NASCAR Rumors: Insider names 23XI Racing's top candidate for 2025 over Corey Heim

The NASCAR Cup Series 23XI Racing team, co-owned by NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and Joe Gibbs Racing #11 driver Denny Hamlin has been under speculation for attaining a third charter for the 2025 season. While Corey Heim is reportedly the initial choice for 23XI, Fox Sports journalist Bob Pockrass has revealed another contender for the seat.

Stewart-Haas Racing announced earlier this year that it would exit NASCAR at the end of this season. This decision has allowed other Cup Series teams to acquire their charters for the 2025 season.

23XI has been widely expected to fill a third Cup Series charter for the upcoming year. Truck Series #11 driver Corey Heim, has been one of several contenders rumored to fill the third seat at 23XI. Heim has proved his mettle in the Truck Series this season, as he sits P2 in the driver standings. However, Pockrass has named another driver as the "top candidate" for 23XI Racing's third charter.

In a recent story on Fox Sports, Pockrass claims Xfinity Series driver Riley Herbst would be more likely to join 23XI Racing next year, instead of Corey Heim. Referring to his article, Pockrass shared a post on X:

"As I've written in this piece, Riley Herbst top candidate to 23XI next year with Monster relationship/funding ... at this time, would expect Corey Heim to continue to race trucks w/select Xfinity and Cup races next year."

Herbst pilots the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang in the Xfinity Series for Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR). Pockrass believes that Herbst's relationship with Monster Energy can be a decisive factor in filling the seat at 23XI. He is currently ranked P7 in the Xfinity driver standings, with 560 points. Although winless this season, Herbst has finished in P2 twice at Talladega and Iowa respectively.

23XI Racing currently runs two charters in the Cup Series, driving the Toyota Camry XSE. 23XI's #23 team is driven by Bubba Wallace, and their #45 team is driven by Tyler Reddick. Wallace has not yet signed a contract for next year, while Tyler Reddick will remain with 23XI Racing until 2026. Furthermore, Reddick has qualified for the playoffs and is P3 in the driver standings, right ahead of co-owner Denny Hamlin.

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"Not a race shop" - 23XI Racing's co-owner shares his thoughts on the newly built Airspeed Facility

Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan recently opened a new independent facility named Airspeed for the 23XI Racing Team.

Covering a massive 114,000 square feet, the design of the building is inspired by both Hamlin and Jordan's careers. The facility is not just a working space for their cars but also features a high-tech gym, racing simulators, and Hamlin's favorite spot, the cafe.

Hamlin shared his thoughts on the facility and what it represents. He said via NASCAR:

"This is not a race shop. It’s a place where we work, yes, we put cars on the track, but it’s so much more than that. Would you say sitting right here, we’re in a race shop? No, it certainly doesn’t feel that way. So I think what we were in — in Mooresville, in the old Germain (Racing) building — was a race shop and a garage. This is not. This is something that is different, and so it needs to be named appropriately.”