Matt Johnson
Corey Heim is the best prospect in NASCAR and the 23XI Racing development driver is widely viewed around the industry as being ready for a full-time ride in the Cup Series. However, coming off a record-breaking year driving the No. 11 in the Truck Series, Heim is spending the 2026 season part-time at all three levels.
As Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports explained on Saturday, Heim was announced as a development driver for 23XI in February 2025. It kept him within the Toyota family, which he wanted, and Heim is “banking” on a full-time ride opening up in 2027. As for why he can’t spend a season driving full-time for another team, Pockrass mentioned that Legacy Motor Club “doesn’t see itself as a training ground” for a driver to then leave for 23XI.
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Last season as the full-time driver for the No. 11 Toyota Tundra Truck with TRICON Garage, Heim set single-season Truck Series records in laps led (1,625), points (4040), wins (12) and top-fives (19) across 25 races. He dominated throughout the season and then pulled off a last-lap move at Phoenix to cap off the record-breaking year with a Truck Series Championship.
Getting a full-time ride in the Cup Series has never been an issue about talent for Heim. Instead, money is the primary factor. 23XI Racing’s third full-time driver, Riley Herbst, brings with him a strong relationship with Monster Energy, and his family has deep financial pockets with his dad owning numerous gas station and convenience stores that are partnered with Monster.
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Those financial resources were a bit necessary for 23XI to have last season amid their legal battle with NASCAR, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in court costs. Herbst was also originally signed to a multi-year deal, so the team wasn’t going to move on from him even after an underwhelming 2025 season.
However, the No. 35 car should be open for Heim to take over as the full-time driver next season. He would still only be 24 years old and his addition would provide 23XI with three drivers who are more than capable of winning races and earning a spot in the The Chase.
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Right now, all indications point to Heim becoming a full-time driver for 23XI next season. Until then, he’ll be splitting his time between the Truck, Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series this year. As his last-lap pass of Ross Chastain on Friday night in the Truck Series race at Darlington showed, he’s already more than capable of outracing some of the top drivers at the highest level.
