Heim Qualifies Last To Take Pole at Phoenix Truck Finale

 Corey Heim, driver of the #11 Safelite Toyota, speaks to the media during the NASCAR Championship Media Day at Phoenix Raceway on November 02, 2023 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Heim Qualifies Last To Take Pole at Phoenix Truck Finale

(PHOENIX, AZ – NOV 3, 2023 – RIS) Corey Heim had to wait until the last qualifying attempt to set the pole-winning time for Friday night’s Craftsman Truck Series Championship Cometic Gaskets 150 at Phoenix Raceway. His lap of 26.344 seconds at 136.654 mph beat out Ty Majeski’s lap by a narrow margin of only sixteen thousandths of a second. Heim and Ben Rhodes (sixth) were the only championship contenders in the top ten, as Carson Hocevsr qualified thirteenth and Grant Enfinger seventeenth.

Derek Kraus hit the track first in qualifying for the Craftsman Truck Series Championship Cometic Gaskets 150. He set a quick time of 26.762 seconds at 1134.519 mph, with Sean Hingorani, newly crowned as the ARCA West champion next at 26.807 sec and 134.293 mph followed by Jake Drew, who had a slide on his first lap then went on to record a lap of 26.787 sec at 134.394 mph.

Conner Jones fired off a lap o 27.057 / 133.052, then Keith McGee lapped the track at only 27.947/128.815.

Chris Hacker, next on the trak, stopped the timers at 27.158/132.558, a big gain over his practice time. Christian Rose, next out, 27.231/132.202. Jesse Love held his truck against the inside apron, moving to the top of the chart with a lap of 26.558/135.552 in his final race in a Toyota, before moving to Richard Childress Racing’s Chevies in next year’s Xfinity series.

Spencer Boyd’s time of 27.735/129.800 mph is second-fastest as of now, then Kaden Honeycutt moved to fifth at 26.934/133.660 leading to Spencer Davis’s effort of 21.474/131.033 effort.

Colby Howard, next on the mile and a half track, broke the beams at 26.900/133.829. Nick Leitz ran next, with a score of 27.627 seconds and 130.307 before newly-engaged Hailie Deegan, moving to the Xfinity Series next year, qualified at 26.869/133.983.

Last year’s champ, Zane Smith, next on the track, recorded a fast lap of 26.432/136.199 for the top position so far. Tyler Hill drove his No. 56 to a lap of 27.707/129.931. Stefan Parsons, after crashing in practice last night, recorded a top ten time of 28.871/133.973. Marco Andretti’s time of 27.323/131.757 was not enough for the top ten. Lawless Alan ran next, recording a lap of 27.178/132.460 before Daniel Dye went on the track, resulting in a lap of 26.813/134.263. Tyler Ankrum, next out, recorded a lap of 26.790/134.378.

Dean Thompson jumped to the third spot so far, at 26.728/134.690, leading to Jake Garcia, fastest in practice on Thursday, with a time of 26.650/135.084. Tanner Gray, next out, recorded a lap of 26.897/133.844 after a slight slide in the second turn.

Taylor Gray, Tanner’s younger brother, came out next and clocked a lap ofv26.607/135.303. Rajah Caruth ran next, ran second at 26.550/135.593, leading to Christian Eckes’ run which went in the books at 26.548/135.603. Chase Purdy a week before his birthday just two days ago, lapped the track at 26.484/135.931 to rest in second on the tower with another ten trucks remaining.

Jack Wood qualified next, generating a lap of 26.542/135.634 before Nick Sanchez jumped to the top of the chart with a lap of 26.390/136.415, leading to Bayley Currey and his lap of s26.605/135.313. Matt Crafton, next out, recorded a time of 26.938/133.640 after almost diving too low in the last turn.

Stewart Friesen ran 26.802/134.318, before Ty Majeski, final non-Playoffs driver, hit the track, setting a top time of 26.360/136.571. Ben Rhodes, first of the ‘final four’ drivers, recorded a time of 26.505/135.823, then Grant Enfinger went out next with a lap in the books of 26.764/134.509.

The final pair to qualify, Carson Hocevar and Corey Heim followed next with Hocevar clocking in a t 26.531/135.181 and Heim jumped onto the pole position with a lap of 26.344/136.654, only sixteen thousandths of a second ahead of Majeski’s lap.

