NASCAR Disqualifies Heim

Corey Heim dominated the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but his eventual runner-up finish Friday night was nullified when NASCAR disqualified him for having three loose lug nuts on his Toyota.

Heim led 72 of the 134 laps before pit stop problems left him restarting outside the top 10 on two occasions. He charged through the field both times before finishing less than a second behind winner Nick Sanchez.

However, during post-race inspection NASCAR officials ruled Heim’s Toyota truck had three lug nuts “not safe and secure.” Heim’s disqualification dropped him to last in the 36-car field and moved Stewart Friesen into second. Rounding out the top 10, respectively, were Grant Enfinger, Mitt Mills, Ben Rhodes, Jake Garcia, Kaden Honeycutt, Connor Mosack, Dean Thompson and Christian Eckes.

Thompson and Layne Riggs each had one lug nut “not safe and secure” on their respective trucks during post-race inspection. Their respective crew chiefs will each be fined $2,500.