Corey Heim secured his place in the Championship 4 after an impressive charge from early trouble to victory, earning his record-breaking tenth win of the season and leading TRICON Garage to a historic podium sweep. This triumph at the Georgia driver’s home track ensures Heim’s continued dominance while solidifying his Corey Heim Championship 4 berth heading into Phoenix at the end of the month.
Heim Overcomes Early Setback to Claim the Win
At the opening moments of the race, Corey Heim found himself in a difficult position after a first-lap incident that saw his truck suffer significant damage. Despite the challenge, Heim skillfully navigated through the field, ultimately taking control on the final restart. This latest victory not only marks his 21st career win but also sets a new personal season record, as Heim has now claimed victory in six of the last eight races.
Securing a berth in the Championship 4 for the third consecutive year, Heim’s remarkable comeback highlights his reputation for resilience. He faced adversity throughout practice and qualifying but still demonstrated unwavering determination.
“No. We had a pretty big incident there. Once the right front was buried in the fence, I thought we were pretty much done. It is honestly pretty wild that we didn’t have any completely break from that incident and have to roll around half the pace all day. It certainly wasn’t as good as it was in practice. I thought we were pretty lights out, and pretty much a p1 potential truck all the way through practice and qualifying but had to fight for it. I’m so thankful for this TRICON group and their resilience – to be able to make my steering wheel from 90 degrees left down the straightaways, all towed out and messed up, to a competitive truck there in the end, it is pretty incredible to say the least. To have all the success we’ve had this year, it just shows I’m working with the best group in the garage. Super thankful for TRICON, Toyota, Safelite and Mobil 1 for all their efforts. Kind of speechless on what this means to me – it hasn’t sunk in yet, but couldn’t do it without TRICON, Toyota, Safelite and Mobil 1.”
– Corey Heim, Driver
TRICON Achieves Unprecedented 1-2-3 Finish
Heim was joined atop the podium by his TRICON teammates Brent Crews and Gio Ruggiero, both part of the Toyota Development program. Crews, piloting the No. 1 JBL Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, dominated much of the race by leading a race-high 55 laps before finishing second. This combined performance represents the first time in TRICON history the team has swept all three podium positions in a single event.
“I can take a lot away from today. Just want to thank the good Lord above for keeping me safe. This has been a really fun week working with Trevor (Bayne, competition mentor) and Blake (Koch, competition mentor) at home – working on my craft. Getting better and better every day. We had a really fast JBL Toyota Tundra today. Just grateful to keep running races and keep learning more and more. We had a super-fast truck as you guys got to see with us out front leading the race today. I had a blast. Just really happy for TRICON to be able to go 1-2-3 there. Congrats to the whole 11 (Corey Heim) team – they did a great job all day as well. It definitely sucks but learned a lot today and grateful for all the fans that came out today and glad we had a shot at it.”
– Brent Crews, Driver
Gio Ruggiero completed the TRICON sweep, building on a season marked by growth and a clear synergy among the organization’s drivers and crew.
Honeycutt’s Promise and Points Battle
Kaden Honeycutt, driving the No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Halmar Friesen Racing, also made his mark by winning both stages during the event, a first in his career. The Texas-born driver was poised for a strong top-five finish until the final lap, when contact sent him spinning. Undeterred, Honeycutt recovered to finish 14th, closing the gap in the points standings and leaving him only four points below the playoff cutline as the series heads to Talladega Superspeedway.
“It definitely sucks not having that finish. I felt like my guys did an amazing job and gave me an amazing truck today. Thank you to Halmar-Friesen Racing, Halmar, Mohawk Northeast, Toyota – they gave me the best preparation that I’ve ever had going to a road course. It is all thanks to them. Everyone at TPC (Toyota Performance Center) for keeping me locked in. It is so hard to hold my tongue about this – I don’t understand why stuff like this happens. All year – we’ve ran good and just had no results. It is what it is, but thankfully we are only four under, so it could be a whole lot worse. Thanks to my guys – they gave me an amazing truck. Thanks to everyone at Toyota, and we will move on to Talladega.”
– Kaden Honeycutt, Driver
Significance of the Race and What Lies Ahead
This event not only reinforced Corey Heim’s capabilities as a driver under pressure but also underscored the growing strength and cohesion of the TRICON Garage team. With Heim, Crews, and Ruggiero showcasing the depth of talent fostered by Toyota’s development programs, expectations are rising as the season approaches its climax. TRICON’s sweep demonstrates both strategic excellence and technical command, qualities that will be tested alongside rival teams in upcoming high-stakes races.
Looking forward, the points standings remain tight, particularly for drivers like Honeycutt, who remain in contention as the series prepares for Talladega. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the Championship 4, where Heim aims to capitalize on his berth and pursue a season finish that matches the benchmark he’s now set for himself and TRICON Garage.
