NASCAR
Corey Heim Wins Attrition-Filled Mid-Ohio Truck Race
LEXINGTON, OHIO – It’s Heim Time once again in Ohio. Starting on pole for the Truck Series’ second-ever visit to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, the No. 11 Toyota was one of the best all race long. After his top competitors set each other back, Corey Heim put the sails in the wind for Stage 3. The 11 was one of very few trucks without any issues in a wet and caution-heavy day. Heim now joins the multi-win club for 2023, with the Truck Series Playoffs fast-approaching.
Both Stages were swept by Thorsport Racing teammates–Ben Rhodes and Ty Majeski. Early in Stage 3 though both the 99 and 98 tangled while racing for position. This sent Rhodes off track, and sent Majeski to pit road. Rhodes would recover to finish fifth and Majeski came home in seventh.
With arguably the two best Trucks out of contention, polesitter Corey Heim retook command and never looked back. Despite four late restarts, the 11 had the field covered each time. 10 cautions throughout the day were not enough to keep Heim from victory lane.
The regular season points leader had a banner day on the technical road course. Bonus points from this win now have Heim set to enter the Playoffs as the top seed.
“It’s just unbelievable,” Heim said. “We came here with high expectations. I felt like I did a good job last year of staying up front, but I put in the work to go from being a third-place truck to a winning truck.
“This thing was good ever since we unloaded. I felt like we were the fastest truck in practice, qualified on the pole, of course, and came here and won the race. It’s just awesome. Hats off to everybody.”
Behind Heim, the Mid-Ohio top-10 were: Zane Smith, Christian Eckes, Stewart Friesen, Ben Rhodes, Matt Crafton, Ty Majeski, Matt DiBenedetto, Nick Sanchez and Tyler Ankrum.
Only two races now remain in the Truck Series’ regular season. Short sprints at Pocono and Richmond Raceway separate four drivers from earning Playoff berths. Just a mere six points cover four drivers on both ends of the cut line.
After a week off the Craftsman Truck Series will return to action at Pocono Raceway. The CRC Brakleen 150 is the fifth and final start of 2023 for Kyle Busch. The all-time winningest Trucker only has one win this year though, so Pocono is very much wide open for any driver. The green flag will fly Saturday, July 22nd at Noon on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. A quick 60 laps around The Tricky Triangle can see an upset driver turn the Playoff picture on its head.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Meg Oliphant/Getty Images for NASCAR
