Corey Heim secured his first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship on Friday night at Phoenix Raceway, driving the No. 11 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage. This marks Heim’s first career championship and represents Toyota’s 10th driver’s title in the Truck Series.
Heim achieved a record-setting season with 12 wins, the most ever in a single Truck Series season. His victories included races at Daytona International Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Lime Rock Park, Watkins Glen International, Richmond Raceway, Darlington Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, the Charlotte ROVAL, Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway. Over the course of the year, he also earned 19 top-five finishes, 21 top-10s and seven pole positions. Heim set additional records for stage points in a regular season (65) and stage wins over a full season (23). He led more than 1,500 laps this year—a new single-season Truck Series record.
With his win at Phoenix Raceway, Heim now has 23 career Truck Series victories with Toyota—second only to Kyle Busch’s 56. This was Heim’s third consecutive appearance in the Championship 4 and his fifth season competing in the series. Last year he finished second in points after six wins; in 2023 he won three races and took the regular season championship; and in 2022 he earned Rookie of the Year honors with two wins.
Heim also continued his development program with 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series this year by making four starts and achieving his first top-10 finish at Bristol Motor Speedway. Additionally, he competed in three Xfinity Series races with Sam Hunt Racing.
The Georgia native becomes the eighth Tundra driver to win a championship for Toyota. Other champions include Ben Rhodes (2021), Brett Moffitt (2018), Christopher Bell (2017), Erik Jones (2015), Matt Crafton (2013 and 2014), Todd Bodine (2006 and 2010) and Johnny Benson (2008).
Toyota has accumulated a total of 248 victories since joining NCTS competition in 2004 and claimed its 14th Truck Series Manufacturers’ Championship this season.
“I just am so grateful to be where I’m at. So thankful for the TRICON Garage, Toyota taking a chance on me years ago, Safelite, Mobil 1, Yahoo, Celsius, for every bit of their support. I was so stressed out ever since we went to the ROVAL. I’ve been, like, so terrible to talk to as a person, so stressed out. This is just such a relief, to say the least. So thankful for everybody. There’s so many names I could go through, Trevor (Bayne, Competition Mentor, TRD) and Blake (Koch, Competition Mentor, TRD) for all my prep work, 23XI for everything they do for me on the development side. There’s such a long list. Thankful for everybody involved,“ said Corey Heim.
Paul Doleshal of Toyota Motor North America added: “This is a proud night for Corey, his family, TRICON Garage and everyone associated with Toyota GAZOO Racing and TRD U.S.A. It goes without saying how special of a talent Corey Heim is and to etch his name into NASCAR history with this championship is special and we’re thrilled to be a part of it. We look forward to celebrating more wins and championships with Corey behind the wheel of a Toyota for years to come.”
Toyota operates more than 1,800 dealerships across North America and employs nearly 64,000 people who have contributed to building almost 49 million vehicles at its manufacturing plants over nearly seven decades on the continent. In addition to vehicle production operations across North America—including recent automotive battery assembly activities launched at its North Carolina plant—the company continues advancing sustainable mobility solutions through both its Toyota and Lexus brands.
