Corey Heim secured a record-setting achievement with his tenth victory in the 2025 NASCAR Truck Series by mastering a dramatic comeback at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, reinforcing the dominance of his No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota and advancing to the Championship 4. This Corey Heim NASCAR Truck win showcased immense resilience following an early crash that could have ended his race, but instead propelled him into NASCAR history.
Heim Overcomes Early Crash for Record Victory
Making history on the Roval, Heim delivered an extraordinary performance after a chaotic start saw him smash into the tire barrier at Turn 1, damaging his truck’s left front. Refusing to let setback determine his day, Heim expertly maneuvered his wounded vehicle back to the front of the field. Overcoming initial adversity, he passed every competitor to claim both the victory and a historic tenth season win, the most in a single NASCAR Truck Series season.
Sharing his thoughts after the remarkable drive, Heim remarked,
I think this was probably the toughest one of the year so far. Just shows the resilience of this TRICON team. They fixed it up so good for me on the first lap, which was just kind of out of our control. I thought we were done. The right front completely folded when I hit the wall over there. Kind of out of breath just from screaming after that one. That was awesome. A record-breaking ten wins. That’s just a phenomenal accomplishment.
— Corey Heim, Driver
Heim’s teammate Brent Crews, who led much of the race and initially seemed poised for a breakthrough, settled for second place after a strategic decision to take fresh tires late in the event. Despite his speed, Crews could not recover enough positions to catch Heim before the checkered flag fell. Gio Ruggiero completed a sweep of the podium for TRICON with a third-place finish, followed by Rajah Caruth in fourth and Connor Zilisch in fifth. Other notable top ten finishers included Josh Bilicki, Grant Enfinger, Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum, and Connor Mosack.
First Stage: Early Chaos and Attrition
The opening laps at the Roval quickly descended into a flurry of incidents as front-runners Heim, Riggs, and Grant Enfinger all collided at Turn 1, resulting in significant damage and early repairs. The full field’s rhythm was further disrupted moments later when Ben Rhodes crashed elsewhere on the circuit, ending his race.
Mechanical issues and contact plagued numerous drivers, with Parker Kligerman forced to retire after mechanical problems, Timmy Hill getting spun, and Chandler Smith losing control in the final chicane. Taking advantage of chaos and pit stop strategies, leader Crews and several top contenders opted for pits before the end of the first stage in search of improved track position.
This decision paved the way for Honeycutt to clinch Stage 1, ahead of Ty Majeski and Tyler Ankrum. However, pit road drama persisted as Niece Motorsports teammates Matt Mills and Bayley Currey made contact, adding to the growing casualty list.
Middle Segment: Strategy and More Incidents
After collecting Stage 1 points, Honeycutt restarted deep in the field, while Crews swiftly regained the lead. The second stage was marked by additional spins—Kris Wright and Jake Garcia each went off in separate incidents, and Dawson Sutton went off course after a second tangle with Hill during the event. Andres Perez was another casualty, forced to retire due to a broken axle.
Crew strategy re-emerged as a pivotal factor; Crews once again surrendered the stage lead for track position, creating another opening for Honeycutt, who remarkably swept both stages, earning a valuable 20 playoff points. Enfinger finished the second stage in second, with Caruth taking third.
Final Stage: Overtime Drama and Historic Finish
Crews resumed control at the front during the final run as tensions heightened. Josh Bilicki, who had been running in the top five, was spun out at the hairpin, followed later by Matt Crafton in the same corner. Heim made significant progress, muscling past Connor Zilisch and working fervently to close the gap to his teammate for the lead, though it initially appeared Crews would remain unchallenged as the laps wound down.
The drama escalated when Toni Breidinger experienced mechanical failure and stalled on track, prompting the field into overtime conditions. With concerns about fuel, Crews pitted from the lead, handing the advantage to Heim, who elected to stay out and assume first position as the final restart approached.
Zilisch, restarting in fifth and leading the fresh tire contenders, and Crews, now shuffled to seventh, set the stage for a turbulent finish. The restart unleashed chaos, with aggressive racing resulting in Honeycutt and several others being spun, derailing strong runs for multiple drivers. In the scramble for second at the hairpin, further collisions ensued, with Chandler Smith being spun around, but the turmoil allowed Crews to battle back to second place.
Despite the late-race scrambles and surges by his pursuers, Heim had built a decisive advantage, crossing the finish line to secure his tenth win of the year and deliver a record-setting performance for TRICON. The final running order highlighted Heim’s historic achievement, followed closely by Crews and Ruggiero, and a tightly contested top ten packed with playoff implications for the NASCAR Truck Series field.
Impact of Heim’s Triumph and the Road Ahead
Corey Heim’s unprecedented success at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval not only sets a new benchmark for single-season victories but also locks him into the Championship 4, intensifying the focus on the remaining playoff battles. The resilience displayed by the TRICON Garage team under immense pressure further cements their status as a powerhouse in the series. As the drivers head into the next round, Heim’s performance stands as a blueprint for overcoming adversity, while Crews, Ruggiero, and others must regroup quickly to keep their championship aspirations alive. With pivotal playoff spots still at stake, every race ahead promises heightened intensity for fans and competitors alike.
