```json
{
"article": "Auto racing served up high drama and major storylines across NASCAR, Formula 1, and IndyCar on October 24, 2025. Here’s all the speed, strategy, and spectacle you need to catch up on from the track.

Friday’s spotlight belonged to the NASCAR Truck Series, which staged its penultimate round of the playoffs at Martinsville Speedway—a short-track thriller over 200 laps. Corey Heim, the dominant force all season, survived a chaotic overtime finish to win his record-extending 11th race of the year, edging out teammate Brent Crews on a late pass to take victory in the Slim Jim 200. Heim, starting fourth, fought to the front early and clinched both Stage 1 and Stage 2 before a crafty pit strategy and calculated aggression set up the final showdown. Heim’s Toyota Tundra TRD Pro needed every bit of its muscle as Crews, Layne Riggs, and Kaden Honeycutt piled on the pressure. The race’s true drama unfolded further back: Riggs, needing a miracle to make the final four, gave his all but ended up on the outside looking in, missing the cut by a single position after a last-lap brawl. Kaden Honeycutt’s second-place finish earned him the final Championship 4 spot, advancing alongside Heim, Tyler Ankrum, and Ty Majeski—all barely a point above the cutline. The full Martinsville top five: Corey Heim, Kaden Honeycutt, Layne Riggs, Brent Crews, Corey LaJoie.

The grid was set after a blistering qualifying session, with Layne Riggs snagging pole position and Gio Ruggiero lining up second. Heim’s fourth-place start was his worst since June, but he proved that speed at Martinsville is as much about patience and late-race aggression as pure pace. Qualifying was a study in close margins, with the top six separated by less than two tenths.

Moving to the championship math, Heim now leads the Truck Series standings heading into the Phoenix finale, with Honeycutt, Ankrum, and Majeski completing the final four. For Heim, it’s his chance to cap an already historic season with a title; for the rest, Phoenix represents one last shot at glory.

In Formula 1, the focus shifted to Mexico City for the Mexican Grand Prix weekend. Friday’s practice sessions set the stage for a high-altitude showdown. FP1 saw Charles Leclerc top the times for Ferrari, with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli impressing in second. Red Bull’s fill-in Arvid Lindblad outshone Yuki Tsunoda, adding intrigue to the team’s driver lineup situation. In FP2, Max Verstappen, currently third in the title fight, showed serious intent by going fastest, with Leclerc and Antonelli once again close behind. The gap between Verstappen and Leclerc was just over a tenth, signaling a potentially tight battle for pole and race honors. Verstappen’s improved pace comes as he chases Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the championship, with the Dutchman needing a big result to close the points gap.

On the technical side, Williams’ Alex Albon had a scrape with the barriers but escaped unscathed, while Piastri struggled for outright speed, finishing 12th in FP2. Teams continue to assess tire wear and engine performance in Mexico’s thin air, with setup and aero balance critical for Sunday’s race.

IndyCar had a quiet day by comparison, with no marquee events scheduled, but anticipation is building for the next round on the calendar.

Looking ahead, the NASCAR Truck Series championship will be decided next week at Phoenix Raceway, with Heim aiming to complete his dominant season. Formula 1’s Mexican Grand Prix continues with qualifying Saturday and the race Sunday, where Verstappen, Leclerc, and Antonelli are poised for a fight in front of a passionate crowd. IndyCar’s next event is just around the corner, promising another dose of open-wheel drama.

For those hungry for deeper analysis, Heim’s Martinsville win was built on smart tire management and aggressive restarts, while the Honeycutt-Riggs...