NASCAR
Corey Heim Wins Las Vegas After Early Speeding Penalty
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – It may have ended well past midnight on the east coast, but after hours in Las Vegas was Heim Time once again. For the second time in three races, Corey Heim is victorious in the Truck Series. Having to battle back from early race adversity at Las Vegas, every part of the TRICON Garage team executed to perfection. The apparent championship favorite only looks more unstoppable, still being the lone Playoff lock.
Both stages would be split by reigning series champion Ty Majeski and Tyler Ankrum. The only stoppage through the stages were brief rain delays following each sprint. The Stage 1 delay saw a rare mistake from Heim, with the No. 11 Toyota speeding on pit exit. Heim went from exiting pit road first to restarting at the tail.
Heim rallied to fourth in Stage 2, with his pit crew pulling off another perfect stop. This gave the 11 prime track position to start Stage 3, which he hardly relinquished for the rest of the night.
The closing laps saw Heim’s teammate Tanner Gray get up to second. Las Vegas appeared to be a TRICON Garage 1-2 effort, until Gray got passed late by Grant Enfinger. Despite the No. 9 running faster laps at the end, Heim was not to be denied a 13th career victory in Las Vegas.
“First of all my pit crew did such a great job to get us back up front,” Heim said. “I made that mistake at the end of Stage 1, where I sped on pit road and set us behind. But we had an incredible truck, incredible crew, huge thank you to TRICON Garage, Toyota, Safelite for all their help and everything they do.”
“I’m a little speechless right now. This wasn’t exactly what we wanted, as far as the weather being so cold. I feel like we do a lot better when it’s hot and greasy and we’re sliding around. Kind of had mixed emotions going into this race, but clearly it paid off. I just had to do everything I could there. I think we were all wide open at the end of the race. Thankfully everything worked out. It’s fun to drive these fast trucks.”
“Couldn’t be happier about my team, these guys work their butts off. We’re firing on all cylinders right now, just got to keep it flowing. It’s still early in the year, with the main goal to win the championship. Just got to stay tough all year.”
Behind the front trio, Ty Majeski and Layne Riggs rounded out the top-five. Other top finishers included: Stewart Friesen, Rajah Caruth, Chandler Smith, Matt Crafton, and Tyler Ankrum.
The Truckers are back on track next week from Homestead-Miami Speedway. Heim will try and keep his hot streak alive, but will have to beat Homestead ace Kyle Larson. The Baptist Health 200 will be another Friday night show under the lights, going green at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, NRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credits to Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
