"He has earned it through results": Denny Hamlin promises total commitment to Corey Heim for Nashville

Denny Hamlin has promised to provide Corey Heim with the best car for his third Cup race this year at Nashville Superspeedway, without adding any pressure. The 23XI Racing co-owner said that he wants Heim to enjoy himself and assured that one result would not jeopardize anything for him.

Corey Heim, now in his fourth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, has won four races in just 12 starts this year, driving the #11 for Tricon Garage. Additionally, Heim debuted in the Cup series this year with Legacy Motor Club, driving the #43. He competed in the Wurth 400 at Dover and the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas, finishing P25 and P22, respectively.

Following Heim's race in Kansas, 23XI Racing, along with Mobil 1 and TRD, announced in May 2024 that the 21-year-old will be driving the #50 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE at the NASCAR Cup Series event at Nashville Superspeedway on June 30.

Denny Hamlin recently commented on this development in a media talk with journalist Bob Pockrass:

"You don't want him to feel the pressure going out there. [...] We're going to provide him a very fast car. We feel confident in that and so I think you know we've seen him be able to go to the next level and be competitive right from the get go so you know, nothing would surprise me, but also... I don't have any set expectations for him. I just want him to enjoy it."

When Pockrass further inquired about the possibility of Corey Heim being considered to join an expanded 23XI Racing team, in case the team buys a new charter, and whether this could pressure him, Hamlin responded:

"I talked to Corey [Heim] a little bit about that understanding that his future doesn't rely on a week to week basis. He's young enough and establishing up and he's winning enough on Friday and Saturday to know that he's capable of doing it, right?"

"So, I don't think that any one result would question, make him question his abilities. That kind of confidence and someone that young is very hard to come by but he's earned it through results," he added.

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Corey Heim's NASCAR journey so far

Corey Heim entered the NASCAR Craftsman Cup Series scene in 2021 with Kyle Busch Motorsports, where he drove the #51 Toyota for three races. He finished P23, P18, and P11, at Darlington, Watkins Glen International, and Martinsville, respectively.

In 2022, Corey Heim won his first race at the Fr8 208 in Atlanta, followed by another win at Gateway. The momentum continued into 2023 when Heim secured a full-time ride in the Truck Series, driving the #11 Toyota for Tricon Garage. Within two years, Heim has accumulated seven wins in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Corey Heim made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut in 2023, driving the #24 Toyota for Sam Hunt Racing in four races, with a best finish of 10th at Darlington. Heim returned to Sam Hunt Racing this season, moving over to the No. 26 car for eight races and earning two top-5 finishes, including a third-place result at Iowa Raceway.

Corey Heim also finished P10 in the most recent event, the SciApps 200 at New Hampshire, as he gears up for competition in both the Truck and Cup Series slated for Nashville.

Heim is currently ranked P2 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver standings with 475 points, 97 out of the lead.