TOYOTA RACING PHOTO
It’s Heim Time in Daytona as the Marietta, Georgia native captures his first win at the Daytona International Speedway
by Derek Jackson
Corey Heim won the Fresh from Florida 250 Nascar Craftsman Truck Series season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway Friday night after initial winner Parker Kligerman failed his post-race inspection and was subsequently disqualified. Kligerman’s truck failed height test and was found to be too low in the rear.
The victory is the 12th of Heim’s Truck Series career and locks him into the 2025 NCTS playoffs. Kligerman’s disqualification also bumps every driver in the field up one spot in the final results. Truck Series rookie Gio Ruggiero, who made his Truck Series debut in Friday’s race, is now credited with the runner-up spot.
The Daytona win is Heim’s first at the World Center of Racing, and his 3rd Top Ten finish at the famous track. Heim collected 49 points in the season opening race, and 5 playoff points. Heim finished Stage 1 in fifth and finished Stage 2 in eighth. Combined he earned an additional nine points from the two stages.
Fellow Georgian Chandler Smith, from Talking Rock, led a race-high 34 laps as he secured a 6th place Top Ten finish in his return to the NCTS. Smith had a stand-out year in 2024 with the Xfinity Series.
The NCTS moves to the Atlanta Motor Speedway next week for the FR208 on Feb. 22 at 1:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1. Heim won the 2022 FR208 while driving the #51 JBL Toyota Tundra. The race will also be broadcast on both the MRN Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90. Tickets are available at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
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