Last Friday was the Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway for the Craftsman Truck Series. Four drivers entered the night battling it out for the title. By the end of the night, only two drivers had the opportunity to win the title, which ultimately went to Ben Rhodes. That wasn't the biggest story of the night, though. Championship 4 drivers Corey Heim and Carson Hocevar had issues with each other that were just part of one of the ugliest championship races in memory.
Hocevar made contact with Heim, spinning him out with plenty of laps left in the race and practically ending the No. 11 driver's chances of winning the title.
It was a moment that Hocevar felt terrible about when interviewed later.
Heim wasn't thrilled with Hocevar and all but called him out, according to NBC Sports after the race.
"That's just kind of what he does," Heim said. "He'll wreck you and apologize and then he'll do it again. It's not going to be the last time he does it. Certainly not the first time he's done it. I've known him for a long time."
That wasn't the end of the story, though. Heim retaliated on track with a handful of laps remaining in the race, wrecking Hocevar and several other drivers.
Heim, however, never admitted that it was on purpose, although it sure looked that way to some.
CARSON HOCEVAR IS DONE FOR THE NIGHT. Corey Heim sent him into the wall. https://t.co/Vb4xP3JH8w pic.twitter.com/Gap4jU4SNp
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) November 4, 2023
" (I) had a lot of right rear damage and was pretty much out-of-control free, so as soon as (Hocevar), really he was the third one on the outside and I about wrecked every time," Heim said. "Then, by the time he finally got there, I just spun out. With him on my door, I lost all my side force and lost control. So super unfortunate."
Nice of Heim to stick with his story. He sounds just like Chase Elliott did when he wrecked Denny Hamlin during the Coca-Cola 600. Funny, though: Elliott ended up in trouble because of what his car's SMT (SportsMedia Technology) data showed.
It sounds as if Heim might be a little jealous because Hocevar is going to the Cup Series in 2024.
They both chose their stories and stuck to them.
