Phoenix Raceway is set to become a thrilling battleground. And it’s not just for the Cup Series, but for the pinnacle of the NASCAR season, hosting the championship deciders for the Craftsman Truck, Xfinity, as well in a spectacular triple-header this weekend. The one-mile asphalt oval is primed to witness high-octane drama and the crowning of new champions.

The weekend kicks off with the Craftsman Truck Series title fight on Friday. In this fiercely contested third-tier NASCAR series, four drivers are locked in a dead heat for the ultimate glory: Corey Heim, Carson Hocevar, Ben Rhodes, and Grant Enfinger stand shoulder to shoulder, their points tally reset for this playoff showdown. But it’s Corey Heim who’s stolen a march on his rivals, clinching the pole position in a show of blistering pace.

In a candid pre-race exchange, Heim exuded a quiet confidence. He acknowledged the benefit of an extra week’s preparation, hinting that it played a crucial role in his pole-winning performance. However, he was quick to tip his hat to the Cup Series drivers, whose relentless performance standards, he noted, remain unshaken even without the luxury of such preparation.

Corey Heim exclaims that having an extra week to prepare was pretty useful

Amidst the electrifying anticipation of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, Corey Heim and the TRICON Garage team have emerged as the formidable duo to watch, following a stellar qualifying run at the Phoenix Raceway. Behind the wheel of the No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Heim secured the 4th pole of the season and clocked in a blazing lap time of 26.344 seconds, hitting a top speed of 136.65 mph. His performance was unmatched among the Championship 4 contenders, with a top-five start placing him in a prime position for the 150-lap sprint.

The 21-year-old is riding the momentum, entering the race as the clear-cut favorite. History is on his side: the pole-sitter has claimed both the race and the championship in the last two seasons. Zane Smith achieved this feat last year, with Ben Rhodes following suit in 2021. Now, the question that looms is: will 2023 be the year of Heim?

As the series gears up for a 10:00 PM EST start, Heim is poised at the forefront, ready to dictate the pace from the get-go. In the buildup to the race, Heim reflected on the luxury of an additional week of preparation, a privilege not afforded to Cup drivers. He marveled at their ability to deliver sterling performances with significantly less prep time.

“I really enjoy, you know, just having maybe an extra week, especially for a big race like this where it’s just you know and also there’s just everything you can. I don’t know how, you know, the Cup guys do, or they got literally like three days to prepare for a race, but yeah, just for me, just be able to study and spread it all out and I have to overload myself with information is pretty useful,” he remarked.

The championship chase is heating up as Ben Rhodes takes P6, Carson Hocevar- P13, and Grant Enfinger- P17, completing the roster for the Championship 4. They face an uphill task to surpass Heim, whose dominance has been the season’s narrative. As the finale looms, the focus is on Heim, yet the unpredictability of racing begs the question: if the tide turns, who will rise to seize the climactic victory?

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Who stands a chance to triumph in the Phoenix showdown, aside from Heim?

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1. Heim, representing TRICON Garage, boasts an impressive record at Phoenix with top-4 stage finishes and a commendable seventh-place overall in his previous outing. But the competition is fierce.

2. Ben Rhodes, a driver known for his clutch performances, has notched three top-4 finishes in his last four Phoenix appearances, with his stellar performance in 2021 earning him the championship. His knack for peaking at just the right moment makes him a formidable opponent.

3. Grant Enfinger, although his last top-5 Phoenix finish dates back to 2019 with ThorSport Racing, cannot be overlooked. His proven track record indicates a latent threat that could surface during the finale.

4. Carson Hocevar, despite Phoenix not being his statistical stronghold with a best finish of ninth, has demonstrated potential. His victory at Richmond Raceway and a strong fourth place at World Wide Technology Raceway—both tracks similar in configuration to Phoenix—hint at an undercurrent of success that may well surge in the final race.

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Rhodes and Enfinger bring a wealth of experience to the table, yet it’s Heim and Hocevar who have been tearing up the tracks with blistering speed and riding the wave of recent victories into the Round of 8. Dismissing Rhodes and Enfinger would be unwise, but the sheer velocity and recent form of Heim and Hocevar make them the top contenders for the title, poised on the starting line of what promises to be an electrifying race.