AVONDALE, Ariz. — The 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season came to an excruciatingly painful end for both Corey Heim and Grant Enfinger in the final race.
Heim had 15 consecutive top-10 finishes entering last year’s finale at Phoenix Raceway, and he had the hot hand early by winning the pole. He led 47 laps early and was running the highest of the Championship 4 for nearly the entire race. That is, until Carson Hocevar spun him out while battling for sixth.
COREY HEIM GOES AROUND AFTER A BUMP FROM CARSON HOCEVAR. 👀 #Championship4 https://t.co/pH6caLPYLX pic.twitter.com/7D6kI92H1j
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) November 4, 2023
With Heim out of the equation, the battle for the championship then came down to Enfinger and Ben Rhodes, with Hocevar trailing further back. Enfinger was running third behind Zane Smith and Christian Eckes with 3 to go, and he was going to cruise to the title until Heim brought out a caution by retaliating against Hocevar.
CARSON HOCEVAR IS DONE FOR THE NIGHT. Corey Heim sent him into the wall. https://t.co/Vb4xP3JH8w pic.twitter.com/Gap4jU4SNp
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) November 4, 2023
We all know what happened next. Four overtimes, 29 extra laps and an absolutely embarrassing display of driving from almost the entire field. Heim’s retaliation ultimately cost Enfinger his first Truck title, as he finished one spot eventual champion Rhodes in sixth.
While obviously heated in the immediate aftermath of the race, Enfinger said that last year’s incident is now water under the bridge.
“[Corey Heim] tried to talk to me that night after the race and obviously knew what had happened, and it just is what it is,” Enfinger said. “I mean, at the end of the day, we have chaos in every one of these Truck Series races, I think to some extent more than others.
“Obviously, the championship race last year was a little bit of a black eye for maybe our series, our sport a little bit. But that’s in the past, and no, I don’t carry a grudge around. But [I’m] still motivated to win our championship this year.”
After being three laps away from a championship, Enfinger then had to scramble and find a new ride for 2024 after GMS Racing closed down immediately after the race.
He found a ride with CR7 Motorsports through an alliance with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, and while the season had a rocky start, Enfinger and the No. 9 team found their stride toward the end of the regular…
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