Corey Heim Strikes Back, Dominates Pocono

Corey Heim celebrating in Victory Lane after winning the CRC Brakleen 175 at Pocono Raceway. (Photo: Jennie Mae Lingle | The Podium Finish)

LONG POND, Pa. — After finishing third and watching Christian Eckes lead all 150 laps at Nashville, Corey Heim came into Pocono with a points deficit to Eckes in the regular season standings.

Pocono has been a good track for Heim in the past, finishing second in a heart-breaking defeat a season ago after getting passed by Kyle Busch on the final lap.

Eckes has also had success at “The Tricky Triangle” and would start from pole position on Friday when the race went green.

Once the race started, Eckes stayed out front, leading the first 11 laps. Heim began running Eckes down though and on Lap 12 got by the No. 19 truck and it was”Heim Time” the rest of the race as Heim would go on to sweep the stages and win the CRC Brakleen 175.

“It started from the very beginning, we’ve had such a close bond,” Heim said on his relationship with crew chief Scott Zipadelli. “Week in and week out, so proud of these guys, can’t say enough about them.”

The win is Heim’s fifth win on the season and 10th of his career thus far, now clear of Eckes by two wins.

“Five wins is something I never thought I’d achieve in a single season, but here we are and we got many more to go,” said Heim. “I’m pumped, it’s awesome.”

Corey Heim doing a burnout on the front straightaway after winning at Pocono. (Photo: Jennie Mae Lingle | The Podium Finish)

After getting by Eckes on Lap 12, Heim went on to lead 55 of the remaining 59 laps en route to a dominant victory that included earning a max points day with 60.

Eckes wound up finishing in third place and finished runner-up in both stages to bring home 52 points. Although Heim was the dominant truck, Eckes was the second-best on the day, so he does not see this as a big missed opportunity for him and his No. 19 team.

“Overall it was a good day,” Eckes said. “Not too much of a missed opportunity, I think we were probably a second-place truck and were going to get Grant (Enfinger) before long. Just needed a little bit more to run the (No.) 11 (Heim).”

Eckes also is embracing the head-to-head fight between himself and Heim for the regular season title and the season title, but acknowledged that anything can happen in the playoffs.

“For these next two weeks, for sure,” said Eckes. “Everything changes once you get in the playoffs and everything resets and anything’s possible.”

“It’s me versus him (Heim) right now for sure for two more weeks and potentially in the playoffs too, but you never know what can happen.”

Sandwiched between the two heavyweights in the finishing order was Grant Enfinger, who has come on strong the last five races with three top fives and four top 10s in that span.

Corey Heim on top of his truck celebrating with his team after winning Pocono. (Photo: Jennie Mae Lingle | The Podium Finish)

The second-place result also helps Enfinger’s margin to the cutline, which is now at +45 to the good.

Taylor Gray and Ross Chastain rounded up the top five and finishing inside of the top 10 were Chase Purdy, Stewart Friesen, Matt Crafton, Dean Thompson and Rajah Caruth.

Even with the win and max points day, Heim still trails Eckes by 32 points for the regular season title with two races to go. The battle for the final playoff spot also changed with Daniel Dye now holding on to the 10th and final position as Tanner Gray dropped down below the cutline only one point back.

Stage 1 Top 10 Results

1. Corey Heim
2. Christian Eckes
3. Tyler Ankrum
4. Daniel Dye
5. Grant Enfinger
6. Ty Majeski
7. Nick Sanchez
8. Taylor Gray
9. Stewart Friesen
10. Tanner Gray

Stage 2 Top 10 Results

1. Corey Heim
2. Christian Eckes
3. Daniel Dye
4. Grant Enfinger
5. Tyler Ankrum
6. Ty Majeski
7. Ross Chastain
8. Stewart Friesen
9. Tanner Gray
10. Matt Mills

CRC Brakleen 175 at Pocono Raceway Results