The season opening NASCAR Truck Series race at Daytona International Speedway was ultimately decided in technical inspection as Parker Kligerman and Henderson motorsports crossed the finish line first but was disqualified for rear ride height.
As a result, Corey Heim and Tricon Garage was declared the winner of the Fresh From Florida 250.
How does it feel to win a race in such a non-traditional way?
“I guess all good ones, yeah,” Heim said. “It’s certainly not as thrilling as winning the race on the racetrack, but I don’t know. Yeah, I mean, I’ve been on the wrong side of it several times in my late model career. It’s cool to get a big one like that. Would be cooler, like I said, if it was on track.
“Yeah, I recall several instances where we think we win the race, and then you start kind of seeing everyone huddle up in tech, and you are, like, oh, boy. Next thing you know we’re tossed out. I don’t think I’ve ever been on the right side of that.
“It’s cool, especially at Daytona. Once again, just would have been cooler if I crossed the line first and whatnot, but we’ll take them any way we can get them.”
Heim notably and controversially was involved in a Late Model disqualification in 2018 at South Boston Speedway that eventually needed NASCAR’s input.
Heim had actually gotten in a car and was about to drive to the airport when he got the word.
“Yeah, I just got in my rental, and I got a text about it,” Heim said. “They said not to go too far. Yeah, it didn’t last long. I mean, I was probably in the hauler for, like, 10 minutes. I would never expect someone to get thrown out, so I kind of did my normal change, pound some water, and get out of there.
“Yeah, I never really expected it. I saw some people huddled up on the way out, and I didn’t really think much of it, but of course, it ended up benefitting us.”
NASCAR says it doesn’t have the exact measurements but that it’s automated an the light either comes up green or red. It came up red.
NASCAR Truck Series director Seth Kramlich told him in the garage after he had conducted a post-race press conference. Kligerman was asked for comment but declined. He left with the checkered flag in his left hand.
As for Heim, this was his 12th win in 65 starts. At face value, it’s the most prestigious track he’s won at but due to the nature of how he won it, he didn’t place this one at the top of his personal list.
“Yeah, it doesn’t feel like it’s my biggest win by any means, but it’s a great way to start the season for sure,” Heim said. “I think in my four starts — I was talking to somebody about this earlier — I have progressively climbed up every year.
“The first year I ran a truck here, I wrecked early. Then the next year I had a mediocre finish and then P2 last year and ended up P1 this year.
“I feel like I’m getting better. There’s a huge level of circumstance to all that and luck at the end of the day being in position and not getting wrecked. I would like to think to myself that I’ve been getting better on speedways every year, and I don’t think it’s been my strong suit in the past.
“So regardless of whether I finished on track versus the aftermath, I really feel like I put myself in the best position to be successful this year. We were able to obviously take the win away at the end of the day, but I think that progression has been shown by me, and I’m proud of myself, I guess, about that.”
Post-race interviews
