Corey Heim captured his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in his 13th career start, pulling ahead of teammate Tyler Reddick in the closing laps of the San Diego race.
Corey Heim’s First Cup Win
Heed by 10.3 seconds, Heim finished ahead of teammate Bubba Wallace in second. Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports completed the podium in third.
Race Dynamics
Nineteen nine cars finished on the lead lap, while six drivers did not finish the event, including pole‑sitter Shane van Gisbergen, who was taken out of the field during a Lap‑32 restart pileup.
The event featured seven cautions and 20 lead changes involving 13 different drivers. Ryan Blaney won Stage 1, and Ryan Preece took Stage 2 in the strategy‑driven contest.
San Diego Race Highlights
The 2026 San Diego race added a new champion to the Cup Series landscape and set the stage for Corey Heim’s full‑time campaign in 2027.
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