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It was an awkward weekend for the Toyota camp at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Saturday was the main story for TRD, with Corey Heim choosing not to push Toyota teammate Chandler Smith. Heim now has tension with JGR, but is there more history between the two than meets the eye?
On the final lap of Saturday’s Xfinity Series race at Atlanta, Corey Heim had a run coming out of turns three and four. With Toyota teammate Chandler Smith and Chevrolet’s Austin Hill in front of him, Heim chose the latter of the two.
We clarify that they are Toyota teammates, as Heim, despite a stellar Truck Series record, races part-time in the Xfinity Series for Sam Hunt Racing. SHR, while competitive with Heim, is far from the same level as Smith’s JGR ride.
Neither Heim nor Smith would win the race, with Hill moving up the track until Heim found himself in the wall. Arguably, neither needed it, as Smith is already locked into the Xfinity Series Playoffs, and Heim is a full-time Truck Series driver.
After the race, fans online claimed that Heim had no reason to help Smith, as JGR has done nothing to help Heim in his career. Heim clarified in an interview with NBC Sports that the move was strictly a “racing thing.”
Smith, however, was not so pleased with the lack of help.
Heim and Smith have been divisive for fans, with some on either driver’s side. Furthermore, manufacturer and team relationships are already a major storyline this season. Chevrolet’s Parker Retzlaff found himself in a similar position at Daytona in August.
Atlanta was not the first time JGR and Heim have had issues. This beef goes beyond NASCAR’s National Series.
The ARCA Menards Series is far from the series it once was. In its modern iteration, the champion typically runs the most races, wins the most races, and has the most support.
However, in 2021, ARCA blessed fans with one of the best championship battles in recent stock car racing history.
Ty Gibbs, as Joe Gibbs’ grandson, was going to be controversial no matter what. However, Gibbs is a proven talent, winning the Xfinity Series Championship and ARCA Menards Series Championship.
That 2021 ARCA title was hard fought, with Corey Heim and Gibbs trading wins and blows all season long. Both drivers dumped each other at times, including one race at Elko Speedway where, after moving Gibbs for the win, Heim said, “He’s [Gibbs] probably mad because he lost like he usually is.”
While Heim won this battle, Gibbs won the war and the title, winning ten races to Heim’s six. Even worse for Heim, Gibbs won the championship by 37 points, beating out his Toytota teammate.
But is this the reason why JGR hasn’t brought Heim on?
While there are multiple reasons, insiders like Bob Pockrass report this drama might be the deciding factor in Heims’s lack of on-track time at JGR.
Sponsorship and the lack of an open ride can factor into Heim’s situation. However, the No. 19 Xfinity Series entry fields several drivers who lack Heim’s resume, like Taylor Gray and Joe Graf Jr.
Heim makes the best of his opportunities at Sam Hunt Racin. However, with younger TRD drivers like William Sawlich passing Heim on the developmental ladder, many wonder if Heim has a future at TRD.
While the opportunity to leave certainly exists (teams like JR Motorsports have openings), TRD has doubled down on their trust in Heim this season. So far, Corey has earned the chance to go Cup Series racing at Legacy MC in two races for the injured Erik Jones.
Denny Hamlin’s 23XI followed this up with a one-off in the team’s part-time No. 50 at Nashville. As far as Heims’s future goes, rumors point to 23XI as a prime candidate to get a third charter from Stewart-Haas Racing.
Unfortunately, 23XI’s future is up in the air after refusing to sign the new NASCAR Charter Agreement, so this expansion may not happen. While just a rumor, this leaves Heim’s future still unknown.
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