Corey Heim Truck Series Champion became a reality on Friday night as Corey Heim took home both the race win and the series title at Phoenix Raceway, securing his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) crown. Heim, racing for the Tricon Garage Toyota team, prevailed in a tense finale punctuated by late-race chaos, holding off strong competitors to make history.
Overcoming intense competition and multiple overtime restarts, Heim demonstrated resilience and skill, outpacing previous champion Ty Majeski and others in a dramatic finish that thrilled fans at the Arizona track.
Overcoming Challenges to Secure Victory
Heim started the championship showdown in sixth position and immediately asserted himself by moving into the lead on lap 22. Throughout the 161-lap contest, he commanded the field for 100 laps, the most of any driver, though the lead changed hands several times as contenders jockeyed for position.
The final laps brought high stakes and unpredictability, including a multi-truck crash with only three circuits remaining that forced a late caution and subsequent overtimes. Heim’s team called him in for four fresh tires, dropping him to tenth for the critical restart but giving him the grip to fight back in the closing laps.
In the second overtime, Heim surged from tenth to second through a chaotic restart that saw trucks racing four, five, and even seven wide. On the final restart, he powered ahead, holding off Ty Majeski—last year’s champion—and crossed the finish line as both race winner and series champion.
“I don’t care if I was on 100-lap tires; nobody was going to beat me tonight,”
Heim said. – Corey Heim, Driver
Heim credited his crew chief for consistently putting him in the best possible position:
“You can always trust Scott (Zipadelli, crew chief) up on the box to do everything he can to put me in a position to win the race. That’s what he did.”
– Corey Heim, Driver
“Drove it in deep until I couldn’t anymore. Drove away with it.”
– Corey Heim, Driver
Setting Records Throughout the Season
This season, Heim dominated the NCTS, etching his name in the record books with new marks for wins, stages, and laps led. He claimed 12 victories in 25 races, surpassing the achievements of former series star Greg Biffle, and led the field in 23 stages, amassing a total of 63 stage points—both single-season records.
On top of his wins, Heim led 1,625 laps and completed 99.9 percent of all laps run this season, competing in 3,942 out of 3,946 possible laps. These accomplishments reflected his consistency and determination throughout the year.
After the title-clinching race, Heim highlighted the growth and determination that powered his team’s success.
“Last year, I thought it was our year,”
Heim shared. – Corey Heim, Driver
“And this year we came back, and, I mean, broke just about every record you possibly could.”
– Corey Heim, Driver
Heim Recognizes Team Effort and Support
Corey Heim was quick to acknowledge that winning the championship was a team effort, emphasizing the contributions of sponsors, mentors, and the organizations that supported his career.
“I just am so grateful to be where I’m at,”
Heim said. – Corey Heim, Driver
The newly crowned champion expressed gratitude for longtime supporters, including TRICON Garage, Toyota, and sponsors like Safelite, Mobil 1, Yahoo, and Celsius. He also highlighted the invaluable guidance he received from his mentors and development partners, thanking Trevor Bayne and Blake Koch, both competition mentors with TRD, as well as 23XI Racing for their role in his preparation.
Heim’s emotional reflection underscored the stress and pressure he faced in pursuit of the title, but also the sense of relief and joy at accomplishing his season-long goal. “Thankful for everybody involved.” – Corey Heim, Driver
Strong Competition Kept the Contest Close
Ty Majeski, last year’s Truck Series champion, led 35 laps on the night and presented a formidable challenge, but was unable to retain the crown after being overtaken in the decisive overtime segment. Majeski ultimately finished second, with Kaden Honeycutt placing third for Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota. Tyler Ankrum, the fourth title contender, finished a distant 14th, as Heim and his crew celebrated their landmark achievement.
Heim’s championship marks a high point for the Tricon Garage team and their partners, who played a vital role in the driver’s progression to the top of the sport. The memorable season and dramatic final in Phoenix signaled the emergence of a new force in the series and hinted at more to come from Corey Heim and his crew as they look ahead to defending their title in the future.
