Corey Heim is Still A Long Way From Full-Time Cup Series Action

What’s Happening?

On this week’s episode of Actions Detrimental, Denny Hamlin gave minor insight into 23XI’s plans for their first developmental driver, Corey Heim. While some fans had hoped the Truck Series veteran would soon get a call to full-time Cup Series action, it looks like the 22-year-old still has a ways to go in his journey to the top.

Not Heim Time

Sunday Morning, 23XI Racing announced they had signed top Toyota prospect Corey Heim to be the team’s first developmental driver. Despite winning 12 races over the past four Truck Series seasons and 48 top-tens in 66 starts, Heim has yet to have a clear path to the Cup Series.

Heim, however, has had some shots at the NASCAR Cup Series level. In 2024, he filled in for an injured Erik Jones in two races at Legacy Motor Club. Heim followed this up with a one-off start with 23XI at Nashville later that summer. As part of his deal with 23XI, Heim is adding a part-time Xfinity Series schedule with Sam Hunt Racing and Cup Series schedule with 23XI.

This expanded schedule led some fans to hope that Heim would be Cup Series bound next season. But 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin clarified on the latest episode of his podcast Actions Detrimental that this deal is more geared towards the “long term” rather than a quick jump to the top.

23XI Racing and the Future

In this episode, Hamlin states, “So for us, we’re going to run him in some races this year, gonna run him in some more races next year.” This suggests that Heim will see merely an increase in races next season rather than a bump up to the top level.

While this quote does not show a clear plan, Hamlin further clarifies that Heim chose to be woven into the team’s long-term plans rather than hot-shotted to the top level.

“He [Heim] probably could have taken some other offers that would have put him in a Cup car sooner, but he chose to, you know, be part of our program, and we’re excited to field cars for him because I think he’s… I think he’s ready,” Hamlin said.

Another issue creating a slim likelihood of Heim’s quick promotion to the Cup Series is a new rule that teams can own a maximum of three Charters. These Charters provide teams with automatic entry into points races and a share of revenue with NASCAR. In the past, teams with four viable drivers would lease or purchase a fourth Charter. Now, that is no longer an option.

23XI already has three Chartered rides with three drivers. Though a handful of fans speculated that rookie Riley Herbst could make a swift exit for Heim, this does not look like the plan. As of right now, Hamlin is satisfied with the team’s current lineup.

“I’ve been, you know, really happy with Riley’s performance over the first few races,” Hamlin said. “Bubba and Tyler are both doing well, running up front. But you got to build towards the future as well.”

What Can the Future Hold?

While Heim sits in driver purgatory for one more season, he could get some form of promotion.

Despite his Truck Series dominance, Heim has yet to be called on for full-time Xfinity Series action. Even his former TRICON teammates Dean Thompson and Taylor Gray received promotions from Sam Hunt Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing.

With this deal, Heim will get a chance to prove himself once again on a part-time level with SHR. Whether this means he could go full-time next year is unknown. But it is difficult to imagine Heim in the Truck Series for a fifth season in a row.

Heim has a route to the Cup Series for the first time in his career, but a few roadblocks still stand in the way of him and NASCAR’s top division.

With Corey Heim in the Wings, Who’s the Odd Man Out at 23XI?

With Corey Heim in the Wings, Who’s the Odd Man Out at 23XI?

What’s Happening? Sunday 23XI officially confirmed that Truck Series standout Corey Heim is the team’s first developmental prospect. However, one major…

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