Ahead of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, 23XI Racing announced that the team has reached a multi-year contract with Corey Heim, who will serve as the first development driver for the NASCAR Cup Series organization.
The native of Georgia will also remain part of the Toyota Driver Development Program. The talented young racer will compete in select NASCAR Cup Series events this year in the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota, and Bootie Barker will serve as the crew chief for Heim and the No. 67 team.
Heim’s first NASCAR Cup Series start of 2025 will come at Kansas Speedway in May, the site of his career-best NASCAR Cup Series finish of 22nd, which came in a fill-in role with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB for the injured Erik Jones last season. Heim served as the reserve driver for both 23XI Racing and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB a season ago.
As part of the deal, Heim will also contest multiple NASCAR Xfinity Series events during the 2025 season with Sam Hunt Racing in a Toyota Supra GR, which will be supported by 23XI Racing.
Heim calls the partnership with 23XI Racing a dream come true.
“It’s a dream come true to be a part of 23XI, and I’m excited for the opportunity to race more Cup and Xfinity races this year. I’m blessed to have the chance to compete in all three series as I continue to set my sights on full-time Cup racing when that time comes,” said Heim. “The success that 23XI has shown in only a few short years has been impressive and I’m excited to learn from the organization. I’m also grateful to everyone at Toyota for their ongoing support in my development both on and off the track, and I look forward to strengthening that relationship for years to come.”
Heim, 22, is a 12-time race winner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series ranks, where he competes full-time as the driver of the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota Tundra. Heim got his feet wet in the NASCAR Cup Series behind the wheel of the No. 50 23XI Racing entry at Nashville Superspeedway, which helped build the foundation for Sunday morning’s announcement.
“Our team was fortunate to work with Corey last year and we look forward to growing our relationship with him as our development driver starting in 2025,” said Steve Lauletta, President of 23XI Racing. “Corey continues to prove he is a talented, hard-working driver, and we plan to make all the resources of 23XI available to support his development within the Toyota family as he progresses in NASCAR.”
In three previous NASCAR Cup Series starts, Heim has an average finish of 25.3, and he has three top-fives and five top-10s in 17 career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts.