Time Trial Results: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship, Phoenix Raceway
Pos, Driver, Trk, Time, Speed, -Fastest, -Next
1) Corey Heim (P), No. 11 Safelite Toyota, 26.344 sec, 136.654 mph, ---, ---
2) Ty Majeski, No. 98 Curb Records/Farm Paint Ford, 26.360, 136.571, 0.016 sec, 0.016 sec
3) Nick Sanchez #, No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 26.390, 136.415, 0.046, 0.030
4) Zane Smith, No. 38 Speedco/Delo Ford, 26.432, 136.199, 0.088, 0.042
5) Chase Purdy, No. 4 Bama Buggies Chevrolet, 26.484, 135.931, 0.140, 0.052
6) Ben Rhodes (P), No. 99 Kubota Ford, 26.505, 135.823, 0.161, 0.021
7) Jack Wood, No. 51 Rubbin' is Racing Chevrolet, 26.542, 135.634, 0.198, 0.037
8) Christian Eckes, No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet, 26.548, 135.603, 0.204, 0.006
9) Rajah Caruth #, No. 24 Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet, 26.550, 135.593, 0.206, 0.002
10) Jesse Love, No. 1 HomeSmiles Toyota, 26.558, 135.552, 0.214, 0.008
11) Bayley Currey, No. 41 GlobalTranz Chevrolet, 26.605, 135.313, 0.261, 0.047
12) Taylor Gray #, No. 17 Dead On Tools Toyota, 26.607, 135.303, 0.263, 0.002
13) Carson Hocevar (P), No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 26.631, 135.181, 0.287, 0.024
14) Jake Garcia #, No. 35 Quanta Services Chevrolet, 26.650, 135.084, 0.306, 0.019
15) Dean Thompson, No. 5 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota, 26.728, 134.690, 0.384, 0.078
16) Derek Kraus, No. 77 Western States Flooring Chevrolet, 26.762, 134.519, 0.418, 0.034
17) Grant Enfinger (P), No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet, 26.764, 134.509, 0.420, 0.002
18) Jake Drew, No. 61 Cyclum Truck Stops Toyota, 26.787, 134.394, 0.443, 0.023
19) Tyler Ankrum, No. 16 LiUNA! Toyota, 26.790, 134.378, 0.446, 0.003
20) Stewart Friesen, No. 52 Halmar International Toyota, 26.802, 134.318, 0.458, 0.012
21) Sean Hingorani, No. 75 Fidelity Capital Chevrolet, 26.807, 134.293, 0.463, 0.005
22) Daniel Dye #, No. 43 GMS Racing Chevrolet, 26.813, 134.263, 0.469, 0.006
23) Hailie Deegan, No. 13 Pit Boss Ford, 26.869, 133.983, 0.525, 0.056
24) Stefan Parsons, No. 25 Rackley Roofing/Millennium Chevrolet, 26.871, 133.973, 0.527, 0.002
25) Tanner Gray, No. 15 Cometic/Factory Canopies Toyota, 26.897, 133.844, 0.553, 0.026
26) Colby Howard, No. 9 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet, 26.900, 133.829, 0.556, 0.003
27) Kaden Honeycutt, No. 02 RANDCO Industries Chevrolet, 26.934, 133.660, 0.590, 0.034
28) Matt Crafton, No. 88 Ideal Door/Menards Ford, 26.938, 133.640, 0.594, 0.004
29) Conner Jones, No. 66 Lung Cancer Awareness Ford, 27.057, 133.052, 0.713, 0.119
30) Chris Hacker, No. 30 On Point Motorsports Toyota, 27.158, 132.558, 0.814, 0.101
31) Lawless Alan, No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet, 27.178, 132.460, 0.834, 0.020
32) Christian Rose (OP), No. 22 Disability Opportunity Fund Ford, 27.231, 132.202, 0.887, 0.053
33) Marco Andretti (OP), No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 27.323, 131.757, 0.979, 0.092
34) Spencer Davis (OP), No. 04 Fly Alliance/CarQuest Ford, 27.474, 131.033, 1.130, 0.151
35) Nick Leitz (OP), No. 20 Precision Measurements Chevrolet, 27.627, 130.307, 1.283, 0.153
36) Tyler Hill (OP), No. 56 Consolidation Coach/UNITS Toyota, 27.707, 129.931, 1.363, 0.080
37) Spencer Boyd, No. 12 King of the Hammers Chevrolet, 27.735, 129.800, 1.391, 0.028
38) Keith McGee, No. 33 More Core Ford, 27.947, 128.815, 1.603, 0.212

