Hocevar Claims Victory in Thrilling Heart of Health Care 200 at Kansas Speedway
Kansas Speedway, October 7, 2023 – Carson Hocevar secured a dramatic win in the Heart of Health Care 200, surviving last-lap contact with Layne Riggs to claim his first victory of the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. This marks Hocevar’s fifth career win, achieved during just his second start of the year at the 1.5-mile oval.
As the race neared its conclusion, Riggs attempted a bold maneuver, diving to the inside of Hocevar’s No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. Contact ensued, sending both trucks scraping against the outside wall. Hocevar held off Riggs to cross the finish line 0.262 seconds ahead, with William Byron finishing third, albeit elevated to second post-race due to Riggs’ disqualification for a truck bed cover violation.
“I didn’t think he would get to us for how far back he was, but he was super good,” Hocevar remarked after the race. “It’s been a while since I’ve been in a finish like that where it’s been all out there.”
Riggs, reflecting on his late-race efforts, expressed both disappointment and admiration. “Man, I gave it my all. We were really down bad with the track position there,” he said. “I got to him, got into him a little bit. We both hit the wall, and he won the race.”
Corey Heim led the early stages, winning the first stage and leading 52 of the first 53 laps. However, a broken air gun during a pit stop cost him valuable track position, and a subsequent penalty on a restart further hampered his chances, leading to a third-place finish.
“We had to take the wave and start from the back again and got out of line for a penalty on my part,” Heim explained. “A roller coaster kind of day.”
With seven cautions during the race, Hocevar dominated with 75 laps led, while Riggs and Heim navigated challenging circumstances to finish just behind.
Final Results:
- Carson Hocevar
- William Byron
- Corey Heim
- Gio Ruggiero
- Stewart Friesen
- Brandon Jones
- Jake Garcia
- Kaden Honeycutt
- Grant Enfinger
- Daniel Hemric
The race underscored the intense competition in the Craftsman Truck Series, setting the stage for the upcoming events as drivers gear up for the remainder of the season.
