Corey Heim made a memorable mark at the inaugural NASCAR race at Naval Base Coronado. Despite twice crashing into the wall and damaging his tires in early runs, Heim’s No. 67 Toyota only gained speed. This resulted in the 23-year-old securing his first career Cup Series win in only his 13th start.
Coming from Marietta, Georgia, Heim proved his mettle on the challenging 16-turn, 3.4-mile street course on Coronado Island. “I’m speechless,” said Heim. “I had high expectations coming into this race. I just reset and went after it.” As the 2024 truck series champion, Heim is set to go full-time with 23XI Racing next season.
Heim’s strategic play led him to the front in the final three laps, overtaking his teammate Tyler Reddick. “I was able to stick with him, and with five laps to go, it was time to put some pressure on him,” Heim explained. This pressure prompted Reddick to make an error, allowing Heim to take the lead.
Bubba Wallace finished second, delivering a 1-2 finish for 23XI Racing, co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. Reddick experienced a setback with a flat tire and dropped to 25th place, narrowing his standings lead to eight points over Hamlin.
“Congratulations to Corey. I thought I was going to be able to hold him off there,” Reddick expressed. “It definitely stings. Really needed a good points day.”
This event marks the second inaugural street race in three years that yielded a first-time NASCAR Cup Series winner. Shane van Gisbergen previously achieved a similar feat at the 2023 Chicago Street Race. This year, Ty Gibbs and Carson Hocevar also joined the ranks of first-time winners, alongside Heim.
“Just crazy,” Heim reflected on his victory. Notable recognition came from peers including Kyle Larson, a two-time Cup champion who remarked, “Awesome job by Corey Heim. He’s a super talented race car driver. It’s neat to see someone get their first win at a challenging track.”
Zane Smith and AJ Allmendinger completed the top five finishers. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin finished 14th after a string of three consecutive wins.
Van Gisbergen’s Setback
Shane van Gisbergen faced challenges during the race. Despite starting in pole position, a collision involving his teammate Connor Zilisch and Austin Hill on a Lap 32 restart resulted in van Gisbergen finishing 38th. An incident led to significant damage, halting their strong performance.
“I felt like I was giving Austin space, and the next thing, I was in the wall,” Zilisch recounted. Though his rookie season has been tough, leading the first eight laps marked a highlight.
Driver Swap during Race
Christopher Bell exited his No. 20 Toyota during the first caution, replaced by Brent Crews. However, Crews’ stint was cut short by gearbox issues, leaving Bell to later clarify his exit as precautionary due to a previous wrist injury.
Jimmie Johnson’s Final Cup Start
In his last Cup race of 2026, Jimmie Johnson encountered a crash and finished 28th. Nonetheless, the seven-time series champion plans to return for the 2027 Daytona 500, potentially exploring other racing series.
Looking Ahead
NASCAR will continue its California tour, moving to Sonoma Raceway on June 28. Van Gisbergen, a formidable contender, had dominated Sonoma previously, leading 97 of 110 laps. Fans look forward to the challenges of the road course.