Corey Heim and Christian Eckes, the two favorites for the championship, were racing side by side when Heim had a flat tire.
Heim wasn’t pleased with how Eckes had been racing him during the restart; these two NASCAR drivers are fierce rivals. Corey Heim had struggled throughout qualifying but had already moved up to the front.
For the majority of the race, Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger had been vying for the lead. As Heim exited Turn 2, Eckes was inside him and touched his fender.
Sparks fly at IRP (in more ways than one).
Corey Heim isn't happy with Christian Eckes. pic.twitter.com/7gdYlbU1k0
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) July 20, 2024
Heim had a flat left front as a result of that encounter. Heim then accelerated Eckes up the track in his car. Up until now, the two have been friendly; Heim told Eckes he wasn’t happy with him without hitting him.
With five victories this season, Corey Heim won’t be too terribly harmed by losing this one. The irony is that he hasn’t needed much time to return to the top-5.
Compared to other short tracks, this track is so racey that navigating the field is not as challenging. For example, Ty Majeski was hit with a pass-through penalty at the conclusion of Stage 1 due to a restart violation. Before Stage 2 ends, he has already transitioned into the P2 place.
Even if there was a bump in the road for both Majeski and Heim, the night is not yet finished. In the end, Christian Eckes dominated the stages, but there is still plenty of racing to be done tonight. At this point, anyone can win or lose the race.
