Has NASCAR finally found its next new superstar? Well, if you ask Denny Hamlin, he certainly seems to think so, even considering the prodigy for a place in 23XI Racing! With the team owner stating that “23XI is interested in getting a charter deal done”, conversations are rife about who that third exciting prospect could be. And, so far, a lot of drivers have stood up to the occasion. But the most mentioned has certainly been a 22-year-old Truck driver, currently sitting second in the standings, with a staggering five wins!

Corey Heim has undoubtedly been on a roll this season, putting him smack-dab in the middle of speculations if he’s going to join NASCAR’s top-tier anytime soon. And, as per a recent conversation with Kenny Wallace, Hamlin certainly thinks he’s leading the run up toward glory!

Denny Hamlin knows it’s ‘Heim Time’!

Kenny Wallace is known for drumming up conversations on matters people like to hear. And recently he did exactly that when he asked the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, “I see 23XI, your team that you and Michael Jordan own. And Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick almost won the race this week in Chicago. But I see this, Corey Heim. Is he the next big thing, Corey Heim? What’s your take on Corey Heim?”

At first glance, this seems like an ordinary question, without much thought given to how Wallace mentioned Heim and 23XI Racing in the same sentence. But, one cannot ignore that Heim is serving as a reserve driver for the team (and also Legacy Motor Club) in the current season. As per the team’s official website, this has given him “a shot at competing in the team’s third part-time entry.” And how far is that future when a part-time driver converts into full-time one, if he shows he’s capable enough?

Speaking about the future, the three-time Daytona 500 couldn’t have been clearer about what lays ahead for the #11 driver.

“I think he is wise beyond his age; he is 21 years old, and he drives like he’s 35,” the 43-year-old said, before adding, “I just see a lot of real big potential with him. I mean, his racecraft—I mean, I was 21 years old; I was bending up fenders on my mini stock. I mean, I wasn’t nearly where he is, you know, in my career at his age.”

For the unversed, this season alone, the Tricon Garage racer has stayed above a Top-10 finish in 12 out of 14 starts and clinched a podium finish in 10 races! His only lackluster finish was a P28 at Darlington despite winning both stages (that too, because of a multi-car wreck) and a P36 finish at Charlotte, after a post-race inspection stripped him off a runner-up finish. As for his Cup Series runs, the driver finished P29 at Nashville. Being with 23XI Racing means that he is getting the attention he needs, and so far the executives at the 23XI shop couldn’t be happier with him.

“23XI certainly likes Cory. We got to run him at at Nashville just a few weeks ago. He legitimately drove up right to the top 10…so yes I I think he is someone that is going to win a ton of races and championships in NASCAR in the future,” the veteran driver said in a clear testament to Heim’s talent behind the wheel, while also revealing why the latter’s Cup future is guaranteed. “You know, Toyota has invested a lot of money in Corey’s development. I think they are going to continue to do that, to want to see him in the Cup Series.” Toyota Racing Development, already renowned for giving NASCAR some top prospects (remember, Erik Jones and Ben Rhodes?) signed Corey Heim into its racing developmental program this year.

The future is certainly looking bright for the #11. And not just Denny Hamlin, even more NASCAR insiders have noticed that!

Corey Heim continues to shine

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Earlier this year, the NASCAR top prospect substituted for LMC driver Erik Jones after the latter suffered a back injury. And even though Corey Heim finished in a measly P25 owing to pit lane issues, journalist Lee Spencer had nothing but praise.

On an episode of PRN’s Fast Talk podcast, Spencer noted: “I got to interview Corey Heim afterwards, and I really believe that for a 21-year-old kid to get thrown into the fire like that, he did an admirable job. This is one of the toughest pit roads to navigate in the entire sport. It certainly was a challenge for him,” before adding, “Just bringing that car home in one piece, I think he did what he set out to do.”

Starting the race at P32, Heim faced his first setback when he lost two laps after a caution came out on Lap 322 for Ricky Stenhouse Jr in the middle of a pit cycle. He also lost another lap further in the race when Tyler Reddick jolted him out of pit lane. But still, many (including Heim himself) will agree that it’s quite a solid finish for a debutant.

“I really feel emotional. I feel like I’ve worked so hard for this moment, and to be where I ended up is unfortunate. But I worked my butt off to be there, and it’s a really cool moment for me,” he said in a post-race interview.

Given how suddenly Heim was roped in for his first race, he also talked about the experience altogether, saying, “I feel like it’s a big change compared to what I’m used to. But really in the beginning to middle of the race, I thought we had a ton of speed. We were beating the guys that finished like 15th to 20th all day, so, I feel like that is where we were supposed to end up.” In another run with the Jimmie Johnson-owned team at Kansas, the youngster clinched a P22 finish.

Despite the Cup results so far, it seems, Hamlin’s prophecy might come true. Or at least that’s what the NASCAR community is expecting. What’s your opinion on the matter?