Corey Heim is going to get a chance to be a full-time driver in the NASCAR Cup Series.
23XI Racing, the team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and standout driver Denny Hamlin, announced Saturday, May 30 at Nashville Superspeedway that it has signed the 23-year-old to be a full-time Cup Series driver for the 2027 season.
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Joining Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace, Heim will be the third full-time driver for the team at NASCAR’s top level, replacing Riley Herbst who is expected to join Legacy Motor Club, according to the Athletic.
Hamlin and Jordan have long had their eyes on adding Heim to their team. Through discovery in the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports vs. NASCAR antitrust lawsuit that was eventually settled in late 2025, it was revealed that Jordan told Hamlin to “lock him up” in regards to signing Heim to a Cup Series deal before another team did.
Heim will drive the No. 35 Toyota for Jordan and Hamlin next season.
“Corey is a gifted driver who is continuing to get better and better with each race he runs,” Hamlin said in a statement. “He has a bright future in the sport and joins a team that is continuing to build a solid foundation. We’re thankful to Riley for all he has done to help get the 35 team going and appreciate the work that he and the team will continue to do this season to be competitive each week.”
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Since 2024, Heim has been a developmental driver for 23XI and has competed in 11 Cup Series races for Jordan’s team and Legacy Motor Club. His best finish at NASCAR’s highest level came last year at Bristol Motor Speedway, where he placed sixth driving 23XI’s No. 67 Toyota.
“Since I was five years old, all I ever wanted was to be a Cup driver,” Heim said in statement. “My family and I have sacrificed a ton to get me to this level, and I don’t take that for granted. When the opportunity came up to be a development driver with 23XI Racing, I trusted my gut and knew this was the place I wanted to build a long-term career. 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.”
A native of Marietta, Georgia, Heim has been viewed as one of NASCAR’s best emerging prospects in the last few years. He started out racing Legends cars in Atlanta, then moved up to running late models and super late models in the CARS Tour, then made his debut in the lower-tier ARCA in 2019. Heim captured CARS Tour wins at South Boston and Hickory, and won an ARCA race at Kansas.
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – APRIL 19: Corey Heim, driver of the #67 Robinhood Toyota, waits backstage during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on April 19, 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas.
That success earned him a spot with Kyle Busch Motorsports in NASCAR’s Craftsman Truck Series, where he made his debut in 2021 at Darlington Raceway. Meanwhile, Heim was still running ARCA, winning six races in 2021 for Venturini Motorsports and finishing as the championship runner-up. The following year for KBM, Heim won two Truck Series races and finished in the top five in four others, establishing he had the talent to compete consistently at that level.
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Driving the No. 11 Toyota for Tricon Garage last year, Heim won the championship in the Truck Series and set the record for most wins in a single season at that level with 12 — breaking Greg Biffle’s mark of nine victories set in 1999. In 93 races over six years, Heim has 25 wins in the Truck Series, which is fifth-best all-time.
“For our company, generational drivers only come by every now and then,” Hamlin said Saturday at Nashville. “And I firmly believe that we have one here.”
Heim is running a mixed schedule this season, having competed in four truck races and four Cup Series competitions so far. In his last Cup start, he finished 19th at the Coca-Cola 600 last weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
23XI is off to a strong start this season with its top two drivers. Heading into the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville on Sunday, Reddick is first in the point standings and Wallace is 13th, three spots above the cutoff line for the Chase.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Corey Heim to join 23XI Racing for 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season
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