Starting Line Up: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship, Phoenix Raceway 
Pos, Driver, Car, Time, Speed
1) Corey Heim (P), No. 11 Safelite Toyota, 26.344 sec, 136.654 mph
2) Ty Majeski, No. 98 Curb Records/Farm Paint Ford, 26.360, 136.571
3) Nick Sanchez #, No. 2 Gainbridge Chevrolet, 26.390, 136.415
4) Zane Smith, No. 38 Speedco/Delo Ford, 26.432, 136.199
5) Chase Purdy, No. 4 Bama Buggies Chevrolet, 26.484, 135.931
6) Ben Rhodes (P), No. 99 Kubota Ford, 26.505, 135.823
7) Jack Wood, No. 51 Rubbin' is Racing Chevrolet, 26.542, 135.634
8) Christian Eckes, No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet, 26.548, 135.603
9) Rajah Caruth #, No. 24 Wendell Scott Foundation Chevrolet, 26.550, 135.593
10) Jesse Love, No. 1 HomeSmiles Toyota, 26.558, 135.552
11) Bayley Currey, No. 41 GlobalTranz Chevrolet, 26.605, 135.313
12) Taylor Gray #, No. 17 Dead On Tools Toyota, 26.607, 135.303
13) Carson Hocevar (P), No. 42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, 26.631, 135.181
14) Jake Garcia #, No. 35 Quanta Services Chevrolet, 26.650, 135.084
15) Dean Thompson, No. 5 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota, 26.728, 134.690
16) Derek Kraus, No. 77 Western States Flooring Chevrolet, 26.762, 134.519
17) Grant Enfinger (P), No. 23 Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet, 26.764, 134.509
18) Jake Drew, No. 61 Cyclum Truck Stops Toyota, 26.787, 134.394
19) Tyler Ankrum, No. 16 LiUNA! Toyota, 26.790, 134.378
20) Stewart Friesen, No. 52 Halmar International Toyota, 26.802, 134.318
21) Sean Hingorani, No. 75 Fidelity Capital Chevrolet, 26.807, 134.293
22) Daniel Dye #, No. 43 GMS Racing Chevrolet, 26.813, 134.263
23) Hailie Deegan, No. 13 Pit Boss Ford, 26.869, 133.983
24) Stefan Parsons, No. 25 Rackley Roofing/Millennium Chevrolet, 26.871, 133.973
25) Tanner Gray, No. 15 Cometic/Factory Canopies Toyota, 26.897, 133.844
26) Colby Howard, No. 9 Grant County Mulch Chevrolet, 26.900, 133.829
27) Kaden Honeycutt, No. 02 RANDCO Industries Chevrolet, 26.934, 133.660
28) Matt Crafton, No. 88 Ideal Door/Menards Ford, 26.938, 133.640
29) Conner Jones, No. 66 Lung Cancer Awareness Ford, 27.057, 133.052
30) Chris Hacker, No. 30 On Point Motorsports Toyota, 27.158, 132.558
31) Lawless Alan, No. 45 AUTOParkit Chevrolet, 27.178, 132.460
32) Christian Rose, No. 22 Disability Opportunity Fund Ford, Owner Points, 
33) Marco Andretti, No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet, Owner Points, 
34) Spencer Davis, No. 04 Fly Alliance/CarQuest Ford, Owner Points, 
35) Nick Leitz, No. 20 Precision Measurements Chevrolet, Owner Points, 
36) Tyler Hill, No. 56 Consolidation Coach/UNITS Toyota, Owner Points,
(I) ineligible for points in this series, (#) Rookie, (P) Playoffs

Did Not Qualify: No. 12 Spencer Boyd, No. 33 Keith McGee
Track Qualifying Record: William Byron, 11/11/16, 26.039 sec, 138.254 mph
Track Race Record: Kevin Harvick, 11/08/02, 1:24:26, 108.014 mph