The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in Michigan delivered an entertaining race with a nail-biting end. TRICON Garage teammates Corey Heim and Kaden Honeycutt battled it out to the end. Following the race, Honeycutt voiced his frustration about his teammate's aggressive blocking, to which Heim gave a blunt response. 

The rivalry unfolded during the last few laps of the race. Heim overtook Hocevar with 15 laps to go. Following this was the battle between the TRICON stablemates for the win. The No. 1 Chevrolet driver began the final lap in the lead and blocked his teammate high and low to take the victory.

While talking to the media post-race, Kaden Honeycutt explained that if it weren't a teammate, he wouldn't have lifted off the throttle.

"I was there," Honeycutt said. "So yeah, thank God it was a company truck. I definitely wouldn't have lifted in that situation. It just sucks. I felt like I've given so many away this year, and I think that's what's angering me the most for sure. Just unfortunate."

When Corey Heim was asked about Honeycutt's comments in the post-race presser, he replied:

"Get thicker skin and deal with it. That's my advice to him."

Heim finished the race 0.065 seconds ahead of his teammate. Behind the TRICON Garage pair, home hero Carson Hocevar, who had to deal with his truck overheating in the race, finished in third. Nashville Truck race winner, Layne Riggs, finished in fourth, followed by Chandler Smith in fifth. 

Corey Heim now has 26 wins in 94 truck series race starts, while Kaden Honeycutt has one win in 71 starts, which came at Watkins Glen on May 8c.

After the Michigan race, Honeycutt dropped to second in the Truck Series Championship, while Riggs, who finished fourth, ascended to the top.

While Corey Heim continues his Truck Series magic in a part-time capacity, he now has bigger things to look forward to in the Cup Series.

Corey Heim Signs With Denny Hamlin's NASCAR Cup Series Team

Just before kicking off the race weekend at Nashville Motor Speedway, 23XI Racing announced that Corey Heim will be promoted to a full-time driver. 

Heim has been with the team since 2024 as their developmental driver. In his last three seasons with the team, he has made 11 starts as a part-time driver.

While talking to the media after the announcement, Heim said, "It means the world to me. I’ve been a part of 23XI Racing for a couple years now on part-time basis, and I firmly believe that as a driver, you just have to be around the right people to succeed."

23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin called Heim a "generational talent." For Heim, this was a full-circle moment, as he would be driving for the NASCAR star he idolized growing up.

"I’ve been driving in NASCAR the last three or four years, and even in the trucks, I felt like I was with the right people and we did the right things, and it’s so important to have the right group around you to succeed. I’ve only started (11) races at 23XI Racing, but I really feel like that is my home, and these people treat me very well," Heim added.

For the upcoming 2027 season, Corey Heim will participate in NASCAR’s 38-week schedule. He will race alongside teammates Tyler Reddick and  Bubba Wallace. 

You can read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yash Kotak