“We’ve given up so many of them this year after dominating the race.” This is what Corey Heim, currently 1st in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship standings, said last week. The high-flyer had already picked up three victories, but had near misses as well with three podium finishes. And a last-lap crash with Layne Riggs dashed his North Wilkesboro chances.
However, Heim made sure to give a fitting and glorious answer at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Corey Heim dominates the crown jewel track
Well, the 23-year-old trendsetter had notable threats at the North Carolina Education Lottery 250. Kyle Busch and Ross Chastain, Cup Series icons, were both in the Truck Series event. The latter of the two proved to be a huge threat. After Corey Heim took the lead from polesitter and teammate Gio Ruggiero, Chastain hounded him from the back. Another rival who harassed Heim was Kaden Honeycutt, beating him off pit road twice. Chastain also snatched the lead from Heim, but the Tricon Garage phenom soon proved who was in a mood to win. The No. 11 Toyota pulled ahead of Chastain with 15 laps to go and kept his pace through a caution and the ensuing restart.
In the end, Corey Heim swept both stages and dominated 98 of 134 laps to clinch his fourth win of the season, a fitting answer to his misfortunes in North Wilkesboro. In a post-race interview, Heim said, “Just super thankful for Tricon Garage…this thing was obviously really good. We had the speed the last couple of years here, just circumstantially haven’t been on so…Obviously such a good track to execute…On my part, pit crew did a great job…Just a really nice clean day. Felt good about this one, felt like we gave it away the last two weeks. But we redeemed ourselves tonight…We had a good opportunity and just executed really well.” He added with a perfect tip of his hat, “That’s all she wrote.”
Nick Sanchez holds off Corey Heim to WIN at Charlotte! #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/TyBDHtVcNM
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 25, 2024
Ross Chastain, Kaden Honeycutt, Layne Riggs, and Kyle Busch rounded out the top five. Grant Enfinger, Matt Mills, Daniel Hemric, Rajah Caruth, and Brandon Jones completed the top 10. Last weekend’s winner, Chandler Smith, got spun by polesitter Gio Ruggiero, who got loose and made contact with Smith’s left rear. This happened on lap 71, collecting defending Truck Series champion Ty Majeski.
This magnificent victory echoes Heim’s fiery pace this season. That was visible even in his fourth Cup Series start.
Making the most of his opportunity
In 2025, Corey Heim’s talents did not miss the Cup Series grid. Hence, 23XI Racing offered him a seat, the No. 67 Robinhood Toyota Camry XSE at Kansas Speedway. Quite like his resurgence from North Wilkesboro to win at Charlotte, Heim emerged from some mishaps in Kansas. Starting 28th, the speedster struggled to stay on throttle on the exit of the turns. His ill-handling car dropped him to 34th, and Heim also overshot his pit stall and lost a lap. However, the driver climbed back up to the top 25 with under 100 laps to go. Taking advantage of two cautions, fresh tires, and a few adjustments, Heim finished a solid 13th.
It marked his best Cup Series finish in four starts. Yet, Corey Heim had higher expectations. He said, “I feel like if I had more experience, I could actually race inside the top 10 at some point. Regardless, just so proud of everyone here at 23XI Racing, Toyota, Mobil 1, Robinhood, and everyone for coming on board. Obviously, learned a lot and kept climbing forward through the day, and ended up with a good day there.”
Evidently, the young racer can overcome hurdles with ease and answer with fitting victories. With his latest win, Corey Heim can look forward to a more rewarding season.
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