Tempers were flaring at North Wilkesboro Speedway. In a dramatic turn of events at the 2025 Window World 250, Chandler Smith snatched the lead on the final lap, his second triumph in the Truck Series this season after his win at Bristol earlier. However, the focus was not on the No. 38 Ford that was celebrating in Victory Lane. Instead, the headlines were being dominated by another Front Row truck driven by Layne Riggs, which was involved in a crazy incident during NASCAR Overtime.
Despite Corey Heim’s heartbreak at North Wilkesboro, Denny Hamlin went on to back his 23XI Racing prodigy, who recently made a one-off Cup Series appearance in Kansas. Having secured three Truck Series wins already, could the No. 11 driver bounce back to Victory Lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway?
Denny Hamlin is full of praise for Heim
“You’re racing like a f-cking idiot,” said Corey Heim in a post-race confrontation at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The Tricon Garage driver issued a clear warning to Layne Riggs, going on to say, “Calm down or else someone’s going to take care of you.” It wasn’t just an empty threat, the Tricon Garage driver meant business after feeling robbed at North Wilkesboro. Having led 162 of 255 laps despite being on older tires, the Georgia native held strong until Riggs slid up the track and spun him out.
Sharing his thoughts on the incident on the Actions Detrimental podcast, Denny Hamlin said, “You understand from Heim’s side right? The kid is far more superior than his peers and performance right now. Frankly, if he was going up against better competition, he would win more races. He’s really just got taken out by circumstances, mechanicals, green light checkers or things like that. I think the frustration comes from there’s not an effort to actually try and pass anymore.”
Expressing strong support towards the 22-year-old, Denny Hamlin went on to say, “I think a lot of it is essentially Corey and these guys’ heads that they can’t beat him. They can’t beat him straight up. So they’re taking every opportunity to get as close to him as they can. They’re wrecking him. That’s the only short way I can put it.” There’s some truth to those words. Heim has already won at Daytona, Las Vegas, and Texas Motor Speedway this season and has finished third on three separate occasions.
WEST ALLIS, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 24: Corey Heim, driver of the #11 Safelite Toyota, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series The Milwaukee Mile at The Milwaukee Mile on August 24, 2024 in West Allis, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Going by his performances, it’s not surprising that Heim is first in the drivers’ standings. 10 races have already passed, and the Georgia native has led 656 laps with three pole finishes. However, despite the many positives, finishing 17th at North Wilkesboro would have hurt, and Denny Hamlin summed it up perfectly by saying, “These are race wins, right?. These are trophies being taken off the shelf. These are accomplishments. He’s not going to be in the Truck Series forever.” The 44-year-old will know a thing or two about missed opportunities, having missed out on the elusive Bill France Cup for nearly two decades despite coming agonizingly close on several occasions.
Kevin Harvick wants to see Heim in the Cup Series
Corey Heim has been one of NASCAR’s top prospects for a couple of seasons now. The Georgia native may not have a Truck Series title to his name yet, but he has come close on several occasions, finishing second last year. At 22, he has plenty of experience to make the transition into a Cup car, beyond the odd appearance for Legacy Motor Club or 23XI Racing. But why hasn’t Toyota pulled the trigger yet and put him in a formidable team?
That’s a question Kevin Harvick also asked recently in his Happy Hour podcast. The 2014 Cup Series winner said, “We’ve been talking about Corey Heim. I have no idea why he’s still in the Truck Series. I know he has nowhere to go, but somebody better find somewhere for him to go. They better find somewhere for him to go in a much bigger capacity than, you know, the eight, 10, 12 races that might be possible in that Cup car next year.”
If Toyota doesn’t take swift action, it’s well within the realm of possibility that Chevy or Ford may swoop in and poach the racer. It’s clear that Denny Hamlin isn’t the only one who rates Heim highly, with Harvick also saying, “He’s the total package. We don’t see these kids come in and do that good in a Cup car very often.” Could a full-time seat at NASCAR’s highest level be on the cards in 2026? Time will tell. But the time is right for Heim to make that transition once and for all.
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