Corey Heim clinched his eleventh victory of the season at Martinsville Speedway over the weekend, but despite this milestone, the standout TRICON Garage driver is approaching the season finale at Phoenix with measured optimism. The Corey Heim Martinsville victory solidified his place in the final four for the third time as a full-time competitor, but past disappointment has left him wary as championship contention looms.
Heim Sweeps Martinsville Yet Remains Wary of Phoenix
Starting from the second row at Martinsville, Heim managed to lead a race-high 77 laps, capturing victory in both race stages before triumphing in a dramatic overtime finish. Kaden Honeycutt finished just behind, securing the last transfer spot through a tie breaker against Layne Riggs. Ty Majeski and Tyler Ankrum advanced to the final four, each picking up an extra point that pushed them through.
This performance not only saw Heim earn the maximum possible 60 points for the event but also made him the season’s most prolific winner. Despite this remarkable consistency, Heim’s previous attempts in championship-deciding races cast a shadow: in the past, a crash in 2023 and a penalty at a key restart in 2024 cost him title chances. Reflecting on this, Heim expressed his excitement as well as his caution in a recent interview.
“I don’t want to jump to any conclusions. We still got a big race going into Phoenix. We wanted to have the momentum going into Phoenix and this is the way to do it. Got a big one next week to close it. It’s gonna be tough but I’m confident we can do it.”
– Corey Heim, Driver
Looking ahead, Corey Heim’s status for 2026 is undecided. There is growing speculation that he could take over a possible fourth entry for 23XI Racing, but as Denny Hamlin noted, ongoing antitrust litigation involving NASCAR may determine if that opportunity materializes.
Questions Surround Heim’s Path Beyond the Truck Series
In spite of his continued dominance this year, Heim’s trajectory for next season is not yet clear. Discussions suggest he might split time between select appearances in both the Truck Series and Cup Series, or alternatively, secure a full-time position in Xfinity. His broad skillset and excellent results keep his name at the forefront of conversations about potential moves up the NASCAR ladder.
On a recent episode of the “Happy Hour” podcast, Kevin Harvick joined Heim’s former team owner, Billy Venturini, to discuss Heim’s unique approach and impressive racing preparation.
“I think the very best one for how he preps using SIM and everything else is Corey Heim. Corey is the best SIM driver I’ve ever seen,” he said. [0:27 onwards]
– Billy Venturini, Former Team Owner
“I’m glad you said that because I feel like he’s pigeonholed into the Truck Series right now. He’s just out there destroying them because he’s so much better than them. But he, if you put him in at Daytona next year in the Cup car, he’s going to be competitive and he’s gonna figure it out.”
– Kevin Harvick, Veteran Driver
Consistency and Results Propel Heim’s Reputation
Apart from taking home 11 wins in a single season, Heim stands out as the only NASCAR driver across all three National Series this year to avoid a DNF. Notably, he also posted top-10 results in both the Xfinity and Cup Series, underscoring both his reliability and adaptability across NASCAR’s highest levels.
Corey Heim’s journey so far has been marked by a rare blend of performance and perseverance, drawing the attention of prominent figures and stoking speculation about his potential to succeed at racing’s top tiers. With rivals like Layne Riggs, Ty Majeski, Kaden Honeycutt, and Tyler Ankrum also in the spotlight and the Phoenix finale on the horizon, eyes will be firmly fixed on Heim as he aims to translate a dominant season into a championship breakthrough.
A lot of great drivers have come through @VenturiniMotor. Billy and Bill Venturini tell @KevinHarvick what makes Corey Heim so special. pic.twitter.com/2GigN4Ibyh
— HarvickHappyHour (@HarvickHappyPod) October 16, 2025
