Corey Heim Defeats Unthinkable Odds to Win Darlington as Ford Fumbles Playoffs Berth

Corey Heim pulled off another stunner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, grabbing his eighth victory of the year and locking in a spot for the next playoff round with a hard-fought checkered flag at Darlington Raceway.

The Tricon Garage driver has been on fire all season, and this win at the “Lady in Black” shows he’s got the grit to handle the tough stuff, especially with the playoffs just kicking off. It’s his most dominant run yet, but the night wasn’t without its wild turns, particularly for the Ford camp, where Chandler Smith and Layne Riggs saw their hopes take a major hit.

Daniel Hemric, Grant Enfinger, Ty Majeski, and Trevor Bayne rounded out the top five, giving a solid showing for the field. Tanner Gray, Tyler Ankrum, Timmy Hill, Corey Day, and Jake Garcia filled out the top 10, keeping the pressure on in a race that tested everyone’s limits. Darlington’s narrow, abrasive layout always delivers drama, and this one was no different, with late-race chaos flipping the script for several playoff contenders.

Speaking with Fox, post race, Heim said, “I felt like the No. 34 [Riggs] and the No. 38 [Smith] were really good, but I could make a little bit of speed on the wall. It was such a high-risk play. If you screw up — I mean, you saw so many people have those right-front issues. I put a little pressure on the 34 and he got into it, and we were able to take advantage of it. So proud of these Tricon guys. It feels like I’m in a dream — eight wins this year is phenomenal.”

The “Lady in Black” lived up to her reputation, biting hard in two separate incidents that turned the night upside down for some. Layne Riggs was out front late, looking like he had the win in the bag, when a flat tire slowed him down big time.

Just when it seemed he might lose a lap, a timely caution from Kaden Honeycutt, tangling with Andrés Pérez de Lara, gave him a break. Riggs and Honeycutt both battled back but crossed the line 17th and 18th, a tough pill to swallow for Ford drivers hoping to advance.

Chandler Smith’s day went from bad to worse even earlier. Just 14 laps in, his No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford smacked the wall, flattening the right-front tire. He bounced back but hit the wall again, suffering heavy damage that ended his run.

Finishing 30th, Smith’s fumble left Ford scrambling in the playoffs, highlighting how one mistake at Darlington can derail everything. With the postseason just starting, these setbacks for Smith and Riggs mean Ford’s got some serious climbing to do, while Heim’s triumph keeps Toyota rolling strong.

Too many wins, but do they matter?

Even after such a fabulous performance at Darlington, Heim’s rise through the NASCAR ranks has hit a frustrating stall. Heim has been a championship threat in the Truck Series for three straight years, but the next big step keeps slipping out of reach. Instead of locking down a full-time seat, he’s been bouncing between part-time opportunities running Xfinity races with Sam Hunt Racing and making scattered Cup appearances with Legacy Motor Club and 23XI.

It’s a grind that doesn’t line up with his talent level, and fans thought his break was finally coming when Kaden Honeycutt left Niece Motorsports. That move sparked talk that Heim might get freed up for a long-awaited Xfinity promotion, since a Cup debut in 2026 was already off the table.

Then came the gut punch. Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported that Heim is most likely headed for a split schedule in 2026, dividing time between Trucks with TRICON, Xfinity with Stewart-Haas Racing, and Cup starts with 23XI. Nothing has been officially confirmed, but for fans expecting to see him full-time in Xfinity, it felt like a letdown.

Bianchi did mention that if sponsorship materializes, a full season is still on the table, but finding the right funding has always been Heim’s biggest roadblock. What makes this so frustrating is that Heim clearly has the tools to succeed at the next level. His results speak for themselves, and he’s earned the respect of his peers in the garage.

If 23XI and Toyota can slot him into more Cup starts, it could give him the chance to prove himself against the sport’s top drivers. Right now, though, the plan feels more like treading water than moving forward. Fans are vocal about their disappointment, and the concern is real: unless Toyota finds him a stable home, they risk losing one of their most promising young stars to a rival manufacturer.