Corey Heim secured the Corey Heim Truck Series champion title on Friday night at Phoenix Raceway, delivering a thrilling finish to an already dominant season. Competing for Tricon Garage, Heim sealed the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship with a victory in the season’s final race, demonstrating tactical insight and resilience amidst fierce competition.
Heim Delivers Winning Performance Under Pressure
Heim’s momentum was evident early as he commanded both stages and led most of the laps under the lights at Phoenix. Entering as the statistical favorite with 11 prior victories, Heim faced a tense turn of events when a crash by Connor Mosack triggered a caution with just four laps remaining, forcing teams to revise their strategies.
During the caution, Heim’s crew chose a four-tire pit stop, prioritizing fresh tires over track position. In contrast, rivals like Majeski and Kaden Honeycutt gambled on two tires to gain an advantage. The restart saw Heim buried in 10th place, but his bold move through the Phoenix dogleg brought him to second in a matter of corners before yet another caution paused the action.
Final Overtime Battle Decides the Title
On the final restart, Heim leveraged his fresher tires, overtaking Majeski and breaking into the lead. With this move, he held off all challengers, cruising to claim both the race victory and the championship. This triumph symbolized his twelfth win of the season, surpassing Greg Biffle’s record for most single-season wins in the Truck Series.
Not only did Heim stand atop the podium more times than any of his peers, but he also led at least one lap every single race, finished the season with no DNFs, and racked up 23 stage wins—a testament to sustained dominance over his competition, including key figures such as Majeski, Honeycutt, and Tyler Ankrum.
Other Contenders and Key Moments
Majeski, the previous champion, settled for second place in both the race and the overall standings. Honeycutt followed in third, and Ankrum’s hopes faded after being involved in a late-race incident that left him 14th at the finish. The season finale was as much about resilience as speed, with each contender pressing the limits until the final laps.
Heim’s Journey to Championship and What Lies Ahead
The Corey Heim Truck Series champion ascent caps three straight playoff appearances. After placing fourth in 2023 and finishing as the runner-up in 2024, the 23-year-old Georgia native finally clinched his first career title during his third full season. This breakout year not only highlights Heim’s impressive tally of victories but positions him as one of NASCAR‘s most promising young talents. Speculation has already started on whether Heim will soon make the jump to the Xfinity or even Cup Series in 2026, given his standout campaign and ability to excel under pressure at venues such as Phoenix Raceway.
As Heim’s championship resonates throughout the racing community, his feat represents a significant milestone for Tricon Garage and a shift in the NASCAR Truck Series landscape—setting a high bar for future seasons and raising expectations for what’s next in his flourishing career.
