SpeedSUVs.com — Corey Heim, the rising development driver for 23XI Racing, will step away from the NASCAR Cup Series grid for this weekend’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. While Heim has shown remarkable promise during his part-time campaign in the 2026 season, his scheduled absence from the upcoming Enjoy Illinois 300 highlights the carefully managed transition he is undergoing before moving to a full-time Cup Series ride next year.
A Look at Corey Heim’s Historic 2026 Campaign
To evaluate Heim’s current trajectory, one must look at his outstanding performances. In his 10 Cup Series starts this year—building on four starts from the previous season—Heim has captured two victories. His first win occurred at Naval Base Coronado in June, followed by a prestigious victory at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July.
These achievements placed Heim in elite company, making him the first driver since A.J. Foyt in 1965 to secure two wins within the first 15 starts of a Cup Series career. Additionally, his points per race average of 26.7 is highly impressive. Although he is not officially eligible for Cup Series points due to his commitment to the Craftsman Truck Series with Tricon Garage, that average would theoretically place him 10th-best among all full-time Cup competitors.
Challenges and Recent Setbacks
Despite these historic highs, Heim’s part-time schedule has not been without its obstacles. His most recent outing at Darlington Raceway resulted in a 19th-place finish. This performance was heavily compromised by a pit road penalty for an uncontrolled tire, forcing Heim and his team to spend the rest of the race fighting to overcome the setback.
While showing great resilience, these moments demonstrate the steep learning curve associated with competing at the highest level of stock car racing. His absence from Gateway also prevents him from building immediate momentum following consecutive runs at Daytona International Speedway and Darlington.
The Gateway Dilemma and Missed Opportunities
The decision to sit out the Gateway race is particularly interesting given Heim’s stellar track record at the 1.25-mile Madison, Illinois oval. In the Craftsman Truck Series, Heim competed at Gateway in 2022 and 2024, winning both events. He missed the 2023 race solely due to illness, meaning he remains undefeated in active competition at the venue.
However, because Gateway is not featured on this year’s Truck Series schedule, the Truck Series is off this weekend. This alignment means fans will miss seeing one of the track’s most successful recent drivers compete in the Cup Series event, which will air on USA Network this Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET.
The Path Forward and 2026 Return Dates
Fortunately, Heim’s Cup Series season is far from over. He has two remaining scheduled starts for 2026 before he transitions to a full-time role alongside Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick at 23XI Racing next year, where he will replace Riley Herbst.
- Charlotte Motor Speedway (October): This will mark the oval’s first postseason race since 2017.
- Homestead-Miami Speedway (November): The season finale event at a venue that hasn’t hosted the championship race since 2019.
Alongside his Cup duties, Heim will also complete his Truck Series schedule with two remaining races at Talladega Superspeedway in October and Homestead-Miami in November driving the No. 1 Tricon Garage Toyota. This comes after an incredible run of winning three of his seven Truck starts this year, following a championship season with 12 wins in 25 races last year.
Conclusion
In summary, Corey Heim’s brief hiatus from the Cup Series grid this weekend at Gateway represents a pause in an otherwise historic part-time campaign. While his recent pit road penalty at Darlington highlights the minor hurdles he must still clear, his double-victory season and exceptional average points show he is fully prepared for his full-time promotion next year. Fans can look forward to his highly anticipated returns at Charlotte and Homestead-Miami later this fall.
