Even with NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the field, it’s hard to argue against NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series regular Corey Heim as the favorite for Saturday night’s Heart of Health Care 200 at Kansas Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, NRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
In three previous races on 1.5-mile speedways this season, Heim has two victories—at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 14 and most recently at Texas Motor Speedway on May 2.
Heim is the only multiple winner in the series so far this season with three victories.
Moreover, driving the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota, Heim is seeking his third straight victory at Kansas, having swept last year’s races.
At age 22, Heim is the youngest driver to reach 14 wins in the series. He’s one victory away from tying 48-year-old three-time series champion Matt Crafton for 10th on the all-time victory list.
But it’s not that Heim will have an easy time on Friday. Challenging his quest for a Kansas trifecta are Cup drivers William Byron and Carson Hocevar, both doing double duty in Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverados.
“I’m excited to get back in a truck this weekend, especially at Kansas,” said Byron, who finished 14th in his only other start this season, at Martinsville. “This is a track where I’ve run well at during my career, but extra laps are always helpful no matter where it is.
“I appreciate Spire giving me the chance to run a truck again this year and hopefully we can have a good showing for them and (sponsor) HendrickCars.com.”
Coincidentally, Byron picked up his first career Truck Series victory at Kansas in 2016.
Hocevar is one of four drivers in the field who have finished second at Kansas but have never won. The others are two-time champion Ben Rhodes, defending champion Ty Majeski and Layne Riggs.
-NASCAR Wire Service
