NASCAR points leader won’t compete in Gateway race
By Asher Fair
NASCAR Truck Series points leader Corey Heim will not compete in Saturday afternoon’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
TRICON Garage’s Corey Heim, who leads the NASCAR Truck Series point standings through the first 11 races of his first full season in the series, will not compete in Saturday afternoon’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
An illness has sidelined the driver of the No. 11 Toyota for the 160-lap Toyota 200 around the four-turn, 1.25-mile (2.012-kilometer) Madison, Illinois oval. ARCA Menards Series points leader Jesse Love is set to make his Truck Series debut in relief of Heim on Saturday afternoon.
TRICON Garage and Heim announced the news on Twitter, though no further details were provided by either party regarding the latter’s condition.
— TRICON (@TRICONGarage) June 2, 2023
Thank you everyone for the messages, as well as @TRICONGarage and @ToyotaRacing for the continued support. Really tough to come to terms with missing a race but I know it’s the right decision for my health. Excited to be back soon! https://t.co/jhoH6ZRNmD
— Corey Heim (@CoreyHeim_) June 2, 2023
Love, who is riding a three-race ARCA Menards Series winning streak, also wished Heim’s well and took time to thank TRICON Garage and primary sponsor SafeLife for the opportunity to make his Truck Series debut.
Thinking of and praying for @CoreyHeim_’s quick recovery. Thankful to get the call to fill in for @TRICONGarage and @safelite! Hopefully we can make the most of this opportunity https://t.co/sir5Kf7GvQ
— jesse love jr (@jesselovejr1) June 2, 2023
Love will not have to miss any ARCA Menards Series action to fill in for Heim this weekend, as the next race isn’t scheduled to take place until Saturday, June 17 at Berlin Raceway. In fact, he was set to make his Truck Series debut this weekend anyway, though behind the wheel of the No. 1 Toyota for TRICON Garage. Instead, Toni Breidinger is set to drive the No. 1 Toyota.
As for Corey Heim, the 2023 season is his first full season in the NASCAR Truck Series, though he won twice as a part-time driver in 2022.
The second of those two wins came at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. Heim earned his third career victory at Martinsville Speedway earlier this season and boasts two runner-up finishes, along with six other finishes inside the top eight. His lead over ThorSport Racing’s Ty Majeski in the standings is currently 26 points.
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Tune in to Fox Sports 1 at 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon for the live broadcast of the Toyota 200 from World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. Start a free trial of FuboTV today if you have not already done so!