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via Imago

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It was an absolute menace in the final Truck Series showdown on the tracks of Phoenix last season. The track was flared up with a series of wrecks and deliberate retaliation after Carson Hocevar and Corey Heim tangled with each other in aggression. As a result, the hopes of kissing their first championship burned down to ashes. Moreover, to add to the woes, Corey Heim was penalized $25,000 and docked 25 points for intentionally wrecking Hocevar.

However, with lessons learned and the New Year marking new beginnings, Corey Heim is set to bury the dead past. The Truck Series driver, although sour about losing out on his championship, does not indulge in a blame game against Carson Hocevar. Rather, he is optimistic about the 2024 season as he reveals his intentions in a candid interview with veteran FOX journalist Bob Pockrass.

Corey Heim steers clear of the blame game after his dismal Truck Series finale

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It was a miss of a lifetime, as Corey Heim missed his maiden Truck Series championship by a whisker. It was the final three laps that changed the course of the whole Truck Series finale. After getting spun by the outgoing Truck driver Carson Hocevar, the Tricon driver intentionally wrecked Hocevar in the exit of Turn 2 in the closing laps of the race, axing the contention for the night.

Although Heim denied wrecking Hocevar, the authorities slapped him with a $12,500 fine and docked 25 points after stating that the driver violated the rulebook by manipulating the outcome of the race. Nevertheless, with time healing the scars, Heim seemed to have new hopes for the 2024 season. In his interview with Pockrass, Heim stated, “It is hard for me to say, honestly, throughout the year I didn’t have a lot of issues with anybody, running consistently in the top-10. I feel those guys all race really clean, they have a lot of respect. When I was getting my feet under me in the Truck Series running in the teens and whatnot.”

“It was tougher, and people would drive hard and more aggressively and whatnot. Honestly, the people that I raced for the most part last year, where we were clean for the most part, obviously Phoenix wasn’t the best part for anybody. But it’s hard for me to say throughout the year just because I never had really much issue with anybody.”

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When asked whether the driver was able to take note of the lessons, from last year’s mistakes to this, Heim retorted, “There are a lot of positives that we took from Phoenix; I think we were the best truck, and I started my b*tt off after that race and did everything that I could and put myself in a good position. For the most part, I wouldn’t do anything different, but of course, we are looking back at it. There are some things that I will clean up.”

The Tricon Garage driver signed in as a reserve driver

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The Tricon Garage driver is assuredly ready to look at the bigger picture in the 2024 season, especially after inking his deal with 23XI Racing and Legacy Motor Club. Corey Heim was roped in by the two Toyota teams as the reserve and simulator driver for the teams. 

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As a result, the driver is poised to drive in all three series of NASCAR: full-time Truck Series driver, part-time Xfinity Series driver for Sam Hunt Racing, and as a reserve driver for the two Cup Series teams. 

In an official statement, Heim on his Twitter profile announced, I’m grateful to announce I’ve been signed by [Legacy Motor Club] as their simulator & reserve driver for this season and will also be the reserve driver for [23XI Racing]. Can’t wait to learn from and work with all the great minds at both of these teams!”

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With the series starting in a week, it will be interesting to see if Corey Heim can turn the tables on his fate and clinch his Truck Series title, which he has been elusive of.