The Toyota Racing Development Program has produced some sensational drivers. Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing stunned the world this year by winning three Cup Series races in a row, and he is a TRD product. So is Erik Jones, who had a sensational race at Texas last Sunday, finishing 5th for Legacy Motor Club. However, there is one Truck Series driver under the wing of Denny Hamlin, and the Cup Series veteran sees a very bright future for him.

Of course, we are talking about Corey Heim! Heim’s racing journey began early, tearing up quarter midget tracks in Georgia before making a name for himself in Legends cars and the CARS Tour. By age 15, he was already winning super late model races, and soon after, he stormed onto the ARCA Menards Series scene, racking up eight wins-including back-to-back triumphs at Daytona.

Heim’s natural speed and racecraft quickly caught the attention of Toyota’s development program and, eventually, Denny Hamlin and 23XI Racing. And now, after a red-hot run in the Truck Series, Hamlin’s not just impressed. He’s hinting at something bigger. Maybe a lot bigger. Let’s just say Heim might want to keep his Sundays free.

Denny Hamlin’s praise about Corey Heim isn’t just talk

Corey Heim’s 2025 Texas Truck Series win perfectly illustrates why Hamlin and the NASCAR world are buzzing about his future. Heim dominated the SpeedyCash.com 250, leading 96 of 174 laps and surviving two chaotic overtime restarts to secure his third victory of the season. Denny Hamlin couldn’t help but praise his young prodigy’s success after Hamlin notably didn’t have the best time out at Texas on Sunday, suffering a blown engine after 71 laps.

On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin said about Heim, “Holy cow. I mean just better than everybody by a significant amount.” Moreover, Hamlin pointed out the raw talent Corey Heim possesses, as he can get better results compared to his teammates driving the same car with the same setup. “He does have teammates that are in the same equipment that he’s in, and I just don’t know just the craft that he’s showing. It’s just tremendous.” His 2025 Truck Series statistics well supported Denny Hamlin’s praise.

Driving for TRICON garage, Heim leads the series with three wins, seven top-tens, and five top-fives in just eight starts, consistently running up front and leading laps. By comparison, teammate Tanner Gray sits 13th in points with only one top-five and a handful of top-tens. Gio Ruggiero currently sits 11th in points, with his Daytona performance standing out as his season highlight so far. Toni Breidinger has struggled to break into the top 15, with her best finish being 18th at Rockingham. She’s 23rd in the standings.

Appreciating this level of dominance, Hamlin added, “Corey was doing everything that you think he needed to do. He certainly should have won every Truck race this year by a lot. But we’ve had some crazy bad luck.” Heim has been dominant, but the real test would be his move up to Cup, and that’s a move 23XI Racing is considering more seriously with every passing race, and now, he’s set to make his Cup Series debut next week!

For Hamlin and 23XI Racing, this is a long-game strategy. They’re giving Corey Heim Cup starts throughout 2025 to sharpen him for what’s next. “We’re going to see him this weekend in the Cup series,” Denny Hamlin explained. His Cup debut for 23XI is set for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 11, 2025. Plus, he will run a few more Cup Series races this season, like Charlotte, Nashville, Michigan, and more.

“The races that he gets to run with 23XI this year… just continuing to get more and more Cup seat time to be ready for that call whenever it happens,” Hamlin said. The goal is simple: make him ready for the call for a full-time role in the Cup Series. That future might be closer than people realize. Because while others are waiting for their moment, Heim’s building his resume in plain sight. And Denny Hamlin’s not just watching. He’s quietly preparing the next big thing in NASCAR.

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Corey’s Kansas Cup Series challenge

After a dramatic victory at Texas, Corey Heim heads to Kansas Speedway with momentum and sky-high expectations. His Texas win was anything but straightforward. Heim survived two overtimes, led 96 of 174 laps, and fended off fierce late-race challenges to secure his third Truck Series win of 2025. “I wasn’t going to let that one get away from me. I’ve given up too many this year so far,” Heim said after the race.

Kansas, however, presents a different kind of test. While Corey Heim has been the class of the Truck Series field, leading in wins, top-fives, and laps led, the competition at Kansas is always fierce. Especially in a Cup Series race. Last year, Heim conquered the Heart of America 200 at Kansas, showcasing his ability to master the 1.5-mile oval with a convincing win. His track record here is impressive, and he’ll look to repeat that performance in the 2025 AdventHealth 400.

With the Truck Series points lead and a growing reputation for closing out tough races, all eyes are on Heim as he takes on Kansas in the top-most level of NASCAR competition. Can he channel his Texas tenacity and deliver another statement win on his debut? Or will Kansas throw a new challenge his way and humble him? We find out this Sunday.