Corey Heim is undoubtedly one of the top Toyota prospects today, while Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is the premier Toyota team in NASCAR. On the surface, it seems like a perfect fit for the two to collaborate. However, despite this seemingly natural alignment, Heim and JGR have not joined forces, and it looks like they won’t be working together anytime soon. The root of the issue stems from an old feud that took place during the 2021 ARCA Menards Series season.
The rivalry between Heim and Ty Gibbs, the grandson of Joe Gibbs, was no secret. Both drivers were fiercely competitive, battling each other for the ARCA championship that year. Their on-track clashes produced some of the most entertaining and heated racing moments of the season. However, their intense rivalry also led to a string of incidents that exacerbated tensions between the two young drivers. In a season that saw several confrontations, things boiled over when Gibbs spun Heim out to take the victory at Winchester Speedway.
Beyond their racing incidents, their rivalry spilled into post-race interviews. Early in the season, Gibbs was quick to call out Heim on multiple occasions. Eventually, Heim started to fire back, while Gibbs deflected questions about their rivalry by responding with religious references. It’s hard to say whether one driver was more in the right than the other. Both were young, talented, and full of competitive fire. At just 18 years old, neither driver had fully matured, and their aggressive racing reflected their age and the high stakes of the championship battle.
Fast forward to today, and the prevailing belief in the NASCAR garage is that this feud is the reason Heim has not, and will not, drive for JGR in the Xfinity Series. While it’s unclear whether this decision is more driven by Heim’s reluctance or JGR’s refusal, many suspect the feud plays a major role. Considering JGR has had 12 different drivers in their Xfinity cars this year, it’s surprising that Heim hasn’t had the chance to drive for them, especially given his talent and success. Some might argue that Heim doesn’t bring the necessary financial backing, but that argument seems weak given that he didn’t even get the opportunity to fill in when Aric Almirola was suspended.
The bigger question is why Toyota hasn’t intervened in this situation. With Heim’s impressive resume, which includes 10 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series wins and a strong chance at the championship this season, he’s clearly ready to move up the ranks. In fact, he nearly secured a win for Sam Hunt Racing in a partial Xfinity schedule at Atlanta Motor Speedway. While Sam Hunt Racing is a solid team, it’s not on the same level as JGR, and Heim deserves a top-tier opportunity.
Heim’s potential future in the Cup Series could involve Toyota-affiliated teams like 23XI Racing or Legacy Motor Club. He’s already made starts for both organizations, but their future is uncertain. With the ongoing charter dispute, 23XI’s future remains unclear, and Legacy Motor Club’s current performance makes it a less-than-ideal landing spot for a rising star like Heim. If Toyota doesn’t step in and facilitate a resolution, they risk losing Heim to another manufacturer, a fate they’ve faced with several top prospects in the past.
Given the history between Heim and Gibbs, it’s time for Toyota to organize a meeting between the two drivers and the Gibbs family. Both Heim and Ty Gibbs have matured significantly since their ARCA days, and it’s time to put their past behind them. While there may have been some additional behind-the-scenes drama, it’s unlikely that anything irreparable occurred between them. Other NASCAR drivers have had far worse altercations and later worked together. Take Kyle Busch and Richard Childress, for example, who famously had a physical altercation but now collaborate. Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace also had their issues but now work together at 23XI Racing. Even Dale Earnhardt Jr., who had feuds with drivers like Busch and Kevin Harvick, managed to bring them onto his podcast to mend fences.
There’s no reason Heim and Gibbs can’t do the same. They don’t need to become friends, but they should recognize that racing is a business, and in this business, it makes sense for them to be teammates. They can focus on their jobs and let their personal relationships exist outside of the racetrack. If they can’t reconcile, it sets a troubling precedent for JGR. Will every driver who has a run-in with Gibbs be blacklisted from the team? What happens if Chase Briscoe bumps Gibbs out of a playoff spot—will he lose his shot at driving for JGR?
Ultimately, it’s time for Heim and Gibbs to make peace and move forward. Their rivalry made for exciting racing in 2021, and as teammates, they could bring that same intensity to the NASCAR Cup Series. The fanbase would certainly appreciate more of that kind of action.
Fire on Fridays: It’s Time for Corey Heim & The Gibbs Family To Make Up Already
