In the world of NASCAR, one statement rings loud and clear: Corey Heim is a talent that should not be confined to the Truck Series. Just a couple of weekends ago, he showcased his skills yet again by securing his tenth victory of the season in the Craftsman Truck Series. After enduring significant damage during the race, Heim managed to drive his No. 11 Truck to a thrilling overtime win, finishing ahead of Brent Crews by a margin of 1.338 seconds. This impressive performance not only marks his tenth triumph but also surpasses Greg Biffle's long-standing record of nine Truck victories. Former NASCAR star Kevin Harvick believes there's even more potential for Heim to unlock.
Let's dive deeper into the context!
Retiring from racing in 2023, Kevin Harvick began his own NASCAR journey in the Truck Series before achieving fame at the highest level in the Cup Series starting in 2001. Given his firsthand experience, the 2014 Cup Series champion feels strongly that Heim has lingered in one particular tier of NASCAR competition for far too long. Harvick noted in a recent episode of ‘Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour,’ "There’s guys like Corey Heim that are special. I feel like he’s pigeon-holed into the Truck Series right now. He’s just out there destroying them because he’s so much better than them. If you put him in Daytona next year in the Cup car, he’s gonna be competitive and he’s gonna figure it out."
Exciting prospects for the future
Before making the shift to the Truck Series, Corey Heim left his mark in the ARCA Menards Series, where he won six races during the 2021 season and achieved an impressive average finish of 3.1. His racing journey primarily took place under the banner of Venturini Motorsports, a distinguished family team known for launching the careers of many NASCAR stars, including three-time champion Joey Logano and Christopher Bell. Despite its recent announcement of closure after an illustrious 43-season run, the team has produced exceptional talent like Heim. Team principal Billy Venturini remarked on Heim's unique capabilities: "He is super special."
Harvick shares this strong sentiment about Heim’s potential. This season, Corey has made four appearances in the Cup Series with 23XI Racing and has already finished within the top ten, notably taking 6th place at Bristol. However, his plans for the 2026 season remain uncertain, with various opinions suggesting he may start in all three national series, though there is speculation he could only transition fully to the Cup Series by 2027. Venturini confidently asserts, "I believe he’d win a Cup race as a rookie. That’s how strong I think he is. He’s unique…He’s ice cold."
Comparisons to NASCAR greats
In this age dominated by the Next-Gen car, it has become increasingly challenging to differentiate the talents of drivers due to the uniformity of equipment and the inherent aerodynamic difficulties that limit overtaking. Many drivers now depend on strategies such as fuel mileage to gain an edge. Yet, some still shine brightly through their grit and dedication. Take Denny Hamlin, for example, who recently celebrated his 60th career victory at Las Vegas, achieving this milestone despite facing several challenges like ongoing lawsuits and a crew chief change.
Billy Venturini believes Corey Heim is among the exceptional drivers who manage to excel regardless of the problems they encounter. He noted that Heim's dedication to preparation is unparalleled in today's racing environment: "The amount of research that the drivers do off-track now is insane. I think the very best one for how he preps using sim and everything else is Corey Heim. Corey is the best sim driver I’ve ever seen. I’ll go that far, and it translates, because he is super special."
Harvick aligns with this viewpoint, making comparisons between Heim and established Cup Series veterans. He stated, "That lines up with everything that I’ve watched, from the outside looking in… You’ve got the Joey Logano and the Denny Hamlin. Now, Ryan Blaney is doing pretty good, William Byron is doing pretty good, but they’ll never catch up to the experience side of things that those two guys have. There are those key guys that can go to a test and turn their season around…be able to dissect the car and put it in a path that’s better than what it was."
Clearly, Corey Heim is making waves in the world of racing with his remarkable achievements. The big question now is, will his talent attract the sponsorship needed to elevate him to the next level? What do you think? Is he ready for the Cup Series, or should he remain in the Trucks a while longer? Let's hear your opinions in the comments!
