After the weather gods affected a NASCAR race again, a Craftsman Truck Series fixture left a blazing trail. Officials paused the CRC Brakleen 175 with 9 laps to go due to an unexpected rain cell. Even after the lengthy delay, Corey Heim of Tricon Garage fended off all his rivals and carved out a path to Victory Lane. At the same time, however, last year’s championship upset kept biting at the back of his head.

Carson Hocevar stole Corey Heim’s chance for a Championship title last year. And Heim said after the Pocono race that his newfound win was not enough to douse those flames of frustration.

Regret plagues Corey Heim even amidst a fresh win

Corey Heim wheeled his car against Christian Eckes after the restart at Pocono Raceway. Soon enough, in an attempt to help Eckes, Ross Chastain’s hard push got the #19 car loose and bunched up the field behind him. This provided Heim with a window of opportunity to shine for the fifth time this season. He just needed a single pit stop that the No. 11 TRICON team executed flawlessly. Post-race, he brimmed with gratitude for his team, albeit letting slip his 2023 feelings.

Speaking to the press after grabbing the checkered flag, Corey Heim saluted his crew chief, Scott Zipadelli, and the rest of the team. “I thank Scott from the very beginning…Scott and I have such a close bond. He does such a phenomenal job, giving me fast Safelite Toyota TRD Pros every week. This week wasn’t any different, this thing was badass, got a badass crew, a badass truck week in and week out…So proud of these guys.”

Yet, at the same time, Carson Hocevar‘s contact last November was at the back of Corey Heim’s mind. In last year’s Truck Championship race, Hocevar spun Heim twice in the final few laps, robbing him of his chance for the title. That stinging collapse still gives pangs to Heim. After the press asked him if his fifth win in Pocono gave him respite for last year’s upset, he denied. “No, not at all. I mean you go out to win every race. And I don’t know, just looking back at last season, we could have added a lot more potential.” 

Corey Heim, though, does not let the past shadow his present. He could not help but beam with pride at his newfound glory, remaining focused on more wins to clinch. “But we’re focused on 2024. We got all the potential in the world right now.”

Prior to seizing glory in Pocono, Heim cultivated a focused mindset. He was prepared for a glittering finish and saw through his ambitions to the end.

Heim was determined to win

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Corey Heim started his racing journey exceptionally early at the tender age of five. He raced quarter midgets and go-karts in Marietta, Georgia. Soon he entered the Legends car like most pro NASCAR racers, winning the 2016 Young Lions division and the 2017 Thursday Thunder Pro division championship at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Hence, Heim carefully honed a racer’s mindset since childhood. So it makes sense when he almost predicted his Pocono victory and was able to see it through.

Hours before the CRC Brakleen 175, he analyzed his good Truck outing so far. “This is my second full year here, and fourth year I’ve been in the Truck Series on a part-time basis. So I’m pretty established in the trucks.” Then he aptly drew the conclusion that nothing but a trophy was awaiting him in Pocono. “Pocono has been a good race track for me. I’ve raced here twice and finished in the top five both times. I haven’t quite gotten that win and I finished second last year, so we’re definitely coming in here with a little bit of redemption on our minds and certainly want to make up for that.”

And Corey Heim made up for at least some of the frustration that Carson Hocevar gave him last year. Maybe he will satisfy himself fully with a Championship title this year, who knows?