21-year-old rising star Corey Heim is NASCAR Cup Series bound… again.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular has been tapped to make another appearance at NASCAR’s top level this Summer, driving the No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE at Nashville Superspeedway (June 30).
“I’m very thankful for this opportunity I’ve been given by Mobil 1 to compete with 23XI in Nashville,” said Heim. “Through my time with Toyota, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people, including those from Mobil 1. We have seen this season how strong 23XI’s Camrys have been, which makes me even more excited to get behind the wheel in Nashville. I’m putting in the effort to be prepared for this opportunity and cannot wait to get on-track with the No. 50 Mobil 1 Toyota team in a few weeks.”
Heim is the second driver to get behind the wheel of the No. 50 this season, as long-time Toyota partner Mobil 1 celebrates its 50th anniversary with a three-race sponsorship of 23XI Racing’s third entry, which will run with three different drivers.
Kamui Kobayashi was the first driver to pilot the No. 50 Toyota Camry XSE this season, making his second NASCAR Cup Series start at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in March. The decorated road racer finished on the lead lap in 29th place.
“This year has been off to an incredible start as we continue to celebrate the brand’s 50th anniversary with strong racing talent like Corey Heim,” explains Rob Shearer, Director of Global Sponsorships and Marketing Services, on behalf of Mobil 1. “He continues to prove himself on track as he grows with his career and proves his commitment to the love of racing. Nashville is such a great market for the brand, and we are proud to partner with 23XI Racing for another event for the No. 50 Toyota. Drivers and racing fans know that quality products can help them and their team get the most out of their engine, and we are proud to add another driver to our motorsports legacy in the NASCAR Cup Series.”
A native of Marietta, Georgia, Heim has quickly become one of Toyota Racing Development’s top prospects, with his incredible results in the NASCAR Truck Series with TRICON Garage, and his success in limited Xfinity Series starts with Sam Hunt Racing.
“Our partnership with Mobil 1 continues to grow as we near two decades of collaboration,” adds Tyler Gibbs, general manager, TRD USA. “We are thrilled this relationship is giving Corey the opportunity to compete for 23XI Racing in Nashville. Throughout his time as a Toyota Development Driver, Corey has continued to grow as a driver in both the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series as he pursues excellence in his race craft with diligent work in the simulator, film study and through his training sessions at the Toyota Performance Center. He has truly earned this opportunity with Mobil 1 and 23XI, and we look forward to watching him compete against the top drivers in the sport.”
In January, Heim was announced as the reserve driver for NASCAR Cup Series teams LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and 23XI Racing. But, at the time of the announcement, there was no surefire indication of whether that deal would include any Cup Series starts. But, when Erik Jones sustained injuries in a gnarly multi-car accident at Talladega Superspeedway, Heim was called into action as the interim driver of the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE, making his series debut at Dover.
“We are excited for Corey to join the 23XI team in Nashville as he helps us celebrate our partners at Mobil 1 and its 50th anniversary,” shares Steve Lauletta, President of 23XI Racing. “Corey is undoubtedly an up-and-coming star, and we look forward to working with him as he prepares to race at Nashville. Mobil 1 has a history of working with some of the best young talent in racing, and I can’t think of a better person than Corey to drive the No. 50 Toyota at Nashville.”
With finishes of 25th (Dover) and 22nd (Kansas) on his NASCAR Cup Series resume thus far, Heim will look to improve upon his career-best result from Kansas, as he gets his first opportunity to work with 23XI Racing.
