Corey Heim Dominates as Part-Time Driver
Corey Heim clinched the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in his fifteenth Cup Series start, becoming the first part‑time driver since 1987 to secure multiple victories in a season. A 24‑year‑old 23XI Racing rookie, Heim passed boss Denny Hamlin and held off Christopher Bell to finish 3:08:20.414, a win that marks him as the youngest Brickyard 400 champion since Jeff Gordon in 1994.
Race Highlights
After winning Stage 1, Ty Gibbs led the early pack, only to see Ross Chastain take the lead in Stage 2. Heim’s final gap to Bell was a mere 0.287 seconds, with Patrick Star Gaming’s Logano the third fastest at 3:08:21.386. Briscoe, Hamlin, and Keselowski followed in positions four through six, while the field remained tightly packed throughout the 160‑lap sprint.
Full Field Summary
- 1st – Corey Heim (23XI Racing, 3:08:20.414)
- 2nd – Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing, 0.287 s behind)
- 3rd – Joey Logano (Team Penske, 0.972 s behind)
- 4th – Jordan Briscoe (Joe Gibbs Racing, 5.720 s behind)
- 5th – Denny Hamlin (Joe Gibbs Racing, 6.120 s behind)
- 6th – Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing, 6.805 s behind)
- 7th – Johnny S. Berry (Wood Brothers Racing, 7.513 s behind)
- 8th – Ryan Preece (RFK Racing, 8.471 s behind)
- 9th – Christian Hocevar (Spire Motorsports, 9.072 s behind)
- 10th – Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing, 10.338 s behind)
Out of 39 starters, 31 remained on the lead lap by the time the checkered flag flew, leaving only six drivers unable to finish the event. The race’s competitive spread, coupled with Heim’s record for a part‑time entrant, points to a season that could shift traditional driver‑role expectations for the Cup Series.
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