Corey Heim achieved a milestone by earning his 10th victory of the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s ROVAL, establishing himself as the first to reach double-digit wins in a single season in this series. This achievement with the Corey Heim double-digit NASCAR wins cements a new record, while Connor Zilisch also marked his own 10-win season in the Xfinity Series during the same weekend.
Historic Achievements at Charlotte Motor Speedway
The racing weekend at Charlotte featured significant moments for young talents Corey Heim and Connor Zilisch, as both recorded their 10th wins of the season on one of NASCAR’s challenging road courses. Heim’s feat is unprecedented in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, surpassing Greg Biffle’s previous record of nine wins from 1999, which had stood for over two decades. Notably, Heim’s accomplishment comes from competing against a highly competitive field, further emphasizing the scale of his success.
Zilisch joined the exclusive club of double-digit winners in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, being only the third driver to do so since the series’ modern relaunch in 1982, and uniquely, the first in the playoff era. Zilisch’s 10th win, credited through NASCAR’s scoring rule that awards the starting driver the race result even when another finishes in the car, occurred at Daytona. Despite the technicality involving Parker Kligerman serving as a substitute to cross the finish line first, the victory stands under official regulations. Zilisch’s season remains ongoing, offering more chances to augment his total before moving up to the Cup Series.
Longstanding Records and the Rarity of Double-Digit Wins
The 2025 season marks the first occurrence of 10-win drivers in two of NASCAR’s national series within the same year. However, the overall list of athletes who have achieved 10 or more single-season victories is remarkably limited across NASCAR history. The path to joining this group has required exceptional skill and circumstances, attracting notable names such as David Pearson, Richard Petty, and Jeff Gordon.
Notable Drivers With 10 or More Wins in a Season
Reaching the milestone of double-digit wins places drivers in a small, distinguished group. Below is a chronological list of those who achieved this landmark across NASCAR’s national divisions:
2022: Corey Heim (10 victories in 22 starts, three races remaining)
1983: Sam Ard (10 wins in 35 starts)
2010: Kyle Busch (13 wins in 29 starts, also active in Cup Series at the time)*
2025: Connor Zilisch (10 wins in 28 starts, four races remaining)
1953: Herb Thomas (12 wins in 37 starts)
1954: Herb Thomas (12 wins in 34 starts)*
1955: Tim Flock (18 wins in 39 starts)
1956: Buck Baker (14 wins in 48 starts)
1957: Buck Baker (10 wins in 40 starts)
1959: Lee Petty (11 wins in 42 starts)
1963: Richard Petty (14 wins in 54 starts)*
1964: Ned Jarrett (15 wins in 60 starts)*
1965: Ned Jarrett (13 wins in 54 starts)
1965: Junior Johnson (13 wins in 36 starts)*
1966: David Pearson (15 wins in 43 starts)
1967: Richard Petty (27 wins in 48 starts) – All-time record
1968: Richard Petty (16 wins in 48 starts)
1968: David Pearson (16 wins in 49 starts)*
1969: David Pearson (11 wins in 51 starts)
1969: Richard Petty (10 wins in 50 starts)*
1969: Bobby Isaac (17 wins in 50 starts)*
1970: Bobby Isaac (11 wins in 47 starts)
1970: Richard Petty (18 wins in 40 starts)*
1971: Richard Petty (21 wins in 48 starts)
1971: Bobby Allison (11 wins in 42 starts)*
1972: Bobby Allison (10 wins in 31 starts)*
1973: David Pearson (11 wins in 18 starts)*
1974: Richard Petty (10 wins in 30 starts)
1974: Cale Yarborough (10 wins in 30 starts)*
1975: Richard Petty (13 wins in 30 starts)
1976: David Pearson (10 wins in 22 starts)*
1978: Cale Yarborough (10 wins in 30 starts)
1981: Darrell Waltrip (12 wins in 31 starts)
1982: Darrell Waltrip (12 wins in 30 starts)
1985: Bill Elliott (11 wins in 28 starts)*
1987: Dale Earnhardt (11 wins in 29 starts)
1993: Rusty Wallace (10 wins in 30 starts)*
1996: Jeff Gordon (10 wins in 31 starts)*
1997: Jeff Gordon (10 wins in 32 starts)
1998: Jeff Gordon (13 wins in 33 starts)
2007: Jimmie Johnson (10 wins in 36 starts)
2021: Kyle Larson (10 wins in 36 starts)
*Indicates drivers who did not claim a series title during their 10-win season.
