A Calculated Road to the Cup
NASCAR reporter Jordan Bianchi recently sat down with the leadership of 23XI Racing to unpack the team’s deliberate plan for Corey Heim, a driver who has quickly become one of the most talked‑about names in the sport.
Heim arrives after a dominant stint in the Truck Series, where he posted a series‑record 12 victories, led over 1,600 laps and captured 23 stage wins, numbers that have earned him the label of a top prospect.
Rather than rushing the young talent, the organization, led by team owner Bubba Wallace and co‑owner Jordan Taylor, is taking a measured approach, slotting him into a limited Cup schedule this year before a full‑time seat in 2027.
Learning the Ropes
The 23XI third full‑time driver, Riley Herbst, struggled throughout 2025, failing to break into the top‑10 and highlighting the challenges of adapting to the premier series.
Heim will therefore run a dozen Cup races in 2026, using those miles to build chemistry with crew chiefs, understand race‑track nuances and accumulate the experience that the team believes will smooth his rookie transition.
By the time the 2027 season rolls around, the No. 35 entry should be a better‑prepared platform, giving Heim a stronger foundation to make an immediate impact.
Jordan Bianchi’s analysis underscores that the strategy is as much about building a sustainable program as it is about delivering results, a philosophy that could reshape how young talent is integrated in modern NASCAR.