Caution after caution. The intensity of this race kept building, and as the laps ticked away, drivers like Bubba Wallace found themselves paying the price for others’ mistakes. Corey Heim, who was making his first NASCAR Cup Series appearance of the year, inadvertently became part of that growing tension. It all began with contact between Heim and Justin Haley, and from that moment, the chaos unfolded. Unfortunately for Heim, it was a rookie mistake that played a significant role in the incident.
The wreck involved several key drivers: Justin Haley, Erik Jones, Bubba Wallace, Michael McDowell, and Corey Heim. For Heim, a rookie in the series, the situation seemed to embody the dangers of restarts at Kansas. However, it also highlighted a common challenge faced by newcomers in the NASCAR world: the mistake-prone nature of those first few races. Was this just another rookie mistake, or the result of the chaotic nature of restarts at this track? Given the circumstances, it seemed more like a rookie mistake.
For Bubba Wallace, this incident was especially frustrating. Wallace, still winless this season, was in desperate need of points to keep his championship hopes alive. Coming into Kansas, where he had previously won a Cup race, many expected a strong showing from him. But the race was not kind to him, as he didn’t seem to have the speed that had carried him to victory in the past. Now, with a wrecked car and minimal points to show for it, Wallace’s situation had grown more dire. His team would now have to salvage whatever they could from the final 50 laps, though it seemed like an impossible task.
As for Corey Heim, it was clear that the 23XI Racing development driver had a steep learning curve ahead of him. When Heim replays the race in the coming days, he will undoubtedly see where he went wrong. The key mistake was putting himself in a position that led to trouble. Although Heim had no intention of causing a wreck, his actions were part of a chain reaction that took out Wallace and others. This was an important lesson for the young driver, one that he will no doubt take to heart as he looks to improve in future races.
Despite the setback, it’s important to recognize that Heim’s overall potential is undeniable. He is incredibly talented, and though his mistake was costly, it’s clear he has the ability to grow from it. As a driver still learning the ropes in the Cup Series, Heim’s experience in this race will prove invaluable. He’s shown an aptitude for learning, especially when it comes to feeling out a race track and adjusting to his car’s behavior over the course of an event. It’s clear that while he is still getting accustomed to the series, Heim has the skills to be a competitive driver moving forward.
This race, though disappointing for Wallace, had its moments of redemption for Heim. Despite the wreck, Heim avoided wrecking himself, and in the end, he made it to the finish line. That may seem like a small victory, but in a sport as unforgiving as NASCAR, it’s an accomplishment in itself. In fact, his P13 finish at Kansas was his best result in the Cup Series to date. For comparison, last year, Heim finished P22 in this same race while filling in for Erik Jones at Legacy Motor Club.
There is no question that Heim has talent. He’s shown he knows how to adapt to a race track, learn its nuances, and adjust his driving style throughout a race. While the Cup Series is a different animal entirely, and Heim is still adjusting to racing in it, the promise he has displayed so far is undeniable. His career-best finish in Kansas serves as proof that, with time and experience, he could become a serious contender.
It’s also important to note that, while Heim may have made a costly mistake today, his performance is a sign of his potential. It’s easy to forget that, for many drivers, learning the ropes in NASCAR takes time. Heim is no exception. As a development driver with 23XI Racing, he is still getting familiar with the intricacies of the Cup Series. But if his growth continues, it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a consistent and competitive force on the track.
If Heim does eventually become a full-time driver in the Cup Series, it won’t be long before people start expecting more from him. It’s a part of the territory: as a driver gets more experienced, the stakes get higher. In the future, Heim could easily be viewed as the next Carson Hocevar—someone with immense potential, but who will also be the subject of scrutiny with every incident or wreck they are involved in. It’s the price of being a young talent in the spotlight.
Heim’s future is undoubtedly bright, and while today was a lesson in the hard realities of racing, it’s only one chapter in what could be a very promising career. He’s shown he can handle the pressure, and with each race, his experience will grow. As he continues to learn from mistakes and refine his skills, there’s little doubt that Corey Heim has the makings of a successful Cup Series driver. For now, though, it’s about taking the lessons from Kansas and applying them to the next race. That’s the path forward, and Heim seems determined to walk it.
