Corey Heim’s long-awaited NASCAR Cup Series opportunity is finally here.
On Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway, 23XI Racing announced that Heim will join the organization as a full-time Cup Series driver beginning in 2027. The move gives one of NASCAR’s most highly regarded young prospects a permanent seat at the sport’s highest level after years of success in Toyota’s development pipeline.
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Heim will drive the No. 35 Toyota Camry XSE, replacing Riley Herbst, who is expected to remain with the organization in a different capacity.
For many around the garage, the announcement feels less like a surprise and more like the next logical step in Heim’s career.
The 23-year-old has spent the last several seasons establishing himself as one of the top young talents in NASCAR, collecting victories, and the 2025 championship, in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series while steadily building a reputation as one of Toyota’s most promising prospects.
“Since I was five years old, all I ever wanted was to be a Cup driver,” Heim said in a statement released by 23XI Racing. “My family and I have sacrificed a ton to get me to this level, and I don’t take that for granted.”
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Corey Heim Finally Gets The Opportunity Many Expected
Heim’s promotion comes after one of the most successful stretches by any young driver in NASCAR.
The 23-year-old captured the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship and has spent the last several seasons establishing himself as one of Toyota’s top prospects. As victories and strong performances continued to pile up, many viewed a full-time Cup Series opportunity as a matter of when, not if.
That opportunity officially arrived Saturday when 23XI Racing announced Heim will join the organization full-time beginning in 2027.
“From everyone at 23XI to the team at Toyota Racing, I’ve been blessed to have support from so many people along the way. I can’t wait for the 2027 season to begin,” he said.
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The move gives 23XI Racing another young cornerstone alongside Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace as the organization continues to expand its future plans.
Denny Hamlin Explains Why 23XI Racing Believes In Heim
Team co-owner Denny Hamlin made it clear Saturday that 23XI Racing views Heim as much more than another developmental prospect.
Speaking with reporters at Nashville, Hamlin said Heim possesses traits that separate him from most young drivers.
“For our company, generational drivers only come by every now and then,” Hamlin said. “And I firmly believe that we have one here.”
Hamlin said Heim’s race craft has stood out to him for years, drawing comparisons to Reddick’s ability to create opportunities in difficult situations.
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“It was just his race craft in general,” Hamlin said. “Very similar to Tyler (Reddick) in that when his vehicle is in a certain position, vulnerable position, he still finds a way to get out of it and make a move wherever he is trying to pass.”
Hamlin added that Heim consistently makes difficult moves look routine.
“I know moves that are difficult to make and the great ones find ways to make them and make it look easy when I know it’s not.”
Those comments offer a glimpse into why 23XI Racing was willing to make such a significant commitment to the young driver.
Now, after years of waiting for his shot, Heim has the opportunity he has been chasing since childhood.
Beginning in 2027, one of NASCAR’s most accomplished young prospects will finally have a full-time home in the Cup Series.
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