What’s Happening?

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to Kansas Speedway for their 8th race of the 2024 season. Heading into the race, all eyes were on the likes of Chase Purdy who won the pole as well as Ty Dillon who impressed in qualifying.

But once the green flag flew and the pack started to pan out as far as 5-wide by the second lap, it was Corey Heim who found himself out front. Heim went on to handily win the opening stage of the race. In the second stage, Heim wound up second to NASCAR Cup Series regular and former Craftsman Truck Series Champion, Zane Smith. After the race restarted and the final stage commenced, Heim once again marched to the front and retook the lead.

Despite late challenges from Zane Smith and Kaden Honeycutt, Corey Heim was able to lead 79 laps en route to his second win of the 2024 season.

You Need To Know:

• Corey Heim has been strong all season, scoring a win earlier this season at Circuit of the Americas. The 2023 Truck Series Championship 4 driver also has finished in the top-3 in 6 of the 8 races so far in his 2024 campaign. Early on in the season, he certainly looks to be one of the trucks to beat.
• This win is Heim’s second win of the 2024 season and his 7th win overall. Already locked into the playoffs from his win at COTA, this only strengthens the No. 11 campaign as they look forward to the post-season and possibly winning the regular season championship.
• Fans, by and large, deemed the race “boring”. There were no cautions or big moments, leading many of them to deep it a “snooze fest”.

COREY HEIM WINS AT KANSAS! #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/7CCpcuVV9s

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 5, 2024

The Main Character

At Kansas, Corey Heim scored his second win of the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. So far this year, he has had no finish outside the top 10, with the worst finish being 10th at Martinsville. He was fast from the very start as he took the opening stage win and finished second in the second stage.

Stage 1: Corey Heim!
Stage 2: ???
Stage 3: ?🏆?

More» https://t.co/8BlkBmYWQd https://t.co/cYackvvZV1 pic.twitter.com/Tox5r0IZla

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 5, 2024

The win didn’t come without its challenges, however. Kaden Honeycutt in the Niece Motorsports No. 45 gave it his all just before the green flag pit stops. He really impressed. However, he came up just shy of being able to take the lead from Heim.

The battle for the lead is heating up. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YXVvqahFvf

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) May 5, 2024

.@CoreyHeim_ wins the opening stage of the #HeartOfAmerica200 at @kansasspeedway!

📺: FS1 | 📲: https://t.co/kd5eqkSSWE pic.twitter.com/6jkBt8XmZP

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) May 5, 2024

Despite a slow pitstop following Stage 1, Coey Heim still prevailed.

A slow stop on pit road has the No. 11 losing spots. pic.twitter.com/Bn0J4o2SnY

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) May 5, 2024

He shines bright in prime time.@CoreyHeim_ wins the #HeartOfAmerica200 at @kansasspeedway! pic.twitter.com/aviFtPXVsG

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) May 5, 2024

Burn it down, Corey.

What time is it?!?

HEIM TIME. ⏰🏁 https://t.co/ND8gz8fTBL pic.twitter.com/E50DQt0QUv

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 5, 2024

In The Stands

The consensus of the fans regarding this race seems to be that it was a bit of a snooze fest. Some of them took to social media to communicate just that:

Conclusion

That was a relatively clean race for the truckers out in Kansas! There was only one caution for incident and that came when Ty Majeski blew a tire and hit the wall just a few laps into Stage 1.

Tell us, Daily Downforce readers: did you enjoy this race? Are you happy with Corey Heim as the winner? What do you make of the wild, 5-wide restarts? Are you surprised with how clean the field raced throughout? Let us know by commenting on all of our social media posts! Be sure to tune right back in here at DailyDownforce.com tomorrow at 3 PM EST for our coverage of the Cup race in Kansas!