When Corey Heim signed for a team, it was a proud moment, not just for him, but for everyone who had followed his rise through the NASCAR ranks. The team, co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, had made a clear statement: they saw something special in the Georgia-born talent. “I feel like I’m on the right career path to grow and get better,” Heim said when the deal was announced.

He wasn’t rushing. He wanted to learn. And now, that patience is being put to the test. This weekend at Kansas Speedway, Corey Heim will finally strap into a NASCAR Cup Series car under the 23XI banner. It’s not just any race. It’s the AdventHealth 400, one of the fastest and most technical races on the calendar. Heim will drive the No. 67 Toyota Camry XSE, backed by Robinhood, and join a field of seasoned veterans and Cup winners.

When he had joined, Hamlin had made it clear. “For us, we’re going to run him in some races this year, going to run him in some more races next year and just see where the future holds for him. We’re excited to give him that opportunity. He deserves it. I’m glad that he chose 23XI. He probably could have taken some other offers that would have put him in a Cup car sooner, but he chose to be part of our program, and we’re excited to field cars for him. I think he’s ready.” 

For a rising star who has dominated in Trucks, it’s a massive step forward and a huge moment in his young career. But before the green flag even waves, Heim’s biggest test may not be the race itself. It’s the steep learning curve that comes with Cup Series racing, especially at a track like Kansas. His team owner, Denny Hamlin, knows exactly how brutal the place can be. And this week, Hamlin didn’t sugarcoat it. He had a clear message for Heim: be ready for a “horrible” start. But why?

This weekend, Corey Heim will line up in a field stacked with experience, aggression, and speed. He’ll pilot the No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing, a rare fourth entry from the team. The car? Fully competitive. The setup? Similar to what Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick run. Heim has speed under him, but he’ll need more than horsepower to survive Kansas. The Cup Series doesn’t wait for anyone, and Kansas doesn’t forgive mistakes. And to make things tougher, Heim’s team owner, Denny Hamlin, gives him a serious warning about qualifying.

“The understanding of making speed with that car at that track… all those things are difficult to know unless you have some experience. So that’s the tough part about qualifying. He’s going to be the first car to go out and qualify—it’s going to be horrible. The track will be really bad. That’s the big part about me blowing up,” Hamlin said on his Action Detrimental podcast. He knows how fast Kansas can shift. And for a driver like Heim, who’s still learning how to extract speed from a Cup car, it’s a big task.

Even Hamlin admitted his qualifying draw would put him in a similar bind. “I’m going to have a horrible qualifying draw and probably qualify in the high 20s. There’s just nothing I can do about it.” That wasn’t just noise. Hamlin has struggled with unpredictable conditions at Kansas before, even with top-tier speed. Despite multiple strong finishes and a recent win in May 2023, he has just one top 5 start in the last 15 races on this track.

The track’s changing grip and tricky lines can catch out even the best. For Heim, who’s still learning how Cup cars generate speed, Hamlin’s concerns are real. Still, there’s a reason Heim is getting this shot. His 2025 Truck Series campaign has been elite. In just eight races, he’s scored three wins and has led more laps than most veterans. His Texas win was dominant as he led a race-high 96 laps. Even in races where he didn’t win, he’s been near the front. Heim’s ability to control races and avoid trouble stands out. His craft behind the wheel and maturity have made people believe he’s ready for more.

This isn’t Heim’s first time in the Cup either. He filled in last year for Erik Jones and delivered a clean top-25 run at Kansas. He also drove in Nashville, where he was taken out in a wreck not of his own making. These short stints showed composure, if not fireworks. Add to that a solid Xfinity campaign with Sam Hunt Racing, three top-fives in 13 starts, and the case for his promotion becomes clear. Heim is been methodical, not rushed. That’s how he wanted it.

Denny Hamlin, as both a co-owner and a veteran racer, sees Heim as a long-term asset. “Just progression. There’s not a finishing spot… You run and where you finish are two wildly different things,” he said. What he wants is growth, evidence that Heim can adapt, think, and respond under fire.

The 23XI Racing team owner also revealed that this weekend is part of a bigger plan. Heim’s 2025 calendar will feature a mix of familiar and new tracks, designed to build his skill set. “You want to throw them into the gauntlet like that… That way, when they eventually get the call, you’re ready.”

Denny Hamlin Echoes Tony Stewart!

Denny Hamlin is one of the most outspoken drivers in NASCAR today. But his recent comments about Kansas and the challenges of Cup racing reflect more than just personal frustrations—they echo the candor of Tony Stewart. Like Stewart, Hamlin doesn’t shy away from calling out the sport’s shortcomings. Whether it’s flawed qualifying systems or the issues with NASCAR’s seventh-generation cars, Hamlin voices what many drivers whisper.

On his Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin recently questioned the logic behind dismissing driver feedback. “If you are the sanctioning body and you discredit what the drivers and core fans are saying, I think you lose some credibility with them,” he said. It’s a sentiment Stewart carried for years. Stewart often criticized NASCAR’s disconnect from the racing product and fans. Now, Hamlin’s words suggest he sees the same cracks forming again.

He even pushed back on assumptions that fans don’t know what they’re seeing. “Our fans are core, they know what they are seeing. They’re smarter than you think they are,” Hamlin stated. Hamlin’s defence of driver insight comes at a critical time. TV ratings are slipping. Fan sentiment is fragile. And while NASCAR tries to promote parity, the product on track isn’t always delivering. Hamlin believes that ignoring this is dangerous.