Corey Heim displayed remarkable resilience during the inaugural NASCAR race at Naval Base Coronado. Despite crashing twice, his performance in the No. 67 Toyota improved, leading him to his first-ever Cup Series victory in only his 13th race. The 23-year-old driver from Marietta, Georgia, possessed the required calmness to focus during the race’s second half, realizing his experience matched that of seasoned veterans.
I’m speechless. Maybe I knocked some good into the car. I have no idea. I had high expectations coming into this race. I just reset and went after it.
Heim won the 2024 truck series championship and plans to join Cup full-time next season with 23XI Racing. In this race, Heim led the final three laps after overtaking his teammate, Tyler Reddick.
Bubba Wallace secured second place, ensuring a 1-2 finish for 23XI Racing, co-owned by Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan. Reddick faced challenges, suffering a flat tire and ending up 25th, reducing his lead in the standings to eight points over Hamlin.
This event marked the second time in three years that a first-time winner emerged in an inaugural street race within NASCAR’s premier series. Shane van Gisbergen achieved similar success in the 2023 Chicago Street Race. Heim joined Ty Gibbs and Carson Hocevar as first-time Cup winners this season.
Just crazy. I hope I don’t wake up from this dream.
Kyle Larson, a two-time Cup champion, expressed admiration for Heim’s talent, finishing third in the race. Zane Smith and AJ Allmendinger completed the top five. Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin, having won the last three races for Joe Gibbs Racing, finished 14th in this outing.
Van Gisbergen’s Struggles
Shane van Gisbergen concluded the race 38th after an accident ended his chance of an eighth road or street course victory. This incident unfolded during a restart when teammate Connor Zilisch and Austin Hill clashed, causing a nine-car crash that halted the race for wall repairs.
I felt like I was giving Austin space, and the next thing, I was in the wall.
Zilisch described the impact, having led the initial eight laps of his Cup career in a difficult rookie year.
Driver Changes and Challenges
During an early caution, Brent Crews replaced Christopher Bell in the No. 20 Toyota. However, Crews’ stint was cut short due to gearbox issues on the 28th lap. Bell, recovering from a broken wrist, emphasized exiting the car as cautious rather than pain-driven.
In his second and final Cup appearance of the 2026 season, Jimmie Johnson suffered a crash into a tire barrier and finished 28th. Johnson, a seven-time series champion, plans to race in 2027’s Daytona 500, considering participation in other series.
Looking Ahead
The NASCAR circuit remains in California, with Sonoma Raceway next on the schedule for June 28. In the past year, van Gisbergen dominated the road course, leading 97 of 110 laps from pole position.
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