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AVONDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Corey Heim, driver of the #11 Safelite Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on October 31, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Corey Heim was the favorite heading into Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway. And, when the checkered flag finally waved after some late-race drama, he and the No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota team showed why by winning the race and the title.
Surviving two overtime restarts, seven-wide racing and close pursuit by other championship contenders didn’t make it easy on Heim. But, when it mattered most the Marietta, GA native showed why he was the best of the rest to claim his first NCTS crown.
Took the Hardway to the Hardware
Heim started sixth and took the lead on lap 22 for the first of four times. Although he led a race-high 100 of 161 laps, it wasn’t until the final overtime when he was able to get out front to lead the final two circuits beating last year’s NCTS champion Ty Majeski to the line.
To do that, Heim went from 10th to second in the second overtime restart that produced four, five and seven-wide racing as the championship contenders battled for positions. The overtime was needed when the caution came out for a four-truck crash with three laps remaining.
Heim was one of seven Trucks called to pit road for four fresh tires. This put him 10th for the restart with the championship on the line.
“I don’t care if I was on 100-lap tires; nobody was going to beat me tonight,” Heim said. “It wasn’t going to happen. We struggled all weekend in practice a little bit. In qualifying, we missed it a little bit.
“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.
“Drove it in deep until I couldn’t anymore. Drove away with it.”
Record Setting Year
Heim dominated the NCTS season setting several records along the way. First, he won 12 of 25 races, breaking Greg Biffle’s record. The 23-year-old driver also won 23 stages and earned 63 stage points this year, both new records.
He also led 1,625 laps setting another single-season NCTS record. Adding to the stats was the fact Heim completed 3,942 of 3,946 laps contested for a 99.9 percent completion ratio.
The newly crowned NCTS champion was very grateful for those who helped him along the way.
“Last year, I thought it was our year,” Heim said. “We had the momentum and for lack of a better word, we kind of got our teeth kicked in.
“And this year we came back, and, I mean, broke just about every record you possibly could.”
Heim Appreciates Those Who Helped
A driver’s name is above the door on every Truck. However, they don’t accomplish greatness by themselves. Heim knows that and spread the appreciation out after the race.
“I just am so grateful to be where I’m at,” Heim said. “So thankful for the TRICON Garage, Toyota taking a chance on me years ago, Safelite, Mobil 1, Yahoo, Celsius, for every bit of their support.
“I was so stressed out ever since we went to the ROVAL. I’ve been so terrible to talk to as a person, so stressed out. This is just such a relief, to say the least.
“So thankful for everybody. There are so many names I could go through, Trevor (Bayne, Competition Mentor, TRD) and Blake (Koch, Competition Mentor, TRD) for all my prep work, 23XI for everything they do for me on the development side. There’s such a long list.
“Thankful for everybody involved.”
Contenders were Close Behind
Majeski led 35 laps and looked to repeat last year’s championship until the final caution. He couldn’t hold off the hard charging Heim and ended up finishing second.
He was followed to the line by Kaden Honeycutt for third in the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota. The fourth contender, Tyler Ankrum, finished in a distant 14th place.
Tim Packman Tim Packman is a journalist for Heavy.com covering NASCAR. He grew up around the short tracks of Western New York watching his dad, stepdad and step brother race. His uncle was the head starter at many area tracks and member of the FOAR Score Hall of Fame.
Tim’s passion for racing took him to the announcer’s tower and writing program stories for multiple tracks in the area, namely Lancaster National Speedway. In 2000, he moved to Mooresville, NC to become an award-winning journalist for NASCAR.com. He took a job with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as the team’s Communications Director and was part of two Daytona 500 wins and two NASCAR Championships.
The announcing experience led to becoming a Pit Reporter and News Director for MRN Radio. A return to the team side at Richard Childress Racing as the Director of Corporate Communications took place, which also included another Championship.
From 2015 to 2018, Tim returned to where his career began in 1994 – Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway – as the Track President. He earned Short Track Promoter of the Year awards in 2016 and 2017.
Upon returning to NC, he joined The Garage Shop as Communications Director and host of it’s Podcast and MAV-TV docuseries “Legacy of Speed” talking about Land Speed Racing at Bonneville, and other places.
Tim has hosted two other Podcasts, namely “Pub Table Racers,” and wrote three books. One was with NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison titled, “Bobby Allison, a Racer’s Racer” and two Children’s books, “Funny Dan the Race Car Man” and “Petey the Pace Car.”
He also served in the US Navy. More about Tim Packman
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