Practice and qualifying for Saturday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course have been completed. Series point leader Corey Heim has scored the pole position for the event with a fast lap of 86.137 sec., which equates to a 94.371 mph average speed around the 2.258-mile road course in Lexington, Ohio.
This marks the third pole of the 2023 season for Heim, and the fifth pole of the 21-year-old’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career.
After qualifying, Heim took time to reflect on his growing confidence at Mid-Ohio.
“Last year, as you mentioned we sat on the pole in the wet, and this year in the dry. That really I think is a show of the hard work I’ve put in personally on this track,” Heim stated. “It actually used to be one of my worst tracks. Just kind of preparing for it in ARCA, and the simulator and stuff. To come here and back it up from last year is a special feeling. But last year I could have done a lot better. [I] look back at last year, and to improve on it this year is a big thing for me. I’ve had this race circled on the calendar. So, to come here and start the weekend off right is a big deal for me.”
Ty Majeski will line up alongside Heim on the front row after turning the second-fastest lap in qualifying. Majeski was 0.291 sec. off the fast time set by Heim.
RELATED: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 Starting Lineup
Rookie Nick Sanchez and Christian Eckes will make up row two of the starting grid for Saturday’s NASCAR Truck Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 150, while Grant Enfinger, Tanner Gray, Marco Andretti, William Sawalich, Jack Wood, and Zane Smith will round out the top-10 starters for the O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio.
Mid-Ohio is a tricky track that caused issues for a couple of drivers through practice and qualifying. Stewart Friesen collided with the Turn 12 tire barrier in practice and was unable to make a qualifying lap as a result.
Notably, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Jake Garcia and Reaume Brothers Racing’s No.34 driver of Caleb Costner found themselves in the sand pit during qualifying. Will Rodgers also spun in qualifying, but was able to keep his No. 02 Young’s Motorsports truck out of the sand pit.
Both Reaume Brothers Racing entries piloted by Josh Reaume and Costner failed to qualify for the event.
While Corey Heim is on pole, Ben Rhodes led the way in practice for Saturday’s race with a fast lap of 87.767 sec. Other drivers who impressed in practice were Carson Hocevar, Nick Sanchez, Christian Eckes, and Ty Majeski.
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