Kyle Larson Wins Baptist Health 200: Highlights and Recap

This past Friday evening on March 23, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series took on the 1.5-mile Homestead-Miami Speedway for the annual Baptist Health 200 in the Sunshine State. Race fans who tuned in were in for a treat, as the popular drivers-only broadcast took over FS1, with Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick in the booth, while Austin Cindric and Carson Hocevar were the reporters. They got to call the action, as 34 NASCAR Truckers looked to conquer the South Florida Track.

Corey Heim captured the Pole Position earlier in the afternoon and looked to win his third race of the year and second-in-a-row, as his teammate, Tanner Gray started beside him. Even though Heim got the initial jump, his Tricon Garage teammate, Giovanni Ruggiero, spun going into Turn one, slamming the walla and collecting Ben Rhodes in the process. Both drivers were able to continue on in the race, but Rhodes was taken out of contention and went laps down before taking it to the garage later in the evening.

Throughout Stage 1, there were a lot of battles for the lead, consisting of Heim, Kyle Larson and Layne Riggs. Larson challenge Heim for the lead, but Heim was able to pull a crossover move and steal the lead back. Ross Chastain challenged Larson as well, with Larson eventually stealing the lead and losing it to Heim when the Stage ended. Heim collected his valuable Championship Points and a Playoff Point in the process.

Stage 2 was fairly quiet, as Heim led the charge once again and didn’t look back, en-route to another Stage win. Heim was obviously the Truck to beat, not only in Miami, but for the Championship this year in the Craftsman Truck Series, showing speed week-after-week, leading laps, winning stages and races.

Stage 3 is the one that counts and Corey Heim was up for the challenge. His closest competition was once again, Kyle Larson and Layne Riggs. Ross Chastain also came to play, once again, as he took the lead on lap 72, grabbing an almost half-second lead, before Heim reclaimed the lead on Lap 88. Two laps later, Kyle Larson spun after attempting to pass Layne Riggs for second. The caution flew out and Larson’s #07 Spire Motorsports team gave the Elk Grove, California driver a set of four fresh Goodyear Eagles.

On the final restart, Heim once again led the charge in hopes of winning the Baptist Health 200. Chastain reclaimed the lead for a few laps, prior to Heim once again making the charge and taking it back from the Alva, Florida driver.

With less than ten-to-go, Heim looked to win in dominating fashion, but his vehicle kept shutting off while running first, as Larson was slicing and dicing his way through the field, and this allowed Riggs to take the lead once again. Riggs was unable to hold off a hard-charging Larson, as Larson took the lead with two-to-go and emerged victorious in at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, collecting his fourth-career NCTS victory and first since 2023.

Heading into Martinsville Speedway this weekend, Corey Heim is only +8 over Ty Majeski and +27 over Chandler Smith, who’s been quietly building momentum this season. The next race for the Tough Trucks will be Friday Night, March 28 at 7:30PM EST/4:30PM EST on FS1 for the Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200.