NASCAR Truck Series Driver Corey Heim Fined $12,500 And Points For Wrecking Carson Hocevar In Championship Race

NASCAR has issued significant penalties to Truck Series driver Corey Heim for his actions during the Championship race in Phoenix.

The playoff driver was unintentionally spun out of contention for the win by fellow championship contender Carson Hocevar with 31 laps to go, then appeared to retaliate with three laps left by dropping back in the field and squeezing Hocevar into the wall, ending his race.

Heim denied the hit was intentional and blamed it on aerodynamic side force making his car go out of control.

However, an investigation by NASCAR that included Heim’s radio transmissions determined that he had violated several code of conduct rules.

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According to NASCAR.com, Heim was cited for:

-Attempting to manipulate the outcome of the race or championship.

-Wrecking or spinning another vehicle, whether or not that vehicle is removed from Competition as a result.

-Any actions deemed to compromise the safety of an Event or otherwise pose a dangerous risk to the safety of Competitors, Officials, spectators, or others.

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Heim was fined $12,500 and 25 driver points, which dropped him from third to fourth in the final points standings for the 2023 season.

“Well, the only person who really knows is me, so that’s all that really matters,” Heim said of how the incident happened after the race.

The crash led to the first of four overtime sessions that finally saw Ben Rhodes claim the title with a fifth place finish ahead of Grant Enfinger and Heim on the track.

Heim is set to return to the Truck Series with TRICON Garage in 2024, while season points runner up Hocevar is jumping to the Cup Series with Spire Motorsports.