Night racing in Miami for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is always a blast, and the Baptist Health 200 was no different. Some NASCAR Cup Series drivers joined in on the fun to give Corey Heim a run for his money. Heim took the pole so it had to be settled on the track. Tanner Gray joined him on the front row. Kyle Larson started in third. Layne Riggs and Gio Ruggiero joined them in the top five.

Back and Forth

Heim got a great launch upon the green flag. The field could not make it out of the first turn before the first caution came out. Chastain took it four wide which caused Ruggiero to get loose up the track. He got into Grant Enfinger, and ultimately backed his truck into the wall. Ben Rhodes tried to ride the wall around the wreck but collided with Ruggiero instead.

Heim and Larson restarted on the front row. Heim got the better launch and retook the lead. Larson began to push Heim for the lead immediately. They battled hard for the position. Chastain was there but could not put his truck in a spot for the lead. Larson completed the pass for the lead and began pulling away. Riggs got around Heim for the second spot.

Heim found speed on the bottom of the track. As Larson battled lapped cars, Heim and Riggs began to chop time off of the lead. They tracked Larson down but neither could complete the pass. Heim got beside Larson to side-draft and take the lead back. Riggs got by Larson for second. Heim time in Homestead as Corey won the first stage!

Layne Riggs got too deep in his pit box and lost several spots as a result. Heim and Larson were the first two off of pit road to hold their positions at the front of the field.

Quick Stage

Heim and Larson both got great restarts with Heim taking the top spot. Ty Majeski made a move on Larson but got loose underneath him and fell to fifth. Larson kept taking jabs at Heim. Stewart Friesen was able to pass Larson for second. Majeski rejoined the battle for the lead. He took a shot but Heim was too fast and Majeski fell to half a second back. Friesen slowed and fell to fourth.

Larson drove underneath Majeski to take the second spot. Heim did not look phased as he got the second stage win and looked to complete the sweep. Riggs made up ground during the stage after a slow pit stop. Kaden Honeycutt made contact with Majeski on pit road. Majeski had to go back down pit road to pop out a sizable dent.

Batteries Low

When Heim and Larson took the green flag, Larson spun his tires on the restart and Heim reassumed the lead. Riggs moved his way into third after his setback on pit road. Ross Chastain split Larson and Riggs to take second place with his eyes on the lead. He strong-armed the lead from Heim. Chastain immediately pulled ahead by over a second over Heim.

Heim cut the lead down to under a second. He brought Riggs with him. Heim retook the lead with Riggs following to second. Larson used a run off of Turn 4 to get beside Riggs. He got loose under Riggs and turned around. That brought out a caution. Riggs lost four spots on pit road. Heim remained in the lead. Honeycutt was hit with a vehicle interference penalty and was sent to the rear. He hit the tire carrier of the 19 team.

Daniel Hemric joined Heim on the front row for the restart. Heim took the top spot. Chastain remained aggressive as he retook the lead and pulled ahead by a big margin. Larson began cutting through the field. Heim used a huge run to complete the pass for the lead with 30 laps to go. Chastain did not want to let him go but a few mistakes allowed Riggs to get by and into second.

Power Outage at the Wrong Time (HEIM)

Larson continued his run through the field. He cracked the top ten with 20 to go in the race. Heim complained over the radio that his truck shut off and had to turn it back on. He fell to third. Chastain and Riggs began their fight over the lead. Heim caught back up to the top two but his truck turned off again. That did not slow him down much. Heim took back his lead and looked to run away from the field.

Larson streaked through the field, running laps half a second or more faster than the leaders. With 10 to go, Larson got up to fifth. Heim put a second over Riggs. Larson powered by Ankrum and Chastain to move into third. The truck under Heim shut off again and he fell to third which let Larson by. Riggs quickly saw Larson in his rearview mirror.

Larson did a slide job to pass Riggs for the lead. Larson took the white flag and then the checkered flag to win The Baptist Health 200!

Marvin’s Moment:

As a Larson fan, of course I was happy with the result. With that being said, he would not have a chance if Heim did not have his electrical issues. Heim was clearly the fastest truck on the track until his engine troubles. For sure, Larson was fast while he climbed through the field, but Heim impressed me with his speed as he had to constantly turn his truck back on. I believe Heim spent the entire race in the top three. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series continues their schedule next week in Martinsville.