NASCAR penalizes Corey Heim for crashing Carson Hocevar

NASCAR officials issued behavioral penalties Wednesday to Craftsman Truck Series driver Corey Heim for his actions in last weekend’s season-ending race at Phoenix Raceway.

Heim was fined $12,500 and docked 25 points in the Truck Series driver standings. The penalty falls under the heading of NASCAR Rule Book Sections 4.4.B & D, which refers to the NASCAR Member Code of Conduct.

Heim was involved in a pair of incidents during Friday night’s season finale, the first of which sent Heim’s No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota spinning after a Lap 120 bump from the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet of fellow Championship 4 contender Carson Hocevar. Just 27 laps later, Heim’s truck made contact with Hocevar’s as the pair exited Turn 2.

Heim explained in post-race interviews that he had lost control of his damaged truck as Hocevar attempted to pass him. But NASCAR officials determined Wednesday that a review of the No. 11 team’s radio transmissions indicated that Heim had violated the member guidelines, specifically in three areas of the rule book:

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.

Hocevar was sidelined by their second altercation and finished 29th in the 36-truck field. Heim, the pole-starter, continued and finished on the lead lap in 18th place.

Those results placed Heim third among the four title-eligible drivers, behind champion Ben Rhodes and 11 points clear of Hocevar. The points penalty, however, knocks Heim to fourth in the final Craftsman Truck Series standings behind Hocevar.