We’re All Just Living on Heim Time

In A Nutshell

World Wide Technology Raceway marked the 12th race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

Corey Heim has gone to victory lane in one-third of those races.

Heim won his fourth race of the year at Gateway, adding an extra $50,000 courtesy of the Triple Truck Challenge. Heim was largely absent from the leaders for the first two stages before coming alive in the final stage. He led 65 laps, all in the final stage.

Christian Eckes, his primary championship rival, finished second, followed by last week’s winner Nick Sanchez in third. Polesitter Ty Majeski swept the stages but could only manage a finish of fourth, while rookie Layne Riggs finished fifth.

The Top Truckers at World Wide Technology Raceway

Winner, Most Laps Led (65 of 160 laps): Corey Heim
Polesitter, Stage 1 and 2 Winner: Ty Majeski
Biggest Mover: Luke Fenhaus (Started 27th, finished 10th)
Rookie of the Race: Layne Riggs

Top Storylines of the Race

• Only two drivers failed to finish the race. The No. 1 of Colby Howard cut a tire and crashed in stage two, sending him hard into the outside wall. Meanwhile, Mason Massey had a mechanical issue that forced him behind the wall with a little over 30 laps to go.
• Only two other incidents occurred during the afternoon, both spins, and both by rookies. Luke Fenhaus looped his No. 66 while making a three-wide pass for position, while Vicente Salas brought out the final caution of the afternoon when he spun off of turn 2.

The Winning Move

Following a caution with 23 to go, Heim and Majeski restarted on the front row. Heim scooted away with the lead, while Eckes passed Majeski for second. Eckes looked like he could run Heim down, but eventually fell into the clutches of Sanchez.

As the two of them raced, they held each other up. That allowed Heim to ride off into the sunset.

Championship Rundown

Heim continues to tack on playoff points, but Eckes remains the regular season championship leader by 31 points thanks to Heim’s DQ last week at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

With two playoff spots guaranteed to be locked in via points, Taylor Gray holds that provisional final spot (assuming there are four new winners to close the regular season) by 23 points over Tyler Ankrum.

Meanwhile, at the cut line, the gap is beginning to widen. Grant Enfinger holds a 26-point cushion over Stewart Friesen for the 10th and final playoff spot.

Four races remain, and given the chaotic nature of the…