Corey Heim Triumphs in Inaugural NASCAR Naval Base Coronado Race

Corey Heim overcame multiple challenges on his way to victory in the first NASCAR race at Naval Base Coronado. Despite slamming into the wall twice and damaging his tires in the initial laps, Heim’s No. 67 Toyota increased in speed, propelling him to his first Cup Series win in only his 13th start.

At 23, the part-time driver from Marietta, Georgia paused during the race’s second half to reinforce his experience on the 16-turn, 3.4-mile course on Coronado Island. He said, “I’m speechless. Maybe I knocked some good into the car. I have no idea. I had high expectations coming into this race. I just reset and went after it.”

Heim, who secured the 2024 truck series championship, is set to move full-time into the Cup next season with 23XI Racing. He led the final three laps after overtaking teammate Tyler Reddick. Heim stated, “I was able to stick with him, and five to go came, and it was time to put some pressure on him and see if I could get him to make a mistake.”

Bubba Wallace finished second, ensuring a 1-2 finish for 23XI Racing, the team owned by Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan. Reddick, suffering a flat tire in the last laps, dropped to 25th, impacting his standings lead.

“To even have a shot at it at the end was really nice. First and foremost, congratulations to Corey. I thought I was going to be able to hold him off there. It definitely stings,” Reddick commented.

This marks the second time in three years that a first-time winner emerged from an inaugural street race in the Cup Series. Shane van Gisbergen won at the Chicago Street Race in 2023. Heim joins Ty Gibbs and Carson Hocevar as first-time Cup winners this season.

“Just crazy. I hope I don’t wake up from this dream,” Heim reflected.

Kyle Larson, after finishing third, praised Heim, saying, “Awesome job by Corey Heim. He’s a super talented race car driver, and it’s neat to see somebody get their first win, especially at a challenging track like this.”

Zane Smith and AJ Allmendinger completed the top five. Denny Hamlin, who had been victorious in the last three races for Joe Gibbs Racing, concluded in 14th place.

SVG Stunner

Van Gisbergen aimed for his eighth road or street course victory but ended in 38th place. Starting from the pole, he was part of a nine-car crash initiated by a collision between Trackhouse Racing’s Connor Zilisch and Austin Hill.

Zilisch, who led the first eight laps of his Cup career, stated, “I felt like I was giving Austin space, and the next thing, I was in the wall.”

Driver Swap

During an early caution, Brent Crews replaced Christopher Bell in the No. 20 Toyota. However, a gearbox issue shortly after forced Crews to exit. Bell, recovering from a previous injury, clarified the exit was a precaution.

Johnson’s Last Cup Run

Jimmie Johnson, in his second and final Cup race for the 2026 season, collided with a tire barrier and finished 28th. Despite this, he looks forward to the 2027 Daytona 500 as potentially his last race in the Cup Series.

Upcoming Race

NASCAR remains in California, heading to Sonoma Raceway on June 28. Last season, van Gisbergen dominated the road course, leading 97 of 110 laps.

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