Toyota GAZOO Racing – Corey Heim
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Quotes
CONCORD, N.C. (August 19, 2025) – TRICON Garage driver Corey Heim was made available to the media on Tuesday as part of NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Media Day.
COREY HEIM, No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD PRO, TRICON Garage
What is different to you about the Playoffs this year compared to the last two?
“Really not a ton for me. I think the main thing for us is that we’ve really connected a lot of the dots on maybe the prior struggles we’ve had so far and got a lot of things to improve in the Playoffs still regardless as far as keeping that going or keeping the momentum going. I feel like for me, there was some struggle areas last year that kind of lingered throughout the year and we never quite got past that. But we were able to hone in on that in the offseason and sort of clear those up as far as maybe some packages that we brought to specific race tracks that didn’t work, and maybe some pit road stuff. My personal development as far as my driving style at some places. I feel like just within my 11 team and within TRICON and Toyota, we’ve done a great job of just honing in on the things that maybe didn’t work throughout the year and lingered and just kind of fixing that for 2025 and hoping to extend that into the Playoffs as well.”
Is there anything that you look at as being a challenge for your team in the Playoffs?
“Yeah, I mean for the most part every race is a challenge. It’s never a layup by any means anywhere you go, especially if you look at the last round, you’ve got a lot of challenging races within the Round of 8. Talladega is kind of the one that sticks out like a sore thumb to everybody. It’s just such an unpredictable race. As far as the speed we’ve brought to the race track, I think most, if not all the Playoff tracks fit that for us but as far as strategizing – especially Talladega but also Martinsville, the Roval – that whole Round of 8. Strategizing that and also just planning for kind of what our plan of attack is for those last few races is going to be big. Of course, we’ve got the whole Round of 10 to get through as well, but that round specifically stands out to me as something that we need to really think about and how to attack that and make sure we’re in the right spot at the right time.”
Who can you lean on and build a notebook for the Roval race to start the Round of 8?
“As far as who I lean on, I don’t know if I have anyone specific in mind off the top of my head, but I feel like the road course stuff on my side has been really good as far as preparation this year and just understanding kind of what I need to do to attack the race track in a certain way. I’ve only run a TA2 race there one time in like I think it was 2021 on a different layout so I’ve got a very rough and slim idea of what I need to be successful at that track specifically. But I work with the 23XI people a lot on their side, trying to gauge where their Cup guys are making time on specific race tracks such as Watkins Glen. Lime Rock of course we were by ourselves, but I worked with them on Lime Rock a little bit too actually. But as far as just overall preparation and development, it’s going to be tough to do for sure just with the lack of experience for me at that place. But Lime Rock, I had never been there either and it was a pretty successful day for me so just trying to take the same mindset into that.”
Looking at the opening round, what is the biggest trouble track for teams?
“That’s a good question. Loudon is tough because we haven’t been there – or the Trucks haven’t been there in about six years. I was fortunate to race there last year in Xfinity for Sam Hunt Racing. Loudon is just a tough one being an anomaly just as far as lack of experience, lack of laps there for most of the truck field including drivers and teams. That will be tough for the Round of 10 for sure. But kind of like you mentioned, the Round of 8 is definitely the ones that stand out more. The Round of 10 is kind of your standard race tracks, places that we’ve been for the most part other than Loudon. But I mean, as far as similarities, we go to a lot of tracks similar to Loudon too so it shouldn’t be anything too crazy I wouldn’t think.”
Does your 62-point advantage over the cutline give you comfort knowing you have this big of a point lead, and it should allow you to race for the Championship in Phoenix?
“In a way yeah, but I think with the Playoff format and the way that everything is structured, things can turn sideways pretty quick so I feel like you can never get too comfortable or to the point where – especially as far as my team goes. If they think that we just need to smooth sail through the round and no problem and maybe have a lack of effort – not that they will at all – they prepare very well. But if they were to hypothetically and we have a part failure or something with a DNF, you find yourself in a bad spot pretty quick. I feel like our mindset as far as our 11 crew and the organization with TRICON is to prepare to the best of our ability in the same way that we have for most of the races this year and just to really hone in on everything and if not elevate everything to make sure that we cannot have any failures or anything crazy like that. And also, just continue to bring the speed that we have throughout the year.”
Is Phoenix a track you really enjoy driving around and does it suit driving style?
“Phoenix is alright. It’s not the greatest quality of racing by any means. I feel like it’s really easy to get stuck in traffic and whatnot, but it’s okay. There’s definitely better race tracks out there in my opinion, but the restarts are definitely crazy and that’s about it. The restarts are crazy and then it’s kind of straightforward from there. Yeah, it’s okay.”
How much have you improved as a driver or the way that you drive since 2023?
