Corey Heim secured the historic first pole position for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, marking the debut of trucks on the 2.28-mile road course, and spotlighting the Corey Heim Charlotte Roval pole as a milestone achievement. Heim’s latest accomplishment came on Friday, cementing his place in series history at the uniquely challenging venue.
Heim, driving the No. 11 Toyota for Tricon Garage, built on his fastest lap during practice—posting a best speed at 95.056 mph—by delivering a 96.492 mph run in qualifying to seize the top starting spot. This mark represents his seventh pole win of the current season, furthering a standout campaign in the series and confirming his dominance on the track. Lining up beside Heim on the front row is Layne Riggs in the No. 34 Ford, clocking a strong 96.281 mph. Brent Crews, Grant Enfinger, and Kaden Honeycutt, who is a contender in the Playoffs driving the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota, complete the top five starters for the event.
Heim’s Preparations and Inspirations for the Roval
Heim’s historic qualifying effort comes in a season where he is making headlines, having tied the single-season record with nine NCTS race victories. When asked how he prepared for the first-ever truck race at the Roval, Heim pointed to careful study of drivers who excel on road courses in other NASCAR series, including Shane Van Gisbergen—who holds four NASCAR Cup Series road course wins this year—and Connor Zilisch, the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff leader, both of whom are set to participate in the Roval action.
Zilisch managed to qualify sixth among the 36-truck field, adding a new layer of rivalry and competition to Friday’s race as he brings his considerable road course prowess into play. Heim shared insights about the challenge of adapting to road course racing, reflecting on the learning path he undertook since his early days in ARCA and grassroots racing events.
“I never really came from a road-course background,”
Heim told NASCAR.com. He continued, speaking about the drivers that influence his approach: Shane Van Gisbergen in the Cup Series, and Connor Zilisch in the Xfinity Series.
Heim added that watching and analyzing their performance, both of whom possess specialized road-course expertise, has been an important part of his progression as a well-rounded racer. He further explained,
“I really started working hard on it when I first raced in ARCA, because of the few road-course races that we did within that full-time ARCA year for me. But prior to that, I think I had a couple Legends car races growing up on the road courses, and maybe a couple TA2 (Muscle Car) races to just kind of get my feet in the water.”
Zilisch Represents a Formidable Rival
Connor Zilisch’s appearance in the Roval Truck race has not escaped Heim’s notice, particularly given Zilisch’s own successes. Piloting a JR Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings, Zilisch is also riding the momentum of nine wins, making the competition between him and Heim a notable subplot for the event. Heim discussed the competitive pressure that Zilisch brings to the field.
“I’ve always been a believer in ‘if you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,’ right?”
Heim said. With Zilisch’s strong performance at Watkins Glen, where he was a last-minute substitute for Kaden Honeycutt, Heim recognizes that overcoming Zilisch this weekend will be a challenge. As he put it,
“So, definitely going to probably have my hands full with him this weekend.”
Teams Embrace Strategy and Adaptation at the Roval
One of the defining elements of this race is that teams are operating with very limited prior experience on the Roval, resulting in a scarcity of historical data for car setup and race strategy. Unlike well-established tracks, this first experience at Charlotte’s road course means both crew chiefs and engineers must lean heavily on simulator time and make real-time calls during the race, rather than relying on years of accumulated notes.
Friday’s 67-lap showdown will serve as a proving ground for both drivers and teams as they improvise pit stop timing, tire management, and race tactics, with close attention required to see how different strategies unfold throughout the event. The race is set to air at 3:30 p.m. on FS1, with comprehensive coverage provided on NASCAR Radio Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Channel 90.
The debut of trucks on the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval not only gives Corey Heim a new accolade in his growing list of achievements but also ushers in a period of learning and innovation for competitors. With accomplished names such as Brent Crews, Grant Enfinger, Kaden Honeycutt, Shane Van Gisbergen, and Connor Zilisch all eyeing victory, fans can expect a compelling event where preparation, adaptability, and competitive spirit take center stage.
