Here’s what’s happening this week Inside The Garage:
- It’s Heim Time in the Cup Series
- A new home for the Clash?
- Jimmie Johnson to drive the No. 48 one last time
INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY (Indianapolis) — Corey Heim has pushed eight races this yr and has scored extra factors than the opposite heralded younger NASCAR Cup Collection prospect.
Heim has extra factors than full-time rookie Connor Zilisch has earned in 22 races, because of his two victories and Zilisch’s string of races the place he hasn’t completed.
That’s proper, two victories — at Naval Base Coronado final month after which Sunday at the Brickyard 400 — in eight begins. That’s eight begins with a part-time fourth automotive at 23XI Racing, in order that’s a part of the equation. He has a few of the finest tools within the NASCAR Cup Collection storage.
Corey Heim is making his case as the perfect younger driver in NASCAR.
“The competitors on this collection is form of like no different, however the truth that we have had every part line up rather well so far as the velocity in these Toyotas this yr with 23XI particularly, has been simply surreal,” Heim stated in his postrace information convention.
However it takes greater than tools to be the primary driver since A.J. Foyt to win two Cup races in his first 15 total collection begins. And he’s the primary part-time collection driver to win two races in a season since each Davey Allison and Tim Richmond achieved the feat in 1987.
The 24-year-old Heim has gained 21 of the final 40 truck races he has entered and gained the 2025 collection title. He’s set to be a full-time Cup driver in 2027 with 23XI.
“He is actually gifted.” three-time Cup champion Joey Logano informed me after the race the place Logano completed third. “Seems, I do know his vehicles are good, however I believe the motive force was spectacular.
“He’s bought it. We’ll be battling him eternally. He’ll be right here longer than me. He is lots youthful than me, however he’ll be right here the entire time. Only a stable racecar driver. He does the appropriate issues. He would not get dangerous. He would not get nervous. Simply executes rather well.”
Logano gave Heim the push he wanted on a late restart to win the Brickyard 400 and Heim took it from there.
Joey Logano recommended Corey Heim for his expertise behind the wheel.
“He put collectively a powerful final run,” Christopher Bell informed me after ending second to Heim. “He was free. My guys have been saying he was free. I may form of see him wiggling a bit bit. He did an important job, and he didn’t make a mistake and gained the race.”
Heim’s accomplishments aren’t any shock to those that labored with him. As a result of he’s in a part-time automotive, Heim can also be typically the primary to exit and qualify. That sometimes means, at finest, a mediocre beginning place.
“If we might have had a greater [spot when going out] in qualifying, we might have gained extra already,” Heim crew chief Bootie Barker stated in his postrace information convention.
Barker wasn’t making an attempt to be boastful. He says it as truth, similar to he did when he first defined how Heim has gained two races as a part-time driver.
“Everyone thinks I am all the time joking, however I imply what I say: He is extra gifted than anyone else,” Barker stated.
Barker then couched that remark: “That is virtually being a disservice to a few of the nice drivers right here. That is not the case. Like all of the folks we have been racing on the finish are the perfect of the perfect, super [and I] present a lot respect to them.
“However Corey is there in expertise. Corey can also be there in work ethic. He is there so far as a mentality. He has all that.”
The competition between Carson Hocevar (pictured) and Corey Heim continued on Sunday on the Brickyard.
However the backside line is that the child has sufficient expertise that he already has a simmering rivalry with Carson Hocevar that has adopted them from their time collectively competing in vehicles. They don’t like one another and at one level, Hocevar flipped off Heim for the way in which he blocked Heim.
Heim didn’t care. He gained. And Hocevar, who has one Cup victory in almost three seasons on the Cup stage, actually acknowledges Heim’s expertise.
“He is actually good with air and manipulating air,” Hocevar informed me after the race. “We’ve a number of similarities from that standpoint, and I believe that is why you recognize in vehicles after which right here, we’re up entrance and … it is virtually like we all know every transfer as a result of that is what I’d be doing or that is what he can be doing.
“Their stuff’s actually quick. [I was the] prime Chevy for us. That is good.”
That might sound like a bit little bit of bitter grapes. In all probability is, but it surely’s additionally a bit little bit of truth.
