Corey Heim during the Craftsman Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway (Photo: Sam Draiss | The Podium Finish)
LONG POND, Pa. – Corey Heim scored a runner-up finish on Saturday afternoon for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway.
Heim started off the CRC Brakleen 150 from the fifteenth position after qualifying on Friday afternoon. However, Heim quickly showed how fast his car was going to be during the race, working his way up to seventh in just 16 laps by the end of Stage 1. Stage 2 was not any slower for the driver of the No. 11, though he ended up finishing 22nd because crew chief Scott Zipadelli opted for a green flag pit stop with three laps to go in the stage.
It did not take long, however, for the Marietta, Georgia native to work his way back through the field and contend for the lead with Cup Series regular Kyle Busch throughout Stage 3, with Busch passing Heim in Turn 2 of the last lap.
Although he fell just short of a visit to victory lane, Heim took the time to admire his opponent, the two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, in a post-race interview.
Corey Heim racing Kyle Busch for the race win in Pocono (Photo: Wayne Riegle | The Podium Finish)
“It seems like our truck just got a little tight at the end there,” Heim said. “I feel like after four or five laps I really just didn’t get the run on one and two there into the tunnel turn and he had some serious straightaways with me today. He is obviously one of the greats and got a good run, and I didn’t expect him to drive it or be able to drive it as deep into the tunnel as he was, but I drove it just as deep and ended up in the wall because of it.”
The 21-year-old was also pleased with the points he accumulated throughout Saturday’s race. This race leaves Heim leading the points race for the regular season championship in the Craftsman Truck Series, 42 points ahead of Zane Smith in second place.
“All in all, in hindsight, it was a good day for us for points,” said Heim. “To lead all the laps we did and play the strategy perfect, have a great pit stop, have the track position and literally all the variables played into our hands for the win, and to not get the win is definitely upsetting and I’m a little frustrated about that but [there is] no one to blame but myself.”
Heim undoubtedly had one of the fastest trucks in Pocono, even without going home with the checkered flag. If he can maintain the consistent speed and good decision-making he has shown this season, Heim will be a serious threat for the 2023 championship.