“I think for the most part, yeah, for the most part I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable in understanding what I need out of my truck on a regular basis. I feel like in 2023 — I had the 16-race part time schedule in 2022 with KBM and then leading up with TRICON in 2023, I think a lot of us were kind of unsure with where our equipment was with TRICON being a new – I wouldn’t say a new organization by any means but with a new manufacturer and kind of rebranded stuff – a lot of uncertainty as far as where we were. We ended up being really good, and I was also developing myself and maybe not super confident in the adjustments I needed to put me over the edge from being a top five truck to being a winning truck in the same weekend. Just things like that. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more confident in myself and comfortable in my equipment. Any extra reps and seat time is super important, and I feel like with these two seasons in my back pocket, it’s really helped me just find that comfort with my crew and also have basically the same roster of people on this 11 team for the last two years so everyone is just more comfortable with each other and more confident.”
How has the racing changed since 2023?
“I feel like if anything its better. I’ve had my run ins with people this year, but nothing super egregious. I feel like in 2023, there was a lot of maybe penalties that should’ve been handed out and penalties that were handed out. I’m looking at myself here in the mirror and that’s one of them. I’m not excused from the craziness of that year by any means, but I feel like overall the aggression is more coordinated, I guess. I feel like it’s more worth it for these guys rather than just doing crazy stuff at inopportune times during the race. It seems like the aggression is kind of honed in to the right place at the right time, if that makes sense? In my opinion, it’s definitely better.”
How much of an advantage is running double duty on weekends like Richmond?
“Yeah, it definitely helps especially at a place like Richmond that I’ve never thought is the best race track for myself personally. Any extra laps and any extra preparation I can do, especially on the Cup side, with the extra data and the extra people they have to prepare for these races, I think it’s really helps at a place that I might not be the best at. But really anywhere, anywhere I can get the extra laps on a given weekend and prepare on the Cup side with those guys definitely helps a lot. Definitely paid dividends in the Truck race for me. I feel like I’ve never run amazing at Richmond and we were able to win the race so that was definitely an improvement for our 11 group. The Cup race certainly didn’t go the greatest, but I did feel like I learned a lot from the preparation side and definitely made myself better as a driver as Richmond.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
For more information about Toyota, visit http://www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Toyota GAZOO Racing – Kaden Honeycutt
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Quotes
CONCORD, N.C. (August 19, 2025) – Halmar Friesen Racing driver Kaden Honeycutt was made available to the media on Tuesday as part of NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Media Day.
KADEN HONEYCUTT, No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra TRD PRO, Halmar Friesen Racing
How do you navigate all the recent news around you and focus on the Playoffs?
“Yeah, definitely a lot, for sure, but I’m just a really closed-minded person when it comes to strapping into a race car and knowing when it’s time to do business and win races, no matter what truck I’m in. I’ve been able to put that behind me. I’m really looking forward to running with this HFR (Halmar Friesen Racing) group during these Playoffs. I felt like Richmond was a really good race for us to do ahead of these Playoffs. Really looking forward to going with this group. Working really hard the last two weeks getting comfortable with everything thanks to Toyota and TRD (Toyota Racing Development) and everyone at Halmar Friesen Racing for the chance to finish the year out and try to win a championship, not only just for myself but for Stewart (Friesen), Chris Larsen (CEO, Halmar International), Halmar and Mohawk Northeast.”
How do you tackle the upcoming races in the first few rounds?
“Yeah, I feel like we need to rack up as many Playoff points as possible because of how different the Round of 8 is to get to the Championship 4 – with having the (Charlotte) ROVAL, Talladega and Martinsville. Three completely different races and three chaotic races. If we can focus on winning stages and trying to get Playoff points and try to advance and win the next couple of weeks, I think that would be helpful for sure. And so that way, we can go into Talladega and (the) ROVAL and would have something to lean on if we have to. Definitely going to be crucial. Really think we can do well at Bristol, Loudon (New Hampshire) and Darlington. Darlington is my favorite mile-and-a-half and Bristol’s my favorite short track. So, looking forward to this to this round for sure and hopefully, be able to have a lot of points going into the last round.”
How long did it take you mentally to move on with the recent team change?
“Pretty much an hour, because I was just looking forward to having the opportunity to go with HFR and finish out the year for Stewart, Chris Larsen and all those guys. They gave me the chance to move on and try to finish this deal out. Definitely did not want to quit, definitely wanted to find a way to finish the job for the rest of the year for myself and for Stewart as well. Not in the circumstances of where I want it but right now, we’re just focused on trying to win as many races as possible and try to win that championship for this team, Toyota and TRD.”
That news did put you in an interesting situation, didn’t it?
