Heim Steals Show From Eckes, Wins at Bristol to Clinch Championship 4 Spot

(Photo: Kevin Ritchie | The Podium Finish)

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Christian Eckes seemed destined for his second win in a row and spot in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway.

Enter Corey Heim.

With six laps to go and Eckes bogged in lapped traffic, Heim took the lead with the help of a pick from teammate Tanner Gray and won at Bristol Motor Speedway for his third victory of the season.

The triumph secured Heim a spot in the Championship 4.

“Teamwork is everything. Huge thank you to TRICON Garage, Toyota Racing, Safelite – this is insane. I feel like I’ve given so many away this year and to win one at the end like that is so special,” Heim said after the race. “David Gilliland, Johnny Gray Kevin Ray (team owners) – everyone at TRICON Garage, Scott Zipadelli (crew chief) – thank you. To win one like that is unreal. I feel like I’ve given so many away, but I feel like I’ve got one back.”

After starting outside the top 10, Heim had his work cut out for him in a race that lasted just an hour and 16 minutes. He got up to eighth at the end of Stage 1 and broke into the top five to finish fourth in Stage 2.

But unlike many truck races, the final stage stayed green. Heim restarted Stage 3 second on the inside while Eckes launched ahead. He gapped Heim, but as lapped traffic increased, Heim neared closer.

(Photo: Kyle Ritchie | The Podium Finish)

“I was in the zone,” Heim said. “I was thinking about all of the races that we gave away, and didn’t give away, and I just focused forward and set my pass up right where I needed to. Tony Hirschman, my spotter, did an awesome job getting me through there. I’m out of breath. It’s just so awesome to know we are in Phoenix. It’s awesome.”

On the other hand, Eckes felt deflated after leading 150 laps, which equated to 75% of the race, and coming so close to punching a ticket to Phoenix.

“I just think that it’s a little ironic that the 15 [Gray, Heim’s teammate] was three laps down and waited, but whatever,” Eckes said after the race. “I just got tight there at the end. I’m not sure if I could have done much differently. It is what it is. It stings, but we have to move on.”

Zane Smith led 43 laps in his No. 38 machine for Front Row Motorsports but suffered a penalty on pit road after Stage 2 for pitting outside the box. He had to go to the rear and finished 24th, one lap down.

“It’s really a cool racetrack, but a terrible race. It’s just wherever you are is where you are,” Smith said. “They said I was pitted outside my box by a little bit and I had to start at the tail end. I mean, we definitely had a rough night. You saw it, wherever you were gonna restart is where you’re gonna run. My truck was terrible in the second stage, but I had clean air. You just can’t pass. It just sucks.”

Stage 1 Top 10 Results

1. Christian Eckes
2. Carson Hocevar
3. Ty Majeski
4. Chase Purdy
5. Zane Smith
6. Rajah Caruth
7. Taylor Gray
8. Corey Heim
9. Tanner Gray
10. Ben Rhodes

Stage 2 Top 10 Results

1. Christian Eckes
2. Zane Smith
3. Nick Sanchez
4. Corey Heim
5. Grant Enfinger
6. Taylor Gray
7. Carson Hocevar
8. Carson Kvapil
9. Rajah Caruth
10. Ben Rhodes

UNOH 200 Results

Playoff Standings (Two Races Remaining in Round of 8