Corey Heim shattered the previous record for most wins in a single season, securing his 10th victory and setting the Corey Heim NASCAR Truck Series record at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Roval. On an intense race day, Heim crossed the finish line at the Ecosave 250, rewriting the history books and positioning himself as the winningest driver in a single Truck Series year.
Heim’s Path to Record-Breaking Victory at Charlotte
The landmark moment arrived during the Ecosave 250, where Corey Heim started from the pole position but faced immediate adversity. In the chaos of Turn 1, dubbed Calamity Corner, Grant Enfinger collided with Layne Riggs, which spun Riggs and caught Heim in the aftermath. Heim’s truck suffered significant damage, including a folded right front and a tire rub, forcing the Tricon team into multiple pit stops early in the race.
Despite the setback, Heim’s resilience and his team’s determination kept them in the running. Brent Crews, a teammate, commanded the field for most of the event by leading 56 laps, but a late caution — caused by Toni Breidinger’s stalled truck — forced the race into overtime. As the tension rose, Crews opted to pit for fresh tires and fuel, while Heim remained on the track, taking a crucial gamble.
The final restart proved decisive. Layne Riggs, still dealing with the aftermath of his earlier misfortune, experienced clutch problems that held up the outside lane. Heim capitalized, driving clear to win by 1.338 seconds over Crews, while rookie Gio Ruggiero took third, leading to a clean sweep of the podium for Tricon.
“NASCAR TRUCK SERIES HISTORY! Corey Heim bounces back on the Charlotte Roval to become the winningest driver in a single Truck Series season (10).”
“It was not easy today, I think it was probably the toughest one of the year so far,” Heim said after the race. (via NASCAR)
“Just shows the resilience of this Tricon team. They fixed it up so good for me after that incident on the first lap. I thought we were done, honestly.” (via NASCAR)
Milestones and Playoff Impact for Heim and Tricon
The historic Charlotte win advanced Corey Heim to the Championship 4 at Phoenix on October 31, cementing his status atop the single-season wins list and guaranteeing a shot at the title. It also marked his first victory at the Roval, and with 21 career wins, he now holds seventh place all-time in the Truck Series.
The playoff landscape after Charlotte is fiercely competitive. Daniel Hemric and Tyler Ankrum are both just above the elimination threshold, while Rajah Caruth holds a slender advantage at the cutline. Below them, Layne Riggs, Ty Majeski, Grant Enfinger, and Kaden Honeycutt face an urgent challenge going into Talladega, needing strong results to keep their championship hopes alive. NASCAR later confirmed Heim’s win as official after the truck passed post-race inspection with no irregularities found.
Spotlight on Playoff Format Criticism from Scott Zipadelli
While Heim’s performance brought celebration, it also renewed scrutiny of the current NASCAR playoff structure. Crew chief Scott Zipadelli voiced his dissatisfaction in an interview with NASCAR’s Davey Segal, focusing attention on what he perceives as flaws in the winner-take-all format.
“If we were racing the old format, I would have three truck championships,” Zipadelli said. “And Carson Hocevar would have never wrecked us for a championship at Phoenix. I think it was the worst thing NASCAR ever did. I think all it does is promote mediocrity.”
Zipadelli noted the unpredictability of a system where a driver could win multiple races but lose the title to a winless competitor. His point was that the structure sometimes diminishes sustained excellence, as one incident can erase season-long dominance.
“Some people just work harder than others. Some people are just better than others. So how can you make everybody equal?”
These struggles are not new to Heim and Zipadelli. In 2023, Heim was among the leading drivers only to finish last in the decisive Championship 4 event. Last year, despite tallying six wins and collecting 18 top-10s, Heim was outdone by Ty Majeski, highlighting the unpredictability and drama inherent in the current system.
Heim Stands as the Clear Favorite Heading to Phoenix
With his record-breaking win count, two victories on road courses this season, and a league-leading average finish of 5.8, Corey Heim now enters the Round of 8 as the primary contender for the championship. The consistency and determination displayed by both Heim and the Tricon team throughout 2025 have positioned them among the favorites as the title race moves toward Phoenix.
This achievement cements Heim’s reputation as a formidable competitor in the series and keeps all eyes on his ongoing pursuit of championship glory in an increasingly unpredictable playoff system. The coming races at Talladega and Phoenix will determine if Heim can convert his dominant performance into a Truck Series championship — possibly establishing an even higher benchmark in NASCAR history.
NASCAR TRUCK SERIES HISTORY! Corey Heim bounces back on the Charlotte Roval to become the winningest driver in a single Truck Series season (10). https://t.co/3OzcwAIOS3 pic.twitter.com/M6WjCVeGSs
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 3, 2025