“Toyota [is the reason for it],” 2012 Cup champion Brad Keselowski informed me about Heim’s accomplishments after the race. “He’s doing a great job.
“You possibly can’t take something away from Corey. He’s executing these races properly. He’s not beating himself. His pit crew is doing every part proper. And he’s within the quickest vehicles. It’s actually spectacular.”
Heim can’t actually describe how he has gained two races with a part-time group apart from to surmise that he can focus extra on every particular person race since he runs on a restricted foundation. He additionally drives for Toyota when the producers have data-gathering exams, giving him loads of observe time when he isn’t in a Cup automotive or the occasional truck.
The 2 wins in all probability change what folks would count on of him subsequent yr as a full-time driver. He’s going to be a severe menace to make The Chase.
“I undoubtedly felt like this yr began off rockier than I’d have preferred,” Heim stated. “I went to Daytona and crashed. At Kansas, we completed worse than we did the earlier yr. It’s been a gentle incline up so far. Profitable San Diego, top-10 in Chicago, successful right here [at the Brickyard], it has been a heck of a final couple races.
“For those who requested me 4 months in the past what my expectations have been for 2027, I’d have answered in another way than now for certain.”
So what’s subsequent?
“Clearly, he is with an important group,” Bell stated. “And he’s an important driver. He is a Cup man. He’ll do rather well subsequent yr.”
In The Information
— Jimmie Johnson will get to make use of the No. 48 for his ultimate Cup race, the 2027 Daytona 500. Johnson labored a cope with Hendrick Motorsports to be used of the quantity he had for his seven Cup titles. The quantity is at present used for the automotive of Alex Bowman, whose quantity for the Daytona 500 has not been introduced.
— Dreyer & Reinbold Racing has bought a constitution from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing within the INDYCAR Collection. The group has not named a driver and famous that whether or not it’s Chevy or Honda subsequent yr continues to be to be decided. The group has run Chevys just lately in its Indianapolis 500 makes an attempt.
— St. Petersburg Grand Prix weekend will embody each INDYCAR and the Craftsman Truck Collection subsequent season as this yr’s doubleheader was deemed successful. It’s anticipated to be the INDYCAR opener. The dates are set for March 5-7, 2027.
— NASCAR’s preseason Conflict is predicted to maneuver from Bowman Grey Stadium to its unique location, Daytona Worldwide Speedway, in response to a report in The Athletic. The occasion is predicted to be Saturday evening earlier than the Tremendous Bowl and 4 days earlier than Daytona 500 qualifying.
NASCAR’s Conflict was held at Bowman Grey Stadium this yr however is predicted to return to Daytona in 2027.
— Brad Keselowski confirmed that RFK Racing picked up the choice on Ryan Preece for 2027 a number of months in the past, and they’re set to race the No. 60 automotive chartered or unchartered subsequent season. The group is leasing a constitution this yr that may go to Legacy Motor Membership for 2027.
— NASCAR will improve the quantity of follow for Cup vehicles from two teams for 25 minutes apiece to at least one group for 50 minutes beginning with the race weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway subsequent month.
— NASCAR Vice President for Car Efficiency Eric Jacuzzi introduced on LinkedIn his departure from NASCAR: “Bittersweet however after virtually 13 years at NASCAR it is time for one thing completely different.” Jacuzzi was NASCAR’s lead aerodynamicist & performed pivotal position in aero bundle growth.
Chase Clinched
These drivers have clinched spots in The Chase following Indianapolis:
Cup — Ty Gibbs clinched to affix Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick and Ryan Blaney.
O’Reilly — Carson Kvapil, Sheldon Creed, Corey Day, Brandon Jones and Austin Hill clinched to affix Justin Allgaier and Jesse Love.
Truck — Christian Eckes and Gio Ruggerio clinched to affix Layne Riggs, Kaden Honeycutt and Chandler Smith.
Image This
Social Highlight
They Mentioned It
“You’re keen on speaking a few man that completed ninth.” — Race winner Corey Heim following a few questions on Carson Hocevar.
WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT
It is Heim Time as soon as once more as Corey Heim earned his second victory of the season — this time successful the famed Brickyard 400.
