Corey Heim secured his record-setting 11th win of the season at Martinsville Speedway on Friday, taking both stages of the Slim Jim 200 and reinforcing his dominance in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The focus keyword, Corey Heim record 11th win, highlights an achievement that unfolded amid high drama in the Playoff elimination race, which saw significant shifts in Championship 4 contention.
Heim Extends Series Record with Commanding Performance
Piloting the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota, Heim led a race-best 77 laps, crossing the finish line just 0.451 seconds ahead of Kaden Honeycutt in overtime. This win furthered his already unprecedented season tally, ensuring his series record remains unchallenged for now. Heim’s consistent performance throughout the event left little doubt about his form entering the upcoming finale at Phoenix Raceway. While Heim had already secured his spot for the season’s championship showdown, maintaining momentum remained crucial for the final week.
Playoff Battles Intensify as Riggs Misses Out
The intensity behind the leader was palpable, as Kaden Honeycutt staged a critical run to finish second—a career milestone that ultimately prevented Layne Riggs from advancing to the Championship 4. A missed shift by Riggs early in the event, following the night’s second caution on Lap 29, saw him slip from the lead back to sixth place, an error that complicated his Playoff ambitions despite starting from pole and leading the opening 27 laps.
As the laps dwindled, Honeycutt capitalized on strategic late restarts. On Lap 186, he executed a flawless jump from fifth and, with Brent Crews opting to line up behind Heim for the Lap 192 restart, Honeycutt cemented his hold on second—claiming the essential single point needed through a tiebreaker to surpass Riggs for a championship berth. The race finished in a tense two-lap overtime, where Riggs held third, unable to pass Honeycutt at the checkered flag.
“I was dejected even when I thought we were in (the Championship 4) at first,”
said Riggs, three-time race winner this year.
“I just don’t like racing that way, man. I’m hearing, ‘Gotta get one (position), gotta get one,’ and everybody knows how it is.”
— Layne Riggs, Driver
“We do have some new transmissions. I guess I’m just not quite used to them yet. I’m pretty upset about that. I think things could have been a lot different.”
— Layne Riggs, Driver
Honeycutt Capitalizes on Critical Opportunity
Kaden Honeycutt, who took over the No. 52 Toyota from Stewart Friesen in August at Richmond, was ecstatic after securing a career-best second-place finish and a coveted Championship 4 slot. The opportunity came after Honeycutt had faced uncertainty earlier in the year, following his release from Niece Motorsports.
“Oh, man, we get to go next week,”
said Honeycutt, celebrating the tightly fought outcome.
“I get to go and carry this race team (Halmar-Friesen Racing) to Phoenix next week to have some fun and see if we can contend for that championship.”
— Kaden Honeycutt, Driver
Drivers Clinch Championship 4 Spots as Others Face Elimination
The playoff tension was heightened as defending series champion Ty Majeski and Tyler Ankrum each sealed their places in the Championship 4 on the strength of points, finishing seventh and ninth respectively—both advancing by a single point over Honeycutt and Riggs. Brent Crews and Corey LaJoie, non-Playoff drivers, finished just behind the three main contenders in fourth and fifth places.
Disappointments and Drama for Eliminated Contenders
Not all Playoff hopes survived the carnage of the elimination race. On Lap 73, contact between Rajah Caruth and Honeycutt resulted in Caruth’s Chevrolet having its left rear tire cut, sending him spinning hard into the outside wall and ending his race, despite being well above the points cutline at race start.
“We were in a really good spot, but it is what it is,”
said Caruth, who had posted ninth in the opening stage.
“We’ll keep pushing, and the sun will come up tomorrow. It sucks now, but that’s part of it.”
— Rajah Caruth, Driver
Daniel Hemric, needing a win to stay alive in the Playoffs, suffered substantial damage to his No. 19 Chevrolet during the Lap 29 melee after Riggs’ missed shift. Hemric’s truck overheated due to the incident, and after lengthy repairs and regaining the lead lap under cautions, his shot at a Championship 4 spot faded. Hemric ultimately withdrew from the race on Lap 166, finishing 31st with his title aspirations dashed. Grant Enfinger, entering the event deeply below the cutoff point, managed a 12th-place finish but was also eliminated from championship contention.
What to Watch for at Phoenix Raceway
With the Championship 4 set—Corey Heim, Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum, and Kaden Honeycutt—the season finale at Phoenix promises to be closely contested. Heim, buoyed by his latest triumph and his dominant season, heads into the ultimate showdown confident yet cautious about clinching the title.
“I don’t want to jump to any conclusions yet,”
said Corey Heim, reflecting on his prospects.
“We wanted to capitalize on our day and make the best of it. Once we got out front, we showed that we really had something to work with here. We’ve got a big one next week to close it out. It’s going to be tough, but I’m confident we can do it.”
— Corey Heim, Driver
As the circuit shifts to Phoenix for the championship race, all eyes will be on Corey Heim, who will attempt to seize the ultimate prize following his record 11th win. The high-stakes atmosphere and razor-thin margins witnessed at Martinsville set the stage for a dramatic conclusion to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season.
