Corey Heim, reigning Truck Series champion and regarded as one of Toyota’s top young drivers, has found himself without a full-time ride in any major NASCAR series ahead of the 2026 season, with the much-discussed Joe Gibbs Racing driver blacklist emerging as a central focus among fans. Despite his achievements, Heim will only compete in select races for 23XI Racing in the Cup Series, as major seat opportunities at Joe Gibbs Racing were again denied to him.
Heim Left Without a Key Ride for 2026
With the new NASCAR season less than a week away, Heim’s situation appears increasingly uncertain. After dominating in the Truck Series, where he climbed to sixth on the all-time wins list with a twelve-win championship season, his anticipated move up the ranks has not materialized. While 23XI Racing, where Heim is a development driver, did offer him a part-time Cup schedule, their third full-time seat stayed with Riley Herbst—despite Herbst’s tough rookie year in which he finished no better than 14th in any race out of thirty-six.
Meanwhile, Heim outperformed Herbst’s top finish in two of his four 2025 Cup starts for 23XI Racing, further raising questions about the decision to keep Herbst over him, as Herbst’s teammates Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick both made the playoffs in contrast to his struggles.
Options Narrow as Other Teams Announce Lineups
Hopes that Heim could return to the Truck Series with Tricon Garage were quashed when Kaden Honeycutt was confirmed as the new full-time driver of the No. 11 Toyota. As a result, Heim’s 2026 schedule is divided between a limited Cup slate with 23XI and partial appearances elsewhere.
Joe Gibbs Racing, a Toyota powerhouse, added fuel to the controversy by not selecting Heim for any of its open O’Reilly team seats. Although Toyota prospect Brent Crews was announced to take over the high-profile “star car” seat after his March birthday, both Taylor Gray—who had a playoff run and a race win—and William Sawalich, who failed to reach the playoffs, were retained for 2026. Veteran Brandon Jones had his seat secured earlier.
Frustration Builds Over Joe Gibbs Racing Decisions
The move further frustrated NASCAR followers, who see Heim’s continued exclusion as a sign of long-standing internal strife at Joe Gibbs Racing. According to recurring speculation, Heim has been blacklisted from the organization as a result of past feuds with Ty Gibbs—Joe Gibbs’ grandson—dating back to their contentious ARCA racing days in 2021. This internal friction is widely believed to have ended any chance of Heim receiving a coveted seat with the team, despite his prominence as a driver and his tenure in the lower ranks.
“He is simply expected to run a partial schedule, in addition to his partial 23XI Racing schedule in Cup.”
Currently, there is no indication that 23XI Racing, which maintains a technical partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing, would block Heim from moving to another Toyota-affiliated seat if he were given the opportunity. Instead, fans and industry insiders contend that Joe Gibbs Racing’s reluctance is leaving one of Toyota’s strongest prospects at risk of being poached by rival organizations.
Toyota Faces Risk of Losing a Top Prospect
Heim’s status continues to raise urgent questions for Toyota’s future driver pipeline. Other prominent teams like Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports could have potential seat vacancies by 2027, prompting further anxiety that Toyota may lose Heim simply because of an internal grudge that has lasted more than five years. Even Legacy Motor Club, where Heim filled in for a pair of races in 2024 and has indicated plans to expand, could become a serious competitor for his services if his current path remains blocked.
“But if the 23XI Racing ride doesn’t come to fruition, and the Joe Gibbs Racing door remains locked, Toyota could lose one of its top prospects simply because he ruffled the team boss’s grandson’s feathers a half-decade ago.”
The implications for Joe Gibbs Racing and the broader manufacturer landscape are significant. With Heim’s contract and development stagnating, Toyota’s driver development program faces fresh scrutiny. The upcoming season could prove pivotal not only for Heim’s trajectory but for how teams manage potential stars in an increasingly competitive NASCAR environment, especially with the Joe Gibbs Racing driver blacklist under harsh spotlight.
