Corey Heim came into the final race of his rookie season at Phoenix Raceway with Rookie of the Year honors all but secured. After a strong qualifying effort, Heim lined up for the 150-lap event in third. Over the course of the first 90 laps of the race, the 20-year-old driver dealt with multiple handling issues on his Crescent Tools Tundra but was still able to manage a second and fourth-place finish in each of the first two stages.
As the final stage progressed, Heim continued to run in the top-10 as he was scored in sixth on the sixth caution of the night. Following differing pit strategies, Heim restarted in 10th and was able to click off three more spots before taking the checkered flag in seventh, solidifying his Rookie of the Year honors and picking up his 10th top-10 of the year.
Stage One Recap:
- Heim started Friday night’s Lucas Oil 150 in third after putting down a lap time of 26.206 seconds at 137.373 mph during the qualifying session earlier in the day.
- The 20-year-old driver settled into third as the first few laps clicked off before reporting that his No. 51 Tundra was “wrecking loose”.
- By the time the first caution came out on lap 9, Heim communicated that his Crescent Tools Tundra was “starting to come to me a bit”.
- Despite the handling issues in the opening stanza, Heim took the green-and-white checkered flag in second, earning nine stages points for the No. 51 team.
Stage Two Recap:
- The No. 51 crew executed a lightning quick four tire and fuel stop at the stage break to send Heim back on track to restart from the lead position.
- The Georgia-native led the five laps of the stage before forfeiting the lead to his KBM teammate John Hunter Nemechek.
- Just fifteen laps into the middle stanza, Heim reported that his No. 51 Tundra was “too free on the long run” as he settled into the fourth position.
- Heim continued to battle within the top-five throughout the remaining 30 laps of the stage before taking the green-and-white checkered flag in fourth.
Final Stage Recap:
- Crew Chief Mardy Lindley ordered up another four tire and fuel stop at the stage break where the No. 51 team was able to gain Heim one spot on pit road to restart in third.
- On the ensuing restart, Heim fell back into seventh as the field navigated their way through the dogleg.
- Heim continued to run within the top-10 for the entirety of the Final Stage and was scored in sixth when the sixth caution came out on lap 135 with 15 to go.
- Lindley called his driver back down pit road where the No. 51 team elected to take four tires and fuel on what would be the final pit stop of the race. Differing pit strategies throughout the final would send Heim back out on track to restart in 10th.
- The 20-year-old driver was able to grab three more positions over the course of the final 12 laps including a NASCAR overtime to cross the stripe in seventh, earning his 10th top-10 of the season.
Lucas Oil 150 Race Recap:
- Zane Smith earned the championship with his fourth win of 2022 and seventh NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career win. Ben Rhodes, Chandler Smith, John Hunter Nemechek, and Stewart Friesen rounded out the top-five finishers.
- There were seven cautions for 41 laps and 15 lead changes among seven drivers, including Heim who led once for five laps.
How Heim’s KBM Teammates Fared:
- Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 18 Toyota, finished third.
- John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 4 Toyota, finished fifth.
Camping World Trucks Owner’s Championship Standings:
The No. 51 team finished the 2022 season seventh in the Owner’s Championship standings.
