In a chaotic Phoenix race that ran 29 laps over, Ben Rhodes was crowned the Truck Series champion. The final caution-filled battle took place between Rhodes and Grant Enfinger. The remaining two title contenders were missing in action after wrecking each other earlier in the last 30 laps.

Niece Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar and Tricon Garage’s Corey Heim were the two favorites going into the race after grabbing the top two spots at the end of the Round of 8. When Heim spun around after repeated hits from Hocevar, the #42 Chevrolet driver was found distraught for causing the incident.

Carson Hocevar desired the Truck Series championship for rival Corey Heim

In a winner-takes-all format, the previous wins or accumulated points of the Championship 4 contenders become entirely meaningless. Despite a combined 7 wins and 23 Top 5 finishes between Carson Hocevar and Corey Heim throughout the season, the talented duo were nowhere near the title race in the overtime restarts at the end. Heim had won the pole position and after a runner-up finish in Stage 1, the #11 Toyota driver dominated the track with a Stage 2 win. Hocevar, however, had to put in considerable effort after starting the crucial race outside the Top 10.

Nonetheless, a caution on Lap 77 provided an opportunity for the future Spire Motorsports Cup driver to obtain all four fresh tires, eventually allowing him to catch up with Heim. Determined to get an upper hand, Hocevar bumped into Heim while they raced in the 5th and 6th positions on Lap 31. The contact spun Heim into Stewart Friesen, taking away the #11 driver’s championship lead. Later on, a repentant Hocevar could be heard saying, “I just f*cked up.”

Detailing the incident in an interview with Frontstretch, Hocevar explained, “I just tried to do what I did in three and four and stay at his back bumper and do everything I could to just stay there. I was all in. My only goal was to try and slow him down so he didn’t get too many cars ahead of us and I was just trying to hold him up and I didn’t expect him to be low. I thought he was going to kind of miss the corner the way he entered and I thought we were both going to try to slide drop the corner. I just messed up.”

He continued, “I was just trying to roll the corner, and I was committed to half a slider, thinking he was going to slide and he never slid. I’m just dumb.” Wrecked with guilt, Hocevar could only hope for Heim to eventually win the championship at that moment. Hocevar wished, “He should win the championship man, they should win. I didn’t want to do that at all and with my track record, right, it’s just gonna kill me. I can’t sit here and say I didn’t mean to…I was just trying really hard. I was blocking, doing everything I could. I just tried to slow them up and messed up.”

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Unfortunately, Hocevar’s hopes for Corey Heim did not come to fruition when Heim retaliated with 3 laps remaining.

Corey Heim’s revenge paved the way for an overtime spectacle between Ben Rhodes and Grant Enfinger

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In a chaotic crash that led to the first of four overtime restarts, Corey Heim saw a rapidly advancing Hocevar come up behind him and slam into him, effectively ending both of their championship dreams. When the first timers were removed from the title run, it fell upon more experienced drivers, Grant Enfinger and Ben Rhodes. 

Although Christian Eckes eventually won the race, all eyes were on Enfinger and Rhodes, racing neck and neck to finish ahead of each other in the 5th place. Enfinger wanted GMS Racing to have one final win while Rhodes wanted to reclaim his 2021 championship trophy. 

Ultimately, though, with a 0.306-second lead, the #99 Ford driver for ThorSport Racing secured the second championship of his career.

The excitement of the Phoenix Raceway will not die down the entire weekend as the Xfinity and Cup Series championships line up for their thrilling turns. 

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