One thing is clear – Heim is the real deal.
Corey Heim, driving the #67 Toyota for 23XI on a part-time schedule, has won his second race of the season. You can make the argument that the Toyotas – especially the 23XI Toyotas – are fast. But the fastest car still needs a driver to perform – and boy, has Heim performed, alright. Imagine how he’ll do with more consistent seat time in the Next Gen car.
Coming into this season, we imagined that Corey Heim wouldn’t have any trouble lining up a full-time ride in relatively short order. After all, he had an impressive resume – a record-setting ten wins en route to the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series championship put him on everyone’s radar. Before long, Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan signed him to a full-time ride starting next year. That investment is already paying off for 23XI Racing.
Running a partial schedule, Heim has now won two races in 2026 – the breathtaking street course race at Coronado, an active military base, and the Indianapolis oval, arguably the most famous race track in the world. Talk about an impressive resume.
Not everyone is a fan, however. His long-brewing feud with Carson Hocevar, stemming from their time together in the Craftsman Truck Series, garners nearly as many headlines as their actual racing results. They trade paint on the track and insults in the media center. It’s just what NASCAR needs right now, especially as both talented young drivers continue to develop and hone their craft.
After battling fiercely throughout the race, Hocevar would bring his Chevrolet home ninth after Heim took the checkered flag. Denny Hamlin, who finished fifth, now stands 84 points ahead of Tyler Reddick, who finished second. Ryan Blaney, third in points, is 120 points behind Hamlin after finishing a disappointing 26th.
As we near the close of the regular season, it really does seem like Denny Hamlin’s knack for consistency is paying dividends in this points format. However, anything can happen in this sport – just ask Tyler Reddick, who, despite winning five races early on, has been hit with a string of bad luck throughout the summer stretch. Who will win the regular season championship? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Photo: Getty Images
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