Corey Heim Earns First NASCAR Cup Victory at Naval Base Coronado

Monday, June 22, 2026

Corey Heim captured his first NASCAR Cup Series win at the debut race on the new street course at Naval Base Coronado, overcoming early setbacks to outpace teammates and competitors. His victory secures a full-time Cup Series ride with 23XI Racing next season and tightens the championship points race as the series moves on to Sonoma Raceway.

Corey Heim secured his first NASCAR Cup Series victory Sunday at the inaugural race held at Naval Base Coronado in Coronado, California. The 23-year-old part-time driver from Marietta, Georgia, outpaced his 23XI Racing teammate and current points leader Tyler Reddick on the 16-turn, 3.4-mile street course just south of downtown San Diego. Heim took the lead from Reddick with two laps remaining, eventually finishing 10.365 seconds ahead of second-place Bubba Wallace, who completed a 1-2 finish for the team co-owned by driver Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan.

Heim, who is the 2024 Truck Series champion, will move into a full-time Cup ride next season with 23XI Racing. Despite hitting the wall twice early in the race and damaging his tires, Heim’s No. 67 Toyota improved steadily, allowing him to remain competitive and ultimately seize the win in only his 13th Cup start. “I’m speechless,” Heim said after the race. “I just reset and went after it.”

Reddick, who started from the rear due to unapproved adjustments on his car, struggled late in the race when a flat tire dropped him from the lead to a 25th-place finish. His reduced performance narrowed his points lead over Hamlin to eight points in the series standings. Reddick acknowledged the setback, congratulating Heim but expressing disappointment at his own result. Hamlin finished 14th after winning the previous three races for Joe Gibbs Racing earlier this season.

The race was marked by a significant crash on lap 32 involving pole-sitter Shane Van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing rookie Connor Zilisch, and Austin Hill. The incident triggered a nine-minute red flag as officials repaired the wall. Van Gisbergen, aiming for an eighth road or street course victory to become the active leader in that category among Cup drivers, was forced to retire in 38th place. Zilisch, competing in his debut season, also suffered a challenging race following his involvement in the crash.

Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, making only his second and final start of the season, crashed after missing a chicane and finished 28th. Johnson has confirmed plans for the 2027 Daytona 500 to be his final Cup race but remains open to competing in other racing series.

Sunday’s race replaced the Chicago Street Race on the Cup schedule, which had been run over the Fourth of July weekend the past three years. Organizers have indicated the possibility of the Chicago event returning in 2027. NASCAR will next compete at Sonoma Raceway on June 28.