Kyle Busch’s Former Driver Exposes His NASCAR Team’s Flawed Approach Detrimental to His Recent Fortunes

The rivalry between Toyota and Chevrolet as the Original Equipment Manufactures for NASCAR teams is nothing new. Chevrolet has enjoyed a successful relationship with Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing since the beginning. On the other hand, Joe Gibbs Racing has been fielding Toyotas since 2008, a year after TRD entered the Cup Series. 

But when Kyle Busch moved from Joe Gibbs Racing to join Richard Childress Racing at the beginning of the 2023 season, the Japanese manufacturer witnessed the departure of a champion from its roster of drivers. However, it was not just Kyle Busch who made a move from Toyota to Chevrolet. Buch also switched his Craftsman Truck Series team’s OEM supplier to Chevrolet. 

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When Kyle Busch switched to Chevrolet—the manufacturer he started his racing career with—the President of Toyota Racing Development, David Wilson, acknowledged that Busch had been the ambassador for the manufacturer since 2008 and is the record holder for the most number of victories for Toyota. His switch to Chevrolet was a heavy blow to suppliers. 

But it is not just the suppliers who faced the jolt, but also John Hunter Nemechek and Corey Heim. The young drivers used to drive for Kyle Busch Motorsports but were signed under Toyota, thus forcing them to move out of the team. Heim, in his interview with Forbes, revealed that Busch signing with RCR instantly changed the whole scenario and made his future quite uncertain. But Toyota made sure that both the drivers had “secured a top ride.” 

Both drivers joined Toyota-backed Tricon Garage this year. The transition so far has been smooth for Corey Heim. However, when looking back and comparing both teams, Heim opines, “Coming from KBM last year, it’s a different kind of vibe. KBM is very oriented in what they’ve been successful with in the past. Tricon is more innovative and they’ve been very open to change just because the last couple of years haven’t been as good as they wanted it to be.”

He also comments on the fact that his crew chief Scott Zippadeli has been open to changes and has been transparent regarding the development of the team. A trait that entices him the most.

Although he had two wins last season, driving for KBM, according to Heim, “It’s just being open and innovative. […] KBM brought really fast trucks, but we just ran the same from the start to the end of the year. We were fast and in contention, but we never went out and dominated a race. With Tricon, they’ve been innovative and they’ve made changes to become a championship-caliber team,” Heim added.

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Corey Heim is proving his caliber as a Truck Series driver and also at the Xfinity Series

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While the environment at Tricon is vastly different, Corey Heim has proved his caliber in the ongoing season and is considered the leader within his team at Tricon Garage. Although he missed his race at the World Wide Technology Raceway, due to health issues, the #11 Toyota Truck driver sits as the points leader, with a 26-point lead over Ty Majeski.

But it is not just at Truck Series, the 20-year-old also found a ride in the Xfinity Series, making his debut with Sam Hunt Racing at the Dover Motor Speedway, where he was embroiled in an argument with Parker Kligerman after making contact with him during the race. Heim also had his second stint in the Xfinity series, he drove Sam Hunt’s #24 car and finished 10th. During the interview, he added, “Xfinity racing has brought more longer runs and more dynamic racing…I feel like I learned more in my first two starts than I have in any other two starts that I can narrow down.”

It is always refreshing to see the young drivers getting their breakthroughs in the race. By showing his potential in both Truck Series and the Xfinity Series, Corey Heim is surely a fan favorite which makes him more eligible to take away the championship home.  

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