Two championship contenders took each other out at Phoenix Raceway
On Friday night, NASCAR Truck Series drivers took the green flag on the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. The 1-mile track brought the drama as four drivers battled for the title.
Watch the Carson Hocevar vs Corey Heim video below.
With 32 laps to go, Carson Hocevar and Corey Heim were in a battle for 6th. Heim drove it deep to the bottom in turn one and took the position without contact.
As they entered the dogleg, Hocevar leaned on the bumper of Heim but Heim kept the position. As they entered turn one, Hocevar looked under Heim once more. Yet, he failed to make the corner, clipping Heim in the left rear.
Heim was sent backwards up the track. He collected Stewart Friesen.
“I did not mean to do that,” Carson Hovevar stated over the team radio. “I thought he would make a bigger arc.”
Hocevar was then shown banging on the steering wheel.
Hocevar added, “I imagine there’s no question that was on me right?”
The team responded, “Yeah. I mean, he was holding you down like we were holding him down. Just got into his left rear.”
The team added, “Shake it off here bud. Refocus.
Hocevar restarted on the front row. However, Ty Majeski leaned on his bumper on the restart. Hocevar spun the tires and he fell outside the top 5 in a hurry.
With just 3 laps to go, things came full circle. Heim was running 7th as Hocevar ran in 9th. Heim elected to slow down and let Hovevar catch up.
As Hocevar attempted to work around the outside of Heim, Heim failed to turn. He ran Hocevar wide and into the outside wall.
“That’s fair,” Hocevar stated over the radio.
Phoenix Results: November 3, 2023 (NASCAR Truck Series)
Corey Heim comments
“Ask him if he stands by the first one,” Corey Heim told Fox Sports.
“He wrecked me and I got me right rear destroyed. From there, I had no sideforce.”
“He put it on my door off two and I lost control. So, just really gotta hold our head high for a great year.”
“Championship caliber truck, just didn’t go our way. This is a great year. This is a phenomenal year for us. I mean, this is our worst finish in like 6 months.”
“So, really put together a good race and really hoped those guys would race me clean. I got a lot of respect for everybody in the field. But, clearly, I don’t have any more.”
“But, it is what it is. Unfortunately, it turned into a wreck fest. I did all I could.”
“It wasn’t retaliation. Side-force, he put it on my door and I wrecked.”
It’s worth noting that NASCAR has been fining drivers after they admit to intentional wrecking. Denny Hamlin was fined $50,000 after admitting to wrecking Ross Chastain earlier this season.
NASCAR issues $550,000 in fines after Phoenix Raceway
