This year, the Corey Heim NASCAR playoff controversy has reached a boiling point after the 23-year-old’s standout performance in the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series failed to guarantee him a championship. Despite Heim’s historic season, current playoff regulations leave his title hopes in uncertainty, stirring intense responses from NASCAR fans across the nation.
Historic Consistency Fails to Secure Title Under New System
Corey Heim, whose consistency has drawn praise to levels rivaling 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott, has made waves by pushing the boundaries of single-season achievement in the Truck Series while driving for Tricon Garage. By the time the series moved into the Round of 8 at Charlotte, Heim had tallied nine wins. That impressive mark only grew as he scored a tenth victory on the 2.7-mile road course, pushing him past Greg Biffle’s record from 1999 for most wins in a Truck Series season.
At New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Heim managed to tie Biffle’s single-season record by claiming victory over Chandler Smith. Biffle, who set his record with nine wins, ended up losing the championship in 1999 to Jack Sprague. In a twist that echoes history, Heim’s game-changing performances might still leave him without a crown, even after setting a standard that had not been seen in decades.
Many fans feel frustration because, under NASCAR’s previous points system, Heim would have already clinched the series championship with three races left on the calendar. Social media and fan forums have seen a surge of criticism, aimed directly at the structure of NASCAR’s playoff format and its ability to reflect a driver’s year-long dominance.
“And if Heim gets wrecked at Phoenix, he could lose the “championship” to another driver even with a win record we haven’t seen in almost 30 years.”
— Cogito Ergo Sum (@CogitoInGa)
Playoff Format’s ‘Winner-Take-All’ Criticized by Fans
High among the criticisms is the random nature the current playoff structure introduces, where unforeseen mishaps in the final race at Phoenix could cost a driver the season’s title regardless of their overall record. Fans point to Heim’s situation as a glaring example of this flaw: one accident could snatch away what has been a near-flawless run in a single instant.
“As they should. Whooped everyone this year. But knowing this cornball format, he’ll probably have his 1 bad race at Phoenix.”
— Anonymous Fan
Heading into the last stretch of the season, Heim leads the points with 3,122, trailed by Tyler Ankrum’s 3,051. While Heim has maintained a clear statistical advantage, the small gap means that Ankrum could surpass him if Heim’s fortunes sour, similar to the scare Heim’s team faced at Charlotte. If Heim is knocked out in Phoenix, his ten-win campaign could easily fade from memory, overshadowed by the sudden loss of championship hopes.
“I was told playoff excitement was more important than creating superstars. If he gets wrecked out at Phoenix he’ll just be another loser to the overlords at NASCAR and some other driver will be celebrated as the (checks notes) “worthy champion”.”
— Elkmaster (@GeneAWitt)
Fan frustration comes through clearly in the online discourse, with many attacking the entertainment-driven format over what they see as a sacrifice of true racing excellence. Regular season achievements can become meaningless if circumstance intervenes in the closing event—leaving a bitter taste for those who value consistency and skill over spectacle.
“As he should. It’s gonna be a sham when he gets involved in someone else’s shit in Phoenix and doesn’t win it”
— Todd Lash (@tlash12)
Another vocal detractor argued the legitimacy of NASCAR’s postseason system, saying that the older model produced more authentic champions. Fans have suggested that the current structure turns the championship into something akin to a “reality TV show,” reducing the significance of race-by-race victories and points to a single decisive showdown.
“We’d have a legit champion instead of someone winning the reality tv show!”
— Skip 28 (@skip_28)
Persistent Criticism of NASCAR’s Championship Format
Since Matt Kenseth’s notable 2003 title run, NASCAR’s transition to a playoff finale has been controversial. The “winner-take-all” system now in place means that even the most dominant season—like Heim’s—can end without the championship, upending a year of consistent performance if a single race goes poorly. Supporters argue this approach adds drama and unpredictability, but critics maintain it can rob deserving drivers, like Heim, of the recognition they’ve earned over a full season.
With the final races rapidly approaching at Phoenix, the controversy remains front and center, with every point and every lap scrutinized by fans, drivers, and teams alike. What happens in the upcoming race could serve as a critical reflection point for the sport’s championship system, especially for those who support or oppose the current playoff model. The stakes are high, not only for Corey Heim and Tricon Garage but also for NASCAR’s continued balancing act between excitement and legitimacy.
#NASCAR… If the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series used a season-long points format, with the current points structure, then Corey Heim and TRICON Garage would have clinched the title this afternoon — the same day as breaking the single-season win record.
— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) October 3, 2025
And if Heim gets wrecked at Phoenix, he could lose the "championship" to another driver even with a win record we haven't seen in almost 30 years.
— Cogito Ergo Sum (@CogitoInGa) October 4, 2025
As they should. Whooped everyone this year. But knowing this cornball format he”ll probably have his 1 bad race at Phoenix 😂
— Blayk Parnell (@BlaykParnell1) October 3, 2025
I was told playoff excitement was more important than creating superstars.
If he gets wrecked out at Phoenix he’ll just be another loser to the overlords at NASCAR and some other driver will be celebrated as the (checks notes) “worthy champion”.
— Elkmaster (@GeneAWitt) October 4, 2025
I was told playoff excitement was more important than creating superstars.
If he gets wrecked out at Phoenix he’ll just be another loser to the overlords at NASCAR and some other driver will be celebrated as the (checks notes) “worthy champion”.
— Elkmaster (@GeneAWitt) October 4, 2025
As he should. It’s gonna be a sham when he gets involved in someone else’s shit in Phoenix and doesn’t win it
— Todd Lash (@tlash12) October 4, 2025
We’d have a legit champion instead of someone winning the reality tv show!
— Skip 28 (@skip_28) October 4, 2025
