A determined Xfinity Series racer recently defended his strategic decision during the Atlanta race, stating, “It was in my best interest to try to stay high.” The Coke Zero Sugar 400, held just two weeks prior, took the NASCAR community by surprise with unexpected alliances on the track. Notably, Ford driver Harrison Burton received an unexpected assist from Parker Retzlaff, a competitor driving a Chevrolet, to secure his victory. This move was especially surprising given the fact that another Chevrolet driver, Kyle Busch, was close by, yet the usual brand loyalties were ignored.
A similar situation played out at the recent Xfinity race. This time, a driver chose to prioritize his own chances of winning rather than support his Toyota counterpart from Joe Gibbs Racing. Even though the move didn’t pay off with a win, Denny Hamlin came forward to express his backing for the decision, highlighting that sometimes racers must look out for their own interests.
Denny Hamlin Defends Against Accusations of Betrayal
Currently, one of the most promising young talents in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is Corey Heim. With 5 wins to his name and sitting 3rd in the points standings, Heim has already started making appearances in other NASCAR divisions, showcasing his versatility. For instance, he piloted the No. 50 Toyota for 23XI Racing at Nashville, where he left a positive impression on veteran driver Denny Hamlin.
So, when Heim found himself battling his fellow Toyota driver, Chandler Smith, for a win at the Focused Health 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hamlin was quick to come to his defense. In Hamlin’s eyes, Heim was doing what was best for his own race. “If I could sum it up, I think he was making the best move he could for himself,” Hamlin explained.
At the end of the race, Heim had two choices: assist Smith or focus on his own chances of victory. On his podcast, Actions Detrimental, Hamlin discussed the situation, explaining that Smith’s position had been shaky from the start. “Chandler kind of got underneath Austin in a very weird place in the middle of 3 and 4. At that time it’s like, there’s not gonna be enough momentum that he can pass him.” Given this, Heim’s decision to prioritize his own race made sense. Hamlin elaborated, “It’s very rare, if not none, that a 3rd-place guy, say there’s no affiliation, would choose the bottom car unless it was a direct teammate. Corey then went to the high side, pushed Austin, passed Chandler.”
Even though Austin Hill later forced Heim into the wall, pushing him back to 5th place, Hamlin remained supportive. He pointed out that Heim didn’t owe anything to Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) or Toyota in this situation. “I think that Corey doesn’t have any alliance or allegiance to JGR, and JGR doesn’t have any allegiance to Corey. So he’s gonna do what he thinks he can do to win the race. I thought he made the best move to do that.” Heim himself later explained that his decision was guided by his commitment to his own team.
Team Loyalty at the Forefront
As Hamlin suggested, Corey Heim’s allegiance lies with his team, Sam Hunt Racing, rather than Joe Gibbs Racing, even though they both race Toyotas. Since joining the Xfinity Series in 2019, Sam Hunt Racing has secured 26 top-10 finishes and 11 top-five finishes. However, a win has remained elusive for the team. Heim, dedicated to changing that, came tantalizingly close to claiming that victory in Atlanta.
Heim’s mindset during the race was shaped by his drive to help Sam Hunt Racing reach new heights. “Any kind of laps at any kind of track and car I can get into is pretty crucial for my development. That’s what I am here to do, to help Sam Hunt Racing find speed and I think we had a win today internally but certainly wanted the big one, just wasn’t meant to be,” Heim said after the race. His team owner, Sam Hunt, echoed Heim’s optimism, expressing excitement over the progress they’ve made. “I think we’ve made a ton of improvements on our (superspeedway) cars, hybrid package cars… We obviously love Corey and want to see him racing on Sundays.”
Clearly, Heim’s move was not an act of disloyalty toward Toyota, but rather a demonstration of his dedication to his team. And with the support of figures like Denny Hamlin, there’s little doubt that Corey Heim’s future in NASCAR, especially in 2025, looks bright.
