Corey Heim Survives Chaotic Texas Truck Race with Thrilling Overtime Victory and Dominant Performance

Auto Racing Daily Digest: May 2, 2025

NASCAR Truck Series – SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway

Race Results & Highlights

Listeners who thrive on drama, strategy, and wheel-to-wheel action got exactly that Friday night at Texas. Corey Heim owned the evening, surviving four late-race cautions and two overtime restarts to claim his third NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory of 2025 and the 14th of his career. Heim led a race-high 96 laps, but it was anything but easy[1][5].

Top 5 Finishers:
- 1st: Corey Heim (Toyota) – No. 11, TRICON Garage
- 2nd: Daniel Hemric (Chevrolet)
- 3rd: Rajah Caruth (Chevrolet)
- 4th: Tyler Ankrum (Chevrolet)
- 5th: Tanner Gray (Ford)[3][5]

Heim initially dominated, stretching a 16-second lead after green-flag pit stops, but a rash of late cautions—11 in total—erased his margin. The wildest moment came in overtime when Heim and Ben Rhodes dueled side-by-side, both sliding up the racetrack, which allowed Daniel Hemric to go three-wide and take a fleeting lead. But Hemric’s old tires quickly faded, and Heim powered back around the outside to seal the victory, crossing the line 0.279 seconds ahead of Hemric[1][5].

Qualifying Recap:
- Pole: Tyler Ankrum
- Front Row: Daniel Hemric, Corey Heim (started 4th)[3][5]

Race Stats at a Glance:
- Average speed: 102.003 mph
- Lead changes: 15 among 9 drivers
- Cautions: 11 for 57 laps
- Lap leaders: Heim (96), Ankrum (24), Enfinger (19), others[5]

Winning Strategy & Technical Breakdown

Corey Heim’s crew nailed the pit strategy, balancing tire wear and track position. Heim’s Toyota Tundra TRD Pro handled the heat and repeated restarts with poise. The team’s late-race call to stay out rather than pit on the last caution gave Heim control of the final restart—a critical edge with tire degradation playing a major factor as others struggled to maintain grip[1][2].

Driver of the Day

Corey Heim earns the nod for withstanding intense pressure, perfecting his restarts, and decisively reclaiming the lead after every challenge. He also swept Stage 2 and led all but 78 laps of the race[2][5].

Behind the Scenes

Heim, after the victory:
> "We had the truck to beat, but those late cautions made it anyone’s race. I just focused on hitting my marks, and the team did everything right tonight."

Daniel Hemric played a key role, using an alternate tire strategy to seize the lead for a moment in overtime, but ultimately faded against Heim’s fresher setup[1].

Championship Standings (Truck Series, Unofficial)

With the win, Heim further cements himself as a championship frontrunner, while Hemric and Caruth’s podiums boost their playoff prospects.

Looking Ahead

Next up, the NASCAR Truck Series shifts to Kansas Speedway—a 1.5-mile oval that rewards raw speed and tire management. Weather forecasts call for mild conditions, setting the stage for another strategic showdown. Listeners can expect more tire games and aggressive late-race moves as drivers chase crucial playoff points.

Other Major Series

No IndyCar or Formula 1 races took place yesterday. F1 heads to the historic Monaco Grand Prix next, while IndyCar fans await the Indianapolis Grand Prix. Each series is poised for high-speed drama, with championship battles heating up as May unfolds.

Deep Dive for Hardcore Fans

- Heim’s fastest lap: 29.67 seconds (track average: 30.12)
- Most passes: Rajah Caruth, with 34 on-track overtakes
- Driver comparison: Ankrum held his own from pole but lacked long-run pace—Heim’s machine excelled as the laps ticked down.

Stay tuned as the motorsport world barrels into a pivotal stretch, and review those race replays—Texas delivered a classic!