Pat McAfee thrives on chaos. The former NFL punter turned media firebrand took aim at NASCAR this week, dragging rising star Corey Heim into his latest offbeat rant. Heim, the Truck Series points leader with six wins and a reputation as Denny Hamlin’s handpicked prospect. The rising star suddenly found his name tied to Ram’s 2026 return. The rumor was wild enough to spark chatter across the garage, but the real twist came when Heim and his team decided to answer back.

For Heim, this kind of talk is nothing new. Ever since Denny Hamlin and 23XI Racing labeled him as their development ace, speculation about his future has been nonstop. Heim is doing way more than just racking up wins in the Truck Series. He’s also showing everyone he belongs on the Cup stage sooner rather than later. However, the cup stage may be at least another season away thanks to Toyota’s commitment. Toyota clearly sees him as a cornerstone for the future, especially with the records he’s been setting. This is a sentiment Hamlin made clear earlier this year. He said, “We think Corey is the next guy in line.” So when McAfee stirred the pot with his Ram comments, it wasn’t just about a rumor. It was about watching how Heim and his team would handle the spotlight. That response ended up being louder than the original rumor itself.

McAfee stirs the NASCAR rumor,  Heim shuts it down

On McAfee’s show, the conversation turned lighthearted but quickly spiraled. When someone mentioned Heim’s Truck dominance, McAfee jumped in with, “What’s he driving?” Once told it was a Toyota, McAfee fired back, “Wait till next year, bud. RAM has got you backed up. RAM get your ass off the track.” He even teased that Heim himself might “want this” once Ram returned. It was classic McAfee: bold, absurd, and guaranteed to spark chatter. The only problem was, none of it lined up with reality.

TRICON Garage didn’t waste a second letting the rumor die. Their X account fired back with a blunt remark, “NAH.” Heim followed up to make things clear on his part. He conveyed that he was “more of a Toyota Tundra guy.” Just like that, the speculation was over. His loyalty to Toyota was crystal clear. In a sport where vague answers often leave doors open, this was as firm a statement as you could get. Heim had taken control of the story with a single word and a simple nod to his truck.

The whole back-and-forth also shone a spotlight on just how big Heim’s profile has become. Even an offhand comment from someone like McAfee makes headlines, showing that Heim is now a name that carries weight well beyond the Truck Series garage. And the way he handled the situation showed he’s already playing the media game like a veteran. As Ram prepares its re-entry into the Truck Series and Toyota continues building for the future, Heim’s place looks secure. Especially when he’s been breaking all sorts of records.

Corey Heim equals a NASCAR legend’s record

Corey Heim just added another bold chapter to what’s already shaping up as a historic season. At New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Heim edged out Chandler Smith by 0.823 seconds to claim his ninth win of 2025. This tied the Truck Series single-season record set by Greg Biffle in 1999. He didn’t just win. He dominated: from the pole, he swept both stages and over a hundred laps. With four races left, he now has a real shot at rewriting the record books entirely.

The feat becomes even more remarkable when framed in Heim’s career arc. In just 85 career Truck starts, Heim now owns 20 total wins, pushing him into the upper tiers of the all-time list. He’s not only chasing legacy records. Heim isn’t just winning, he’s the one name on everybody’s mind. The field is stacked, the playoffs are brutal, and yet he consistently pulls away from the pack.

After the New Hampshire race victory, Heim was in a league of his own. After the race, he spoke about how meaningful the achievement was while keeping his eyes on the remaining races. He expressed his desire to break the single-season win record and gave credit to Greg Biffle, whose mark he had tied.

Looking ahead, tying Biffle’s record places a target squarely on Heim’s back. More importantly, his rivals are watching closely, and every misstep is magnified. At the same time, this reinforces his status as a generational talent. With Toyota firmly behind him, Heim has a real shot to set even higher benchmarks before the season ends.