Heim Captures Seventh Victory at Richmond in NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Finale
Corey Heim secured his seventh victory of the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season in a dramatic finish at Richmond Raceway, showcasing both speed and strategy in the eero 250. The race marked the inaugural short track win for the Regular Season Champion, further solidifying Heim’s status as a formidable competitor.
Starting from pole, the 23-year-old Georgia native faced stiff competition from Ty Majeski, who dominated the early stages by winning both stages and leading 143 laps. Despite his commanding performance, Majeski’s hopes for his first victory of the year were dashed when he was involved in a late-race incident with teammate Matt Crafton.
As the race unfolded, Heim utilized his No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota to regain the lead with 20 laps remaining, ultimately crossing the finish line 0.923 seconds ahead of Majeski. With this win, Heim becomes the youngest driver in series history to achieve 18 career victories.
“I didn’t feel like we were the best truck tonight,” Heim remarked, acknowledging the strength of his competitors. “But being there when it counted was the first goal, and we executed from there.”
The race also served as the regular season finale, with Heim, Layne Riggs, Chandler Smith, Daniel Hemric, Tyler Ankrum, and Rajah Caruth qualifying for the upcoming six-race Playoffs through victories. Majeski, Grant Enfinger, Kaden Honeycutt, and Jake Garcia secured their playoff positions based on points.
Garcia, a 20-year-old rising star, managed to finish seventh, giving him a 19-point lead over veteran Ben Rhodes. “I had to be conservative; our truck was really fast, and I believe we could have finished top five,” Garcia said, reflecting on his strategy throughout the race.
The top five was rounded out by Riggs in third, along with Spire Motorsports teammates Sammy Smith and Corey LaJoie. The final top ten included Ruggiero, Garcia, Rhodes, Chandler Smith, and Honeycutt.
The 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs are set to begin on Saturday, August 30, at Darlington Raceway, marking the first playoff event for the historic track in series history. In the previous year, NASCAR Cup Series regular Ross Chastain claimed victory at Darlington.
Results:
(Details to follow in a subsequent report.)
