By Seriously Fast Motorsports Staff Writer Andy DeLay

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Under the bright desert lights of Phoenix Raceway, Corey Heim capped off a season for the record books by winning the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship in a dramatic overtime finish that left many fans grabbing their chests as their hearts raced out of control due to the action on the track.

When the green flag waved for the first NASCAR Overtime restart, Heim sat in fifth place after taking 4 fresh Goodyear tires when a caution flew with 3 laps to go after being comfortably in the lead. The trucks in front of him, which included now race leader Ty Majeski, who took only two tires in the pits, made Heim seem like a long shot for any real chance to get the elusive championship. What happened next was pure racing magic. At the drop of the green, Heim charged hard into Turn 1, diving low, splitting the middle three-wide, threading the 7-wide needle with precision that only a master of race-craft can deliver. In one heart-stopping move, he surged from fifth to second, setting up what would become the defining moment of his championship drive.

Moments later, a final caution flag flew—resetting the stage for one more dash to the finish. On the ensuing restart, Heim lined up on the front row beside Ty Majeski, the only man left standing between him and the title. When the green waved again, Heim got the launch of his life, powering his No. 11 Toyota Tundra clear of the field, with the decision by crew chief Scott Zipadelli to take 4 tires versus Majeski’s 2 paying off in dividends. There was no catching the Georgia native this time. Heim hit every mark perfectly, pulling away over the final lap to get not just the race win, but his first NASCAR Truck Series Championship.

The victory was the exclamation point on a season that was nothing short of dominant. Heim’s 12 race wins set a new record for the series, a testament to both his consistency and killer instinct behind the wheel. Week after week, the 23-year-old driver showed poise beyond his years, leading laps, winning stages, and cementing himself as the face of Toyota’s NASCAR future.

“Man, this is unreal,” Heim said in Victory Lane, grinning beneath the floodlights. “This team gave me everything all year long, and when it mattered most, we found a way. That last restart—I just went for it. You don’t get chances like that too often.”

For fans who’ve followed NASCAR for decades, Heim’s performance evoked memories of the sport’s greats—drivers with names like Earnhardt and Gordon who could dig deep and deliver when it counted most. His composure under pressure in those closing laps was a masterclass in championship-caliber racing.

Crew chief Scott Zipadelli called it “The best drive I’ve ever seen from Corey.” And coming from a man who’s seen his share of champions, that’s saying something.

As the fireworks lit up the Phoenix sky after the race, Heim’s team gathered around the championship trophy—a fitting reward for a season defined by dominance, determination, and balls. In a sport built on moments that live forever, this one will stand tall: Corey Heim, 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion.

With a dozen wins, countless highlights, and a finale that fans will be replaying for years, Heim didn’t just win a championship—he announced his arrival as NASCAR’s next big star.

Image Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images