Corey Heim’s NASCAR Truck dominance during the 2025 season set new benchmarks, as he achieved an extraordinary level of performance never before seen in the series. Competing with TRICON Garage Toyota, Heim outpaced his rivals on almost every front, rewriting records and cementing his place in NASCAR history.
Heim’s Unparalleled Season Raises the Bar
This year, Corey Heim emerged as a commanding figure in the NASCAR Truck Series. Outperforming his contemporaries, he won quadruple the races of his nearest rival and nearly doubled their total for top-five finishes. Over the course of the season, Heim led three times more laps than anyone else, and his average finishing position was more than four places higher than that of any other full-time driver. His campaign culminated in a heroic final race where he surged from tenth to first during two overtime restarts, executing a daring seven-wide pass with four fresh tires. This career-defining move sealed his status as the series champion and left fans and experts in awe of NASCAR’s newest star.
Twelve Victories Break a 25-Year-Old Record
Heim notched 12 wins in the 25-race season, claiming nearly half the races that year. Before this, the record for most victories in a single Truck Series season was nine, held by Greg Biffle since 1999. Heim’s wins covered all types of tracks—from intermediates to short tracks and road courses—demonstrating exceptional versatility and control over every racing environment.
Top Five Finishes Reach New Heights
Another milestone saw Heim recording 19 top-five finishes, the highest ever seen in the series. The previous benchmark was set by Ron Hornaday and Jack Sprague, who each tallied 18 in 1996. Although the 1996 season was shorter, their accomplishment remained unmatched for decades until Heim exceeded it this year with one additional race on the calendar.
Sustaining Impressive Top Ten Results
While Heim’s consistency was remarkable, he did not set a new standard for top-ten finishes. With 21 top tens, his mark was just shy of the 22 achieved by Christian Eckes in the preceding season. Despite falling short of this particular record, Heim demonstrated front-running pace in all but four events: Atlanta, North Wilkesboro, Michigan, and Pocono, where he was a contender for the lead during each race.
Most Laps Led In a Single Season
Heim shattered another longstanding record by leading 1,627 laps across the season. The previous high was 1,533 laps by Mike Skinner in 1996. Leading this many laps not only demonstrates strategic mastery but also underscores Heim’s ability to maintain control at the front of the field, regardless of circumstances.
Near-Historic Average Finish
Heim’s average finish of 5.0 was the best in the Truck Series since Ron Hornaday’s 4.5 in 1996. Although Hornaday still holds the title for the lowest average finish over a full season, Heim’s consistency in staying close to the top rivals the best runs ever seen in the series.
Excellence in Lead Lap Finishes
Heim concluded 23 out of 25 races on the lead lap, a figure not seen since Johnny Sauter’s performance in 2010. Only in Atlanta, where he finished three laps down, and Rockingham, where he was one lap behind, did Heim not finish together with the race leaders. His persistent ability to remain competitive until the final lap further set him apart from his peers.
First Ever to Lead Laps in Every Race
Perhaps the most striking statistic from Heim’s 2025 campaign is his unprecedented achievement in leading at least one lap in all 25 races. This accomplishment is not only unique to the NASCAR Truck Series but is also unmatched across all three of NASCAR’s top national divisions, illustrating Heim’s exceptional adaptability and pace.
Historical Significance and Looking Ahead
Corey Heim’s NASCAR Truck dominance during the 2025 season has redefined what is possible for both drivers and teams in the series. With new records established in wins, top fives, laps led, and consistency at the front, Heim has set a new example for excellence. As the sport moves forward, other drivers and organizations will be chasing the high competitive bar set this year by Heim and TRICON Garage Toyota. NASCAR fans and analysts will be watching closely to see if anyone can match the legacy started by Heim in the years to come.
