Corey Heim strengthened his position in the Corey Heim NASCAR Truck Series title chase, earning his eleventh win this season at Martinsville and leaving Tricon Garage Toyota in a dominant spot heading into the finale. While Heim celebrated history with fewer than 24 races under his belt this year, the main focus for fans and teams alike was the chaotic fight for the final spots in the Championship 4 field.
Heim’s Commanding Victory Amidst Playoff Turmoil
Corey Heim notched another victory, solidifying his candidacy for the NASCAR Truck Series championship, but emphasized restraint ahead of next week’s decisive race.
“I don’t want to jump to any conclusions yet,”
said Heim about being the title favorite.
“We got a big race next week … It was definitely a rocky race. We got behind on track position, but we wanted to capitalize on our day and make the most of it. We really didn’t think we had the truck we had in the spring, but once we got out front, it showed we had a lot to work with. Just so grateful.”
– Corey Heim, Driver
Heim’s drive highlighted his ability to recover from lost track position, especially after a difficult start that threatened to derail his day. Throughout the race, his Tricon Garage Toyota team delivered consistent performance—remarkable when considering the fierce playoff tension enveloping every corner of the track at Martinsville.
The drama did not end at Heim’s victory. Ty Majeski, the defending series champion, Layne Riggs, Tyler Ankrum, and Kaden Honeycutt were embroiled in a near deadlock as they vied for a place in the final four. On the last restart, Honeycutt and Brent Crews fought side by side for second, with Riggs giving chase just behind them. Overtime brought more action as Honeycutt cleared Crews while Riggs made a desperate move, diving inside of Crews on the final lap to keep his playoff hopes alive.
At the checkered flag, Honeycutt took second and Riggs crossed in third. Their points standings were tied, yet the tiebreaker hinged on best finish in this round—and Honeycutt’s stronger result pushed him into the championship round. Majeski and Ankrum also scraped through to the title fight by a single point each, while Riggs’s gamble came up just short.
High-Pressure Moments Defined by Strategy and Mistakes
Riggs voiced disappointment about the chaotic conclusion after missing out in the tiebreaker.
“I was dejected even when I thought we were in,”
said Riggs after the race.
“I just don’t like racing that way. I’m hearing I got to get one, and everybody knows how it is. If I had the opportunity to get in for my team, then I’m gonna do it even if I don’t want to do it. I roughed up the No. 1 (Crews), but it all kind of started with that missed shift on that restart. I’m not sure what happened. I’ve never missed a shift in a truck my whole career. We do have some new transmissions — I guess I’m just not used to them yet. Pretty upset about that.”
– Layne Riggs, Driver
With emotions running high, both drivers and teams navigated a minefield of split-second decisions and technical challenges at every turn. Even mistakes such as a missed shift had a crucial impact on playoff destinies, underscoring the relentless pressure on crews and drivers chasing championship glory.
Early Incidents and Stage Winners Set the Tone
The pace was frenetic from the drop of the green, with Andres Perez spinning into the wall after being squeezed into a three-wide scenario. Subsequent laps saw another caution for track fluid, leading to a jumbled restart where Riggs initially held the lead but lost ground due to trouble getting through the gears. That bottleneck caused a significant stack-up that damaged several playoff contenders, including Rajah Caruth and Hemric.
A half-spin by Norm Benning, after contact with Brenden Queen, saw another yellow fly, and Hemric’s wounded vehicle began overheating, forcing him to pit under caution. Heim took advantage and won the first stage, closely followed by Ty Majeski, Enfinger, the determined Ankrum, and Tan. Gray, setting the early pace among playoff hopefuls.
Stage 2 brought more conflict, with Kaden Honeycutt and Caruth coming together in a heated contest for stage points. That brush cut down Caruth’s tire, sending him hard into the wall, ending both his race and championship aspirations. Heim doubled down on his strong showing by scoring another stage win, chased by Majeski, Riggs, Enfinger, and Tan. Gray as the race set up for an explosive final segment.
Decisive Calls and Late-Race Surges in the Final Stage
The third stage was defined by diverging strategies and unexpected shake-ups. Ruggiero briefly took command with Brent Crews as tire strategies split the field. A sequence of accidents, including AJ Waller spinning into the wall and contact between Corey LaJoie and Toni Breidinger, shuffled running order and kept teams adjusting on the fly.
Enfinger, facing elimination without a win, gambled on new tires after pitting from the top ten. Hemric, nursing heavy damage, eventually retired from the race, extinguishing his hopes of advancing. Brent Crews reclaimed the lead with 30 laps remaining as Connor Mosack’s spin triggered yet another caution. These rapid-fire yellow flags meant the battle for playoff transfer positions stayed razor thin, with Riggs and Ankrum up by only two points over Honeycutt, and Majeski a mere four points ahead of the cutline.
Soon, Heim snatched the lead from Crews and Honeycutt surged to second after a late restart, positioning himself right on the good side of the points line. Majeski’s car performance faded following hard contact with the wall, the latest twist in a night packed with reversals of fortune. Conner Jones sparked the 11th caution by spinning and collecting multiple trucks, forcing the event into overtime for a dramatic two-lap sprint to the end.
The Road Ahead: A Champion Will Be Crowned
As the checkered flag flew at Martinsville, the final four—Heim, Ankrum, Majeski, and Honeycutt—stamped their tickets to the Championship 4 round, setting the stage for a winner-take-all showdown next week. Heim’s season-long dominance, evidenced by his eleven triumphs, establishes him as the favorite, while the razor-thin margins by which Ankrum, Majeski, and Honeycutt advanced ensure an unpredictable finale.
High drama, tactical gambles, and raw emotion have defined this year’s Corey Heim NASCAR Truck Series playoffs, with powerhouses like Brent Crews and emerging names such as Kaden Honeycutt shaping a season for the ages. The final race will see these standout drivers—representing Tricon Garage Toyota, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, and other leading teams—vie for a place in history. NASCAR fans can expect the fireworks to continue as a new champion is crowned and legacies are decided on the track.
