Corey Heim captured his third victory of the season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Michigan International Speedway, edging out Kaden Honeycutt in a finish that left the crowd on edge.
A Draft‑Heavy Battle
The race unfolded as a relentless draft battle, with drivers jostling for position lap after lap. As the final stage approached, the lead changed hands multiple times, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown.
Heim, who is slated to compete full‑time in the Cup Series next year with 23XI Racing, now boasts 26 career wins, three of which have come in just five starts this year, underscoring his rapid rise.
Behind him, Honeycutt finished a mere 0.065 seconds behind, while Carson Hocevar, Layne Riggs and Chander Smith rounded out the top five, completing a tightly packed field.
The event was marked by several cautions, including incidents that sent Daniel Hemric and Tanner Gray to the pits under green, and a spin involving Frankie Muniz and Kris Wright early in the race.
Stage one saw Christopher Bell take the win over a pack that included Hocevar, Honeycutt, and several other contenders, and he repeated the feat in stage two, further highlighting his strategic grip on the race.
Mid‑race chaos erupted when Cleetus McFarland spun after cracking the top 20, and a subsequent yellow flag was triggered by Friesen’s contact, forcing teams to adjust pit strategies involving fuel‑only or two‑tire stops.
A five‑truck breakaway emerged in the closing laps, and Heim surged from third to first with fifteen laps remaining. Radio chatter suggested Hocevar had intentionally slowed to clear debris from his grille, allowing Heim to take the lead.
In the final lap, Honeycutt attempted multiple passing moves, but Heim defended each line, engaging in a drag‑race to the checkered flag and securing a narrow victory.