A Season to Remember
Dominant Run by Heim
Corey Heim, driving the No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage, has delivered one of the most remarkable campaigns in recent Truck Series history:
He clinched the regular season championship with two races still to go, securing a crucial 15 playoff-point bonus . He capped off the regular season with a dominant seventh victory at Richmond Raceway, outperforming Ty Majeski and further cementing his spot as the playoff favorite . In total, he leads the standings by a comfortable margin—+62 points ahead of Layne Riggs . Along the way, Heim shattered records: becoming the youngest driver in series history to reach 18 career Truck wins, surpassing Kyle Busch’s longstanding mark .
Specialty Track Mastery
Heim’s dominance has come across a variety of track types:
He became the first driver in the Truck Series to win three consecutive road course races, with a historic performance at Lime Rock Park—leading 99 of 100 laps in the first NASCAR national series event there . At Watkins Glen, in a triple-overtime thriller, Heim held off Daniel Hemric for another impressive victory—his sixth win of the season and fourth straight on road courses .
Playoff Picture: 7 Races Left
Standing Snapshot
As the playoffs begin with the Round of 10, Heim leads the pack decisively:
1st – Corey Heim: 2065 points (7 wins, 5 poles, 12 top-5s, 14 top-10s) 2nd – Layne Riggs: 2026 points 3rd – Chandler Smith: 2019 points
Playoff Structure
The format is unforgiving:
Round of 10: Eliminations after Darlington, Bristol, and New Hampshire. Round of 8: Cuts after Charlotte Roval, Talladega, and Martinsville. Championship 4: Finale at Phoenix, highest finisher wins the title.
Heim’s Path to Glory
With dominant pace, across diverse tracks, and a points buffer, Heim is well-equipped to:
Survive early rounds, needing only to stay reasonably consistent. Gain postseason momentum, building on his record-breaking wins. Enter Championship 4 as a favorite—thanks to both playoff points and sheer performance.
Final Word: Will Heim Claim the Title?
Absolutely plausible—this isn’t just Heim’s best season to date; it’s a blueprint for championship success. He combines:
Regular season dominance with playoff-point leverage. Track versatility—with wins at superspeedways, short tracks, and road courses. A high-performing and deeply cohesive team led by crew chief Scott Zipadelli (a rare long-standing partnership in Trucks racing) .
That said, the Truck Series is filled with wild cards—late-race incidents, evolving track conditions, and playoff pressure can always derail even the most complete campaigns. But if the season so far is any indicator, Corey Heim and TRICON Garage look poised to break through and bring home the championship.
Championship Outlook
What’s working: Consistency, dominance, playoff points, team synergy. Challenges ahead: The elimination rounds are unforgiving; execution remains key. Prediction: Heim is the clear frontrunner to win his first Truck Series championship—barring unforeseen circumstances.
Buckle up—this playoff stretch is going to be one for the ages.
Would you like a breakdown of Heim’s performance by track type or upcoming challenges at specific playoff venues?