Evolution of Racing Formats, Rules, and Competition
While double-digit win seasons were not uncommon in NASCAR’s earlier decades, the context was much different. In the sport’s formative years, the number of annual races was often higher, but participation rates varied, and point allocation differed depending on factors like race length or event purse. Occasionally, several races in a single week offered points, and local drivers joining national tours was a regular occurrence. This created situations where a driver with fewer overall wins could still capture the championship by performing well in races that offered more points.
In contrast, the Modern Era introduced greater consistency: all title contenders competed weekly in the same races against largely unchanged fields, with standardized point systems. Regulations have continued to evolve—most notably with the current charter system, ensuring that lineups are stable from event to event and throughout each NASCAR season.
The playoff era has redefined competition even more, emphasizing parity among cars and minimizing areas for individual technical advancements. The use of common aerodynamic packages and restrictions on car setup have contributed to tighter fields, making sequences of victories such as 10 or more in a season increasingly uncommon. Passing has become more challenging, and opportunities for a single driver to dominate the series have shrunk considerably.
Technical Advances and Their Impact on Race Outcomes
Before the introduction of modern charter rules and playoff systems, teams sometimes prioritized raw speed over reliability, resulting in more frequent mechanical breakdowns. In the late 20th century and into the 2000s, rule changes limited teams’ choices for gear ratios, suspensions, and engine swaps after qualifying. These efforts, spearheaded by NASCAR, have equalized the equipment but also improved car durability. Without the need to choose between risk and durability, mechanical failures have become far less common, focusing the competition on driver skill and strategy.
The durability factor meant that drivers who excelled at preserving their machines and consistently finishing in the top five or ten often found more championship success. The Latford points system especially rewarded this balance of consistency and risk management.
Factors Limiting Double-Digit Seasons in Lower Series
Ten-win seasons are less frequent in the Xfinity and Truck circuits for several reasons. For one, both series run fewer events than the Cup Series, naturally reducing opportunities to stack up wins. Particularly in the Truck Series, there are at least ten fewer races per year, further increasing the challenge.
Moreover, many standout drivers in these series quickly advance to higher levels. For instance, Zilisch, after his 10-win Xfinity campaign, is set to move up to Cup in the following year. Achieving such success with little prior experience, as Zilisch did in his first full-time year, is highly notable.
Still, some drivers have dedicated many years to Xfinity or Trucks without reaching this milestone—showing just how rare and difficult it is. The dynamic is further complicated by the previous practice of Cup Series regulars participating in lower series races. Throughout the 2000s, top Cup drivers and their sponsors would compete in Xfinity or Truck events, often dominating with better resources and experience until policy changes reduced their participation. Kyle Busch’s prolific 10-win Xfinity season in 2010 is evidence of the performance disparity that could occur under these circumstances.
With Cup drivers less frequently participating, regulars and up-and-coming drivers now have greater potential to string together dominant runs, as seen with Heim and Zilisch in 2025. Nevertheless, assembling a double-digit win season remains one of the sport’s rarest distinctions.
Elite Company for Double-Digit Winners
Throughout NASCAR history, achieving 10 or more wins in one season has been a mark of exceptional talent and opportunity. Most drivers who have reached this mark—including legends like Darrell Waltrip, Lee Petty, Ned Jarrett, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, and Bill Elliott—are Hall of Famers. Sam Ard, who is not a Hall of Fame inductee, is still recognized among NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers.
Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch, despite their significant achievements, are not yet eligible for the Hall of Fame. The group of drivers now includes Corey Heim and Connor Zilisch, who, following their 2025 performances, sit alongside the sport’s all-time greats. The list remains highly exclusive, underlining both the talent needed and the changing nature of NASCAR competition.
Historical Significance and the Road Ahead
The addition of Corey Heim and Connor Zilisch to NASCAR’s select group of double-digit winners highlights a blend of historical continuity and modern evolution. Their accomplishments underscore the merging of opportunity, competitiveness, and evolving rules across different series and decades. As the season continues, both Heim and Zilisch may further increase their win totals, setting even higher standards for aspiring racers.
Looking forward, the rarity of such achievements in the current era reaffirms the legendary status earned by these drivers. With each new entry into the record books, NASCAR’s history grows richer, and these landmark seasons are sure to inspire the next generation of stars at tracks like Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL and beyond, further shaping the legacy of the sport.
