Corey Heim, the reigning 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, is preparing for a pivotal year as he focuses on breaking into the NASCAR Cup Series in 2026. With the support of 23XI Racing, Heim’s journey will include a part-time Cup schedule, with the goal of building toward a full-time campaign while leveraging strategic marketing partnerships such as Robinhood and Celsius.
Heim’s Path Toward the Cup Series
After a record-shattering season in 2025, where Corey Heim claimed 12 victories out of 25 races and led laps in every single event en route to a Truck Series championship, expectations around his Cup Series future soared. Many NASCAR insiders agreed that Heim was ready to make the leap to the top level, generating significant interest throughout the sport.
Entering 2026, 23XI Racing crafted a program to gradually prepare Heim for the demands of a premier Cup Series campaign. Prior to the new season, the team announced that Heim would drive the No. 67 Toyota in at least 12 Cup races, giving him the chance to gain valuable experience at NASCAR’s highest level. Robinhood and Celsius came aboard as key partners, providing the backing necessary to expand Heim’s opportunities throughout the year.
First Steps on the 2026 Cup Schedule
Heim began his 2026 campaign by qualifying for the prestigious Daytona 500, demonstrating his speed and adaptability from the outset. His neon-liveried Toyota was competitive throughout the race weekend, leading eight laps during the Great American Race. Unfortunately, Heim’s promising run ended in a 17-car accident, relegating him to a 28th-place finish. Nevertheless, his competitiveness left a positive impression.
“This is technically my third season with 23XI, even though I’ve only made five starts (now six). To be able to get to know most of the people in the shop from the the marketing side to the competition side has been great. We have a lot of good races on the schedule this year with a lot of good opportunities with a great team.”
— Corey Heim, Driver
Growing with 23XI Racing
Heim’s development with 23XI Racing began three years ago via a strategic deal designed to find the right marketing partners for a Cup Series drive. His rise on the track has been matched by careful management off it, with the team ensuring his skills and brand grow together. The only exception to his time with 23XI came in 2024, when he filled in at Legacy Motor Club for Erik Jones during two Cup Series races in the No. 43 Toyota.
Currently, 23XI Racing holds three full-time charters, all committed to established drivers, but created a part-time fourth entry in 2025 to provide Heim with enough Cup experience without committing him to a full schedule prematurely. His Cup performance last year drew attention, especially with a sixth-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway during the Bass Pro Shops Night Races—a highlight in the heart of the playoffs.
Even as he excelled in the Truck Series, breaking records and collecting wins, Heim maintained a diverse schedule across NASCAR’s three national series. He continued this multidivisional approach into 2026, including competition at EchoPark Speedway with Tricon Garage and support from Celsius, ensuring continual development in various racing disciplines.
“This is the most consistent my schedule has been throughout a year,”
— Corey Heim, Driver
“If you want to look at percentages of Cup versus Truck I’ve done throughout the years, this is the most consistent as far as that goes. Being in the same car week-in and week-out definitely helps, but at the same time, going to the Truck Series and O’Reilly Series will help me as a driver. I’ve never been opposed to mixing it up.”
— Corey Heim, Driver
Building Strong Marketing Partnerships
Success in the Cup Series depends not only on performance but also on forming productive partnerships. For Heim and 23XI Racing, Robinhood expanded its sponsorship entering 2026, starting with a major presence at the Daytona 500. Celsius also stepped up, becoming Heim’s primary supporter in key events, including their first race as a principal sponsor on one of his trucks.
“Last year, I was able to have a partnership with Celsius, but this is the first year they’ve had a primary on one of our trucks,”
— Corey Heim, Driver
“Celsius has been an awesome partner to have, and I feel like they’ve been helping me to be energized for my workouts and my routine. To have them as a key part of not only my daily life, but also as a primary on my racecar, makes sense and it’s a special feeling.”
— Corey Heim, Driver
With sponsors like Robinhood and Celsius, Heim is fueling his growth both on and off the racetrack. He recognizes that strong partnerships are an essential component for achieving long-term success as he looks to transition to a full-time NASCAR Cup Series role in the near future.
The Road Ahead for Corey Heim
With his versatile schedule across Cup, Truck, and O’Reilly Series events, Heim remains highly active and prepared for every challenge. His breakthrough 2025 season has given him the momentum to take on new opportunities, while his relationship with 23XI Racing, substantial growth in high-level competition, and key backing from brands like Robinhood and Celsius have set the stage for a potential breakout year in the Cup Series.
As Corey Heim and 23XI Racing look ahead, the strategy remains clear: continued development, sustained performance in every series, and vital partnerships will define Heim’s trajectory. Should both performance and supporting structures align, Corey Heim NASCAR Cup Series ambitions could soon be fully realized, marking the emergence of a new contender at the sport’s highest level.
