Corey Heim heads into the 2025 NASCAR Truck Series finale as the dominant force, holding a series record of eleven race wins this season, with the Corey Heim NASCAR Truck championship firmly in focus. Yet, despite his commanding statistics, he faces a level playing field in Phoenix, where the highest finisher among the Championship 4—Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum, Kaden Honeycutt, and Heim himself—claims the title.
Heim’s Dominant Season Faces One-Race Shootout
Throughout the year, Corey Heim has set the pace for the Truck Series, representing TRICON Garage with a remarkable average finish of 5.2, compared to Ty Majeski’s 10.2, Tyler Ankrum’s 10.7, and Kaden Honeycutt’s 13.2. Heim’s success extends to over 1,500 laps led—outpacing his three championship rivals by more than fourfold combined. Still, the unique NASCAR playoff system means that the season comes down to just one finale; prior dominance guarantees him no advantage at the last race.
This marks Heim’s third straight appearance in the Championship 4, yet he still seeks his first Truck Series crown. The format ensures that each contender, regardless of their year-long performance, enters Phoenix on equal ground. Whoever finishes highest at the finale secures the championship, introducing a potential shake-up after a season largely dominated by Heim.
Heim Reflects on Expectations and Pressure
During Media Day, Heim addressed the heightened expectations surrounding his campaign this year.
“Since this is my third year, I felt like I was potentially the media favorite going into the last year,”
said Heim.
“Maybe not the overwhelming, but we carried the most wins into Phoenix and kind of got our teeth kicked in a little bit last year. Yeah, I know we’ve statistically been the best truck and everything, but the way the format works everyone’s even, and if we miss it this week, then that’s the story. That’s it. So, just kind of focused on ourselves, not really looking at who’s the odds on, or odds off favorite. Just mostly kind of staying internal.”
– Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Driver
After coming up short despite being a favorite in 2023, Heim has kept his focus inward, prioritizing his performance rather than public predictions. The high-stakes format gives all four drivers a real shot, regardless of season record.
Ty Majeski Emerges as Heim’s Top Threat
The storyline leading into the Phoenix finale features Ty Majeski as a primary challenger. Majeski, the defending Truck Series champion, has not won any races during the 2025 season but demonstrated his ability to peak at the right moment by winning last year’s finale from pole—leading 132 of 150 laps. Heim finished runner-up in that race, underscoring the threat Majeski poses on championship night.
When asked about his main competitor for the finale, Heim did not hesitate to consider Majeski a significant contender.
“Probably, but once again we won’t really know until after practice,”
said Heim.
“I feel like you’ve seen guys kind of like him last year. I mean he had really good races last year, no doubt, and he dominated races, but I don’t think anyone came into this race expecting him to just absolutely kind of wear us out. So, it could happen to any of us – Tyler (Ankrum), Kaden (Honeycutt) too – they could bring really good stuff and kind of have the same result. It’s just part of the championship race.”
– Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Driver
Practice confirmed the worry, with Majeski recording the fastest times, reminding the field that last year’s Phoenix performance was no fluke. Heim expanded on his assessment of the competition, mentioning both Kaden Honeycutt and Tyler Ankrum as unpredictable, capable drivers with potential to surprise when it counts, especially given the championship’s one-race format.
Heim noted that Honeycutt’s raw speed and Ankrum’s late-race consistency make them factors in the race, but kept emphasis on maintaining his team’s focus instead of becoming distracted by rivals’ strengths.
The Emotional Weight of a Championship Miss
With all eyes on Corey Heim’s quest to translate dominance into a first championship, the question of how he would process another defeat was raised. Heim did not shy away from acknowledging what is at stake for himself and the team if the title slips away again.
“So, I don’t think it’s anything to hang our heads out about if it doesn’t work out, but certainly something that we definitely want to click off before it’s all said and done.”
– Corey Heim, TRICON Garage Driver
He expressed that, given the team’s performance level this season, missing the championship would feel incomplete, particularly since the Truck Series title remains elusive after two near-misses in previous years. Heim maintained, though, that effort and execution do not always guarantee the final prize, yet the desire to capture this championship runs deep within the team.
Looking Ahead: High Stakes in Phoenix
The 2025 NASCAR Truck Series championship will be decided at Phoenix Raceway, where four talented drivers—Corey Heim, Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum, and Kaden Honeycutt—enter as equals, regardless of their season-long statistics. With a winner-take-all showdown, Heim’s record-breaking year could either end with a fitting championship or another unexpected twist by one of his rivals. The finale is set to showcase intense emotions, major implications for the future, and the relentless unpredictability that defines NASCAR’s championship format.
