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The Corey Heim<\/a> NASCAR Cup Series era may have to wait a little while longer according to the latest rumors inside the sport.
<\/b><\/p>\n \nHeim has been terrific again in 2025, topping the Truck Series<\/a> regular-season standings after an outstanding campaign which has brought him seven race wins.
<\/p>\n \nIt is the 23XI development driver’s future in Cup Series racing<\/a> which has fans really excited, though, with the rising star displaying a ton of potential so far in his career.
<\/p>\n \n23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin himself has even said that Heim is a cert to be a Cup Series regular for the team in the future.
<\/p>\n \nHowever, anybody hoping to see the 23-year-old make the switch from Trucks to the Cup Series in 2026 looks likely to be disappointed, with a different scenario likely to play out, according to reports.
<\/p>\n \nNASCAR HEADLINES:<\/b> Hamlin addresses 23XI lawsuit distraction as driver set to miss multiple races<\/a>
<\/p>\n Corey Heim 2026 plans<\/p>\n \nThe Athletic insider Jordan Bianchi writes<\/a>: \u201cThe likely plan for Heim, according to industry sources, is a combination schedule where he runs select races in all three national series – in the Cup Series for 23XI Racing, in the O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts Series [formerly Xfinity Series] for Sam Hunt Racing and in the Truck Series for Tricon.\u201d
<\/p>\n \nBianchi goes on to say that while insiders believe Heim is absolutely ready for the full-time jump into Cup Series racing, there are blockers to that move right now.
<\/p>\n Cup Series blockers in 2026<\/p>\n \n\u201cThis is not necessarily what Heim deserves, as most everyone within the Cup Series garage acknowledges he is ready for a full-time ride now, but a combination of no open seats in Cup and a lack of sponsorship means he\u2019ll have to wait until 2027 before advancing to Cup full-time – which is expected to happen.”
<\/p>\n \nIf the right funding is secured, Heim could yet race full-time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series next season, Bianchi notes, but it appears that a full-time Cup move is off the table.
<\/p>\n \nHeim will begin his Truck Series run on Saturday (August 30) at Darlington, with the action getting underway at noon Eastern Time (FS1).
<\/p>\n \nThe good news for fans who are YouTube TV subscribers is that they WILL now be able to catch the action on that platform as well. This after YouTube brokered a temporary deal with FOX<\/a><\/b> when its existing contract ran out on Wednesday.
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