Corey Heim to compete full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027
LEBANON, TENN. — Ahead of this weekend’s festivities at Nashville, Denny Hamlin and 23XI Racing announced their rising star, Corey Heim, will compete full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027.
He will take over the No. 35 from Riley Herbst next season. Team personnel and additional sponsors will be named at a later date.
Heim is the team’s current development driver and the reigning NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion.
The 23-year-old will make his tenth career Cup Series start this weekend and his third coming at Nashville Superspeedway.
The start will also mark his fifth of the season out of a planned twelve in their No. 67 open entry.
Words from the Group
“Since I was five years old, all I ever wanted was to be a Cup driver. My family and I have sacrificed a ton to get me to this level, and I don’t take that for granted.” said Corey.
“When the opportunity came up to be a development driver with 23XI Racing, I trusted my gut and knew this was the place I wanted to build a long-term career.”
“From everyone at 23XI to the team at TOYOTA RACING, I’ve been blessed to have support from so many people along the way. I can’t wait for the 2027 season to begin.”
“We’re excited to welcome Corey to our full-time roster next season and look forward to watching him race every weekend in 2027,” said 23XI co-owner, Denny Hamlin.
“Corey is a gifted driver who is continuing to get better and better with each race he runs. He has a bright future in the sport and joins a team that is continuing to build a solid foundation.”
While Hamlin looked forward to having his rising star join the team full-time, he took a moment to thank Riley Herbst for his contributions.
“We’re thankful to Riley for all he has done to help get the 35 team going and appreciate the work that he and the team will continue to do this season to be competitive each week.”
“As 23XI continues to grow and evolve, we’re excited to introduce Corey as a full-time driver in 2027,” said Steve Lauletta, 23XI Team President.
“He has already been a valuable member of the team as our development driver, and we’re eager for his Cup Series career to begin next season. Expanding to three cars last year was a major step for our team, and we look forward to 23XI’s continued evolution with Corey behind the wheel full time.”
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Ryan Kemna View All
Ryan Kemna is a photojournalist for The Racing Experts, LLC. He has been with TRE since 2025.
Currently residing in the Minneapolis, MN, area, Kemna brings his passion for motorsports, photography, and a good story to readers.