VIDEO – With the title on the line, Corey Heim overtakes eight cars in one corner

Having won eleven times this season before arriving in Phoenix, Arizona, Corey Heim was the overwhelming favorite to win the title. However, as per the rules of the NASCAR Since 2014, his eleven wins in 24 races had been, in effect, worthless. Heim arrived on the grid for the final with the same title chances as Kaden Honeycutt, Ty Majeski, and Tyler Ankrum. The first of the four riders to cross the finish line would win the championship.

The race ultimately came down to a duel between Heim and Makeski, with the former initially holding the advantage. In the closing laps, an accident brought out another safety car period and an overtime period. Two laps were added to the race distance, and on a circuit particularly demanding on tires, the two drivers, who had been battling for the title all evening, decided to pit for fresh tires: two for Makeski, four for Heim. The man who had dominated the season found himself stuck in the pack, in tenth position at the restart, with only two laps remaining, out of a total of 3,2 km in the season.

WHAT A RESTART BY HEIM AND MAJESKI! pic.twitter.com/jvLZ5tPPBH

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) November 1, 2025

Corey Heim then took control of his destiny, diving inside in the first turn at Phoenix Raceway, passing eight rivals and moving from tenth to second… behind Majeskli! The two most prominent drivers on Friday were back at the front and had a little over a lap of battle ahead of them… But another caution triggered another overtime period. Majeskli rejoined the race in the lead ahead of Heim, who immediately passed him, cruising to his twelfth victory of the season, the one that secured his first NASCAR Truck Series title.

"It's a huge relief for me to have been able to win the championship race, that's for sure."Heim said. “I think everyone knows how good we’ve been all year and how dominant we’ve been, with all those segment wins, race wins, pole positions, and so on. At the end of the day, coming into Phoenix, we all knew we were the best team, but anything could happen. So, to be honest, I was very stressed. I think everyone close to me knows that at this point. But yes, to be able to win and to do it for all the members of our team who have worked so hard early in the morning and late at night… To be able to see the smiles of the whole team after the race really means a lot to me.”

Having been in contention for the title in Phoenix for the past two years, Corey Heim finally clinched the crown. In recent weeks, he and Connor Zilisch (a ten-time NASCAR Xfinity Series winner and also in contention for the title this Saturday) had become key arguments against the playoffs. If the dominant drivers can't secure the title because of a format that favors single-race performance, what's the point of continuing with the format, some argue. Heim has won the title; now it's up to Zilisch to do the same tonight to ensure the correct outcome in the two series below the Cup Series.

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