Corey Heim surged to his first NASCAR Cup Series victory at Naval Base Coronado, pulling out an unheralded 13th‑start win that will see the 23XI Racing driver secured a full‑time seat in 2027.
Corey Heim Clinches First Cup Victory
The asphalt was uncooperative as the 13‑race streaker took control on the final green‑flag run, dispatching teammate Tyler Reddick near the checkered flag.
Heim’s 23XI entry earned a late lead that left even former Cup star Denny Hamlin stunned that it was “a real problem” for the series.
His triumph at this street course will accelerate his move to a full‑time roster for the 2027 season.
Bubba Wallace Reclaims Two Laps for Second Place
Wallace suffered a two‑lap penalty after losing a front wheel on an early stop, yet he clawed back both laps before finishing 23XI Racing’s second spot in a 1‑2 finish.
His resilience keeps both his Chase hopes and championship title contention alive.
Tyler Reddick Loses Valuable Points
Reddick’s final laps cost him 43 points—20 for trailing the lead and an additional 23 after a tire blew following contact with Heim.
This slump narrowed the gap to a once‑tight eight‑point chase with Denny Hamlin and exposed Reddick’s mistakes through qualifying, a mid‑race spin and the last‑lap altercation.
Ryan Preece Wins Stage Points, Christopher Bell Suffers Engine Failure
Preece, racing the No. 60 RFK Ford, collected 19 of 20 stage points, propelling him back into the top‑16 just five points from the Chase cutoff despite an 11th‑place finish.
Christopher Bell, meanwhile, pulled in a 23‑point failure in the three preceding weeks, including a wreck at Michigan, a fuel run issue at Pocono and an engine crack in San Diego that sends him outside the top ten.
Bell’s recent mishaps also put him at a disadvantage for the next road‑course showdown and an engine‑swap dilemma threatening his standing.
AJ Allmendinger, Kevin Magnussen Show Promise; Hill’s Restart Crash
Allmendinger’s top‑five finish at the coastal track, even without Chevrolet support, left him 21 points shy of the Chase, positioning him close to the cut line for next week’s road‑course event.
Debutants Magnussen and Hill were each partial standouts: Magnussen recorded a fastest lap, engaged in a bitter duel with Noah Gragson, and expressed a desire to return. Hill, however, turned an emotional Saturday win into a Sunday restart wreck that crashed several contenders.
Meanwhile, an intoxicated fan’s illegal run onto the track during the Saturday O’Reilly race led to his arrest, underscoring the importance of safety on a military base.
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