23XI Racing aiming for Richmond redemption after a disappointing qualification result in Chicago, with Corey Heim set for another start in the No. 67 Toyota at Richmond Raceway this weekend. The team and driver look to recover from their Chicago setback and hope to secure a stronger performance during the upcoming Cook Out 400 in Virginia.
Unexpected Challenges in Chicago Qualification
Earlier in July, 23XI Racing fielded the No. 67 Toyota for Corey Heim at the challenging Chicago street course. For the first time since November 2018 at Texas Motor Speedway, more than 40 cars entered a NASCAR Cup Series event outside of the Daytona 500, resulting in heightened competition for the race’s open spots. Five part-time, non-chartered entries attempted to qualify, but only four would advance to the main event.
Anticipation favored Josh Bilicki driving the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford or Katherine Legge in the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet as likely omissions. Contrary to these expectations, both Bilicki and Legge qualified, while Corey Heim, after a misstep during qualifying, found himself as the slowest among the five open entrants. As a result, Heim missed the race, marking the first non-Daytona DNQ since Timmy Hill failed to make the Texas event nearly seven years prior for what was then MBM Motorsports (now Garage 66).
Richmond Offers a New Opportunity
This weekend presents a fresh chance for redemption, as 23XI Racing returns to the grid with the No. 67 Toyota. Once again, Corey Heim will be behind the wheel, and this time the entry list features only one other open car: Jesse Love‘s No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. This ensures Heim’s participation at Richmond Raceway, eliminating the qualification pressure faced in Chicago and setting up his third Cup Series start of the year.
Heim’s Strong Performances Across Series
Heim brings significant momentum into Richmond. Leading the Truck Series point standings by a considerable margin, He holds the series-best seven wins after most recently securing victory at Richmond. Earlier this year, Heim made his 2024 Cup Series debut at Kansas Speedway, outperforming all three of 23XI Racing’s full-time drivers—Bubba Wallace, Riley Herbst, and Tyler Reddick—during that May race.
However, Heim’s Cup return at Nashville Superspeedway saw challenges, including an error that resulted in contact with RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski and led to an early exit from the competition. Despite that setback, Heim’s stock remains high as the NASCAR world’s attention shifts to the short track at Richmond.
What to Expect at the Cook Out 400 in Richmond
Fans and teams alike will be watching closely to see how 23XI Racing and Corey Heim handle this return to the Cup Series. With the field configuration eliminating open-spot suspense, focus turns to whether Heim can capitalize on his locked-in start and Truck Series momentum on Saturday night’s 400-lap contest. The Cook Out 400 airs live from Richmond Raceway on USA Network, beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET. All eyes are on Virginia as both driver and team aim to deliver a performance that reaffirms their potential and rebounds from recent disappointments.