“Yeah, for sure it does. Like I said, I’m pretty passive person when it comes to situations and stuff happening to me. I’m pretty much able to put that behind me as much as possible, and you know, everything ended on a good note so there’s definitely no issues on any side of mine, personally. I think that makes it a lot easier for myself. It was definitely hard at first, but now that we’re moved on, everyone’s doing what they need to do and we’re just looking forward to the rest of these Playoffs with this No. 52 crew.”
How aggressive do you think it’ll be at the Martinsville cutoff race?
“Yeah, definitely going be tough, as it is all the time in past Martinsville races to get into the Championship 4. You’ve obviously seen what some people have done to do that. Whatever we have to do to win and whatever we have to do to move on and go fight for this championship at Phoenix with Halmar (Friesen Racing) Toyota and TRD. Whatever we have to do to put these guys in position to do that, we’re going to do what we need to. Hopefully before Martinsville, we have points to lean on. If not have, have that win in the bank to go to Phoenix. Martinsville is one of my favorites, as well. I love it. Sometimes, it is chaotic, mostly because of how many laps we do and in a short amount of time. It’s definitely chaotic in that aspect but looking forward to going to Martinsville at the end of the year hopefully try to lock and going to Phoenix from there. That would be really cool to have that redemption from the spring.”
Do you think the intensity will be a lot different than normal in the Playoffs?
“Well, I think everyone has already been going at their 100%, 110% throughout the whole season to try to win, so I don’t really think there will be much of anything different as far as chaos or restarts or anything like that. I feel like everyone has done everything they have to do to win races this year, especially to lock in the Playoffs. I don’t really think there will be too much of a difference, I think there will just be some difference when we go to Talladega and the ROVAL, but I feel like the ROVAL is going to be so spread out that it really won’t be that big of a deal. I think the only you know races concerning in that aspect is probably Martinsville and Talladega, but I feel like the rest of these races, everyone generally races with respect. We’ve been doing a great job the last couple of years shaping that up, so I don’t think there will be much of any difference this year.”
What will it take to defeat Corey Heim for the championship?
“He’s definitely a really good driver, for sure. Those guys (No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota team) have been doing a great job all season. They’ve just had their stuff together. Corey (Heim) has had his stuff together all year long with that crew. It’s going to be tough, for sure. I feel like, for me, I’m just going to try to focus on ourselves and make sure we have the best finishes possible for our group. If that is not winning the race, we’re just going to focus on us, and hopefully he and I can go to Phoenix and give Toyota a 50% shot of one of us winning that title and bring that home from a manufacturer standpoint. Right now, we’re just going to focus on ourselves. He’s been doing great job, so good luck to those guys, but hopefully we can contend for wins with them throughout the rest of these Playoffs. But he’s definitely going to be hard to beat for this point right now.”
Do you feel any pressure and where does it come from?
“I feel like the pressure is just really from myself. I expect to perform at a high level, no matter where I’m at or what I’m in. The pressure will be really from myself. Those guys (Halmar Friesen Racing) are an unbelievable crew. They’re so awesome. I’m so lucky to be able to work with them. Very laid-back group. They really just want to finish the best we possibly can. If we can’t win the race, then we’ll try to do what we have to do to finish where we’re supposed to. Jimmy (Villeneuve, crew chief) and I had a great conversation after Richmond on some things I needed to work on for myself. A really good group, I feel like the pressure just from me. Stewie (Stewart Friesen) and all those guys just want to run as far as possible. There’s not really an expectation other than we’re trying to get to Phoenix as best as possible, so whatever we have to do to do that, we’ll take measures to do so. We’ll focus on starting off the right foot at Darlington and we’ll go from there.”
Does changing teams going into your first Playoffs create a challenge?
“Yeah, I think first time in the Playoffs would be different for sure, along with a couple other guys that are doing their first Playoffs as well. I think that will all be challenging, but like I said, I think I just don’t psyche myself out on anything, don’t change anything on how I’m driving the truck or completely change my style, my race craft and all that. Obviously, the race craft has to get better, but you do that after the race. It’s good to have the tools I’ve been provided to make this change. That has made it less challenging, to be honest. Just thanks to everyone that’s made that possible and made this an easy transition for me. Right now, I feel like Richmond really showed that speed that we were able to transition quite early and there were no issues regarding that. Looking forward to the rest of the year with these guys and using the tools I’ve been provided for the last couple of weeks to try to win some races and go to Phoenix.”
If you achieve great results in the Playoffs, would that lead to a potential opportunity with a ‘top team’ in the future?
“Yeah, we’ll have that stuff out the next couple of months, maybe. But right now, just focused on running the best we can for this No. 52 group and live out what Stewart (Friesen) wanted to do and that was to try to make it to Phoenix. So, we’re just focused on winning the races that we can and maybe stuff will come up later, but right now we’ll just focus on winning races, and all that stuff eventually falls into place later.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
For more information about Toyota, visit http://www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.