23XI Racing took to social media today to make a significant announcement about their young phenom, Corey Heim. The Craftsman Truck Series Champion is expanding his 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule to 12 races. Notably, none of these races will be on road courses. He will make his debut next weekend at Daytona, followed by a nearly 2-month gap until he returns to the car.
Heim is a curious case. He is a reigning champion, but he is without a full-time ride across all three NASCAR racing series. He will not return full-time to Trucks, racing just part-time for the TRICON Garage No. 11 Toyota. He will also run part-time in this No. 67 23XI Toyota.
In a Friday announcement, 23XI Racing released Heim's Cup Series Schedule. Of these races, Heim will take to (6) superspeedways, (5) intermediate tracks, and (1) street course in San Diego. Interestingly, Heim is slated for zero short tracks and zero road courses.
Corey Heim Expands NASCAR Development
Clearly, Heim will not remain a part-time driver in any series beyond 2026. As a champion, he must gain a ride. 23XI is in a difficult spot to gift him that ride, as they only charter three full-time cars. Riley Herbst, under contract through 2026, has not been removed from his ride, so Heim is subject to the No. 67 car on a part-time basis.
The only way Heim could have run the O'Reilly Series would have been in a Toyota, most likely for Joe Gibbs Racing. However, they have their team set up for internal progression. They are fielding Brandon Jones, Brent Crews, William Sawalich, and Taylor Gray. With all of them under contract, Heim never got much of a look.
The only other Toyota team in the O'Reilly Series is Sam Hunt Racing. They have two drivers of their own, and they have never been closely aligned with the Joe Gibbs Racing/23XI connection.
What is the Goal in 2026?
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Heim's goal is development. Compete and earn your ride. With Herbst reportedly up in his contract post-2026, that car could open up. Denny Hamlin noted the other day that Herbst must be running top-15 regularly. However, Herbst failed to have a single top-10 finish in 2025.
The money talks with Herbst and his family, plus Monster sponsorships; however, performance roars. If Heim can well outperform the No. 35 car in his select appearances, Heim will have his eyes set on earning the No. 35 ride.
A dominant Truck Series driver, Heim's success can inspire fans and build anticipation for his future. In seven career Cup Series races, Heim has just one top-10. Now, his sample size will more than double. Is he as good as other rising stars like Connor Zilisch and Jesse Love? These are questions to be answered.