The 2024 NASCAR Truck Series could easily be dubbed the “Heim and Eckes Show!” as the dynamic duo has been trading paint all season long. Corey Heim snagged his fifth win at Pocono, but don’t count out Eckes just yet—he’s been right on Heim’s tail with three wins of his own and a close second-place finish at Pocono.

With such fierce competition, frequent head-to-head clashes are expected. In Pocono, the only thorn that seemed to have gotten in Corey Heim’s way to that fifth win in Pocono was Eckes. But in Indianapolis, Eckes did end up becoming the thorn for Heim! There was a little door-to-door action. And while some might say that accounts for exciting racing, Corey Heim didn’t personally like it; moreover, it led to him finishing P17!

Corey Heim expects more respect from Christian Eckes.

Corey Heim was more than disappointed with how the race panned out in Indianapolis. As usual, the two drivers, the fiercest ones in the series this season, were battling it out there. And then they had a little contact on track, which led to a flat tire for Heim and also a poor finish. He finished 17th! Heim was so dissatisfied that after the contact with Eckes, he drove Eckes down the track under caution.

Although Heim pitted and even ran up front after the contact, he couldn’t get back to the pace that he usually had to get to the lead. Heim and Eckes even had a one-on-one on the pit lane, where it was clear Heim was upset and Eckes knew he was at fault.

“It’s not like I went straight to the wall, Corey,” Eckes said; he didn’t upfront apologize for ruining his day.

“Ah, you pretty much did,” Heim retorted. “I was nosing into the wall, and I jammed the wheel left, and I hit you.”

“I was giving you a lane and misjudged it,” Eckes replied.

“[…] by a lot. By half a truck length,” Heim concluded.

This race, after all, is crucial—a crown jewel race—and it’s making a comeback after a long time. Also, because it’s not often that Heim finishes outside the top 10, and digesting the fact that the one who shoved him finished way better than him—a lot to take in. Hence, the confrontation in the pit lane is not surprising.

However, during the pit lane exchange, even though Eckes didn’t initially apologize for ruining Heim’s day, he did it at the post-race interview. He told FOX Sports, “He’s got a right to be mad. just misjudged the straightaway. And he acted like I went to the wall. But I didn’t. I tried to leave a lane. I just misjudged it on my end.”

But his apology surely wouldn’t change the P17 place that Corey Heim fell back to. To have one of the best five trucks on the field and get that result will be a bitter pill to swallow for Heim. However, after all the commotion and tension, neither Eckes nor Heim got the last laugh. Instead, Ty Majeski stole the spotlight from both of them!

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Corey Heim misses out, and Ty Majeski dominates at IRP

Sometimes, when two leaders are battling it out, another takes the cake! Remember Zane Smith clinching the P2 from Reddick, as he was busy with Logano? While not exactly the same case, in Indianapolis too, we saw the best drivers, Heim and Eckes, battle it out and another take the cake. As they struggled, another thrived—Ty Majeski!

But that’s not to say the win was easy for Ty Majeski, because it surely wasn’t! First the incident between Heim and Eckes and then the throw-in of a restart penalty to Majeski—a lot was going on in the race. The restart violation on lap 50 put him near the tail end of the lead lap after he jumped the restart following Ty Dillon’s spin in turn 3, which caused the first caution of the race. This mistake cost him any stage points for stage one.

He nearly went a lap down coming off the pit road just before the leaders, but Majeski managed to stay on the lead lap. Starting from P16 in stage 2, he showed off his skill and the power of his truck, driving back to the front and proving he was the best driver on the track. After the race, he took the time to thank his team, who had his back, especially emphasizing the pit crew, as he said he had “awesome pit stops.” This marks his first win of the season, and he makes it to the playoffs!

Sure, Ty Majeski’s win was sweet for him, but it had not been so great for Heim because Eckes still retained the series lead by 50 points over him.