle’s record of nine wins in a single Truck Series season, a standard that has stood tall since 1999. Heim, considered a future Cup Series contender, showcased both speed and composure as he withstood a late-race onslaught from Chandler Smith, who pushed hard for a much-needed playoff advancement.
Since the start of the ten-race playoff segment, Heim’s form has been nothing short of spectacular. He has won two of the three Round of 10 events, and along with Layne Riggs, has dominated recent Truck Series races, making the duo clear favorites as the season approaches its deciding rounds.
The Standouts and Big Movers in New Hampshire
Heim’s day was punctuated by his pole-winning lap of 29.886 seconds, clocking an average speed of 127.444 mph. Christian Eckes, who started near the back of the pack in 28th position, managed an impressive climb to finish ninth, earning recognition as the race’s biggest mover. The balance of speed and tactical execution was evident throughout the field, but Heim’s consistent pace remained unmatched.
How Heim Took Control of the Race
Early pit strategies threatened to stall Heim’s progress, as several competitors stayed out at the end of Stage 1, relegating his truck deeper into the pack. In Stage 2, rookie Andres Perez led for a stretch of 47 laps before Rajah Caruth seized the front. Still, timely cautions and Heim’s raw pace enabled him to fight his way back through the field and reclaim control, securing the stage win.
With clean air ahead, Heim reasserted his dominance, expertly managing the gap over Smith, who needed a win for playoff advancement but could not close the deal before the checkered flag. Notably, Heim still has four races left in the season to break the tie with Biffle and claim sole ownership of the record for most single-season Truck Series victories.
Truck Series Playoff Shake-Up
The playoff implications were dramatic, as Chandler Smith and Jake Garcia both saw their championship pursuits cut short after New Hampshire. Garcia struggled for speed throughout, while mechanical issues derailed Smith earlier in the playoffs, forcing him into a must-win scenario from which he came up just short. The playoff field now resets for the Round of 8, with upcoming races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, Talladega Superspeedway, and Martinsville Speedway set to decide the finalists who will compete for the Truck Series title at Phoenix Raceway.
“The @NASCAR_Trucks Playoff grid reseeded for the Round of 8. Races are the @CLTMotorSpdwy Roval, @TALLADEGA, and @MartinsvilleSwy. #NASCAR #NASCARPlayoffs #EJP175 pic.twitter.com/0XLnxeKh70”
— Peter Stratta, Reporter
Rookies Making Their Mark and a Local Favorite Shines
Gio Ruggiero, hailing from Seekonk, Massachusetts, emerged as Rookie of the Race with a fourth-place finish, bolstering his campaign for Rookie of the Year. Ruggiero’s home–track performance, combined with the misfortune of rival rookie Connor Mosack—who crashed on the first lap—has helped the No. 17 team widen its gap in the rookie standings. Other rookie contenders, including Brent Crews, Jayson Alexander, and Blake Lothian, faced various challenges, with Ruggiero’s result standing out as the week’s most headline-worthy among first-year drivers.
The full roster of rookie finishers reflected the range of outcomes typical in playoff racing, with several drivers like Dawson Sutton and Michael Christopher Jr. notching solid mid-pack results in a field laden with rookies aiming to make a name for themselves.
Celebration and Reactions: The Impact across the Grid
“Welcome to the 9-win club @CoreyHeim_ cheers ! pic.twitter.com/gdIRLaAKu7”
— Greg Biffle, Former Driver and 9-win Record Holder
As Corey Heim joins an exclusive club atop the record books, congratulations poured in from across the NASCAR community, led by Greg Biffle. Chandler Smith, despite his playoff elimination, looked back at his season with a sense of accomplishment, especially given the late formation of his team. Gio Ruggiero described his pride at delivering a top-five finish at his home track, while Kaden Honeycutt, who finished seventh, found relief in advancing to the next postseason round. Rajah Caruth, who led laps and finished tenth, ensured his continued presence in the championship hunt by heading to the Round of 8.
Visual Standouts and the Best Looking Truck
Christian Eckes not only impressed with his performance on the track but also took honors for the best paint scheme of the weekend. The NAPA NightVision Chevrolet, making its second and final appearance of the season on a fifth entry from McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, featured a striking black and deep purple look accented with gold. Eckes’ truck drew attention not only for its livery but also its remarkable on-track charge.
“A little bit of chassis info on this practice broadcast: Christian Eckes’ truck for this weekend is the same one he won four races with last year, including Nashville where he led every single lap. pic.twitter.com/ci873sICd9”
— Steven Taranto, Journalist
Eckes, utilizing the same chassis that propelled him to multiple wins the previous season, advanced 19 spots during the race, emphasizing his skill and the truck’s pedigree by finishing ninth after a mid-pack qualifying effort.
Looking Ahead: A Historic Road Course Awaits
The series now shifts focus to the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL, which marks a return to road course racing after a seven-year hiatus. The 67-lap event in Charlotte will serve as the final road course stop of the year and will be pivotal in determining which drivers secure their position in the championship finale. Corey Heim, still sharing the single-season victory record, has a unique chance to make history outright as the playoffs continue, with the Corey Heim ninth Truck win fueling excitement and anticipation among fans and competitors alike.
Coverage for the ROVAL race is set for Friday, October 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, with additional radio coverage carried by the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. As the postseason intensity continues to build, all eyes remain on Heim and his pursuit of a record-breaking tenth win, while contenders regroup for a critical stretch run toward the championship at Phoenix Raceway.
The @NASCAR_Trucks Playoff grid reseeded for the Round of 8.
Races are the @CLTMotorSpdwy Roval, @TALLADEGA, and @MartinsvilleSwy. #NASCAR #NASCARPlayoffs #EJP175 pic.twitter.com/0XLnxeKh70
— Peter Stratta (@peterstratta) September 20, 2025
Welcome to the 9-win club @CoreyHeim_ cheers ! pic.twitter.com/gdIRLaAKu7
— Greg Biffle (@gbiffle) September 20, 2025
A little bit of chassis info on this practice broadcast: Christian Eckes' truck for this weekend is the same one he won four races with last year, including Nashville where he led every single lap. pic.twitter.com/ci873sICd9
— Steven Taranto (@STaranto92) September 19, 2025
