According to a new report, despite fan speculation, 23XI Racing’s lineup for the 2026 season is set, with all three of its current drivers returning. This leaves top prospect Corey Heim without a full-time Cup Series ride for yet another year.
Silly Season is shaping up to be one of the quietest in years, but there is still plenty to be settled in the weeks and months ahead. Here's a look at the drivers and teams to watch. https://t.co/WWNHdvN5Jg
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) May 30, 2025
While it was no secret that Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace were likely to return next year, the signing of top prospect Corey Heim in February and the poor performance of rookie Riley Herbst have led fans and industry members to speculate that Heim could replace Herbst in the No. 35 as early as next season.
Herbst’s struggles could be viewed as growing pains. But it’s hard to ignore just how well Heim has performed in the Craftsman Truck Series. For example, Dale Earnhardt Jr. even stated on a recent episode of the Dale Jr. Download, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s [Heim] in Riley’s car next year.”
However, according to a new report from Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, “23XI’s 2026 lineup is set with Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Riley Herbst all under contract. That makes 2027 the earliest timeline for Heim to secure a full-time Cup ride.”
For fans, the decision to “fantasy book” a 2026 lineup at 23XI with Heim is easy; it’s much more difficult to move on from Herbst on the business side of the sport.
While Herbst sits 34th in Cup Series standings (22 spots behind Wallace and 29 behind Reddick) and has several bottom-of-the-barrel stats, the No. 35 team is well-sponsored thanks to Herbst’s longtime sponsor, Monster Energy, alongside his family’s chain of gas stations, Terrible Herbst.
In the past, an easy solution for teams was to buy a fourth charter. However, that option is no longer available thanks to the new NASCAR Charter Agreement, which no longer allows teams to own more than three charters.
This news only compounds the difficult and disappointing situation Heim has found himself in as a Toyota Prospect in his third full-time Craftsman Truck Series season. Despite statistically excelling past series legends and regulars in a short amount of time, now with 15 career wins, the 22-year-old has failed to find a full-time promotion beyond the Truck Series.
Of course, Heim has had part-time starts in the Xfinity Series with Sam Hunt Racing since 2023, alongside part-time starts in the Cup Series. But unless 23XI finds him a full-time spot in the Xfinity Series for 2026, his Truck Series efforts could continue into next season.
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