- Corey Heim is currently running a part-time schedule in all three NASCAR divisions.
- Despite making fewer starts than the regulars, Heim is leading the points standings.
- Fans are supporting him for a waiver grant from NASCAR on one condition.
After sealing the 2025 Truck Series title with 12 wins, Corey Heim changed lanes for 2026, opting for a part-time slate instead of another full-season run in Trucks. He did not return to the full-time No. 11 Toyota at TRICON Garage, with Kaden Honeycutt stepping into that seat.
His focus has shifted to a deal with 23XI Racing, where he is scheduled to run 12 NASCAR Cup Series races in the No. 67 Toyota. Team co-owner Denny Hamlin and officials have made it clear they are playing the long game, prioritizing seat time in higher divisions over another Truck campaign.
Industry watchers have pointed out that full-time seats in Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts were in short supply for 2026, while funding gaps shut the door on a full-time move.
What is Corey Heim’s situation right now?
As things stand, Heim has entered three of the first five Truck Series races this season. He finished P5 at Atlanta, then went back-to-back with wins at Darlington and Rockingham, collecting 76 points last weekend. With two wins on the board, he sits atop the standings.
Heim, the reigning champion after winning 12 of 25 races last year, is spreading his starts across all three national series in 2026 and is not mounting a title defense in Trucks. That decision leaves him on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs. Despite leading the standings, he is not eligible for the playoffs unless NASCAR grants a waiver.
TRICON has not filed for one, and a waiver tied to schedule choices remains a long shot. NASCAR’s policy, in place since 2014, requires drivers to take part in every race to qualify for the playoffs. Waivers have been issued in cases tied to injury, suspension, off-track matters, and childbirth, but not for skipped races by choice or for part-time schedules.
Whether Heim even wants another Truck title remains up in the air, but the rule has raised eyebrows. A driver who can lead the standings with fewer starts has made a case on track, yet that run will not end in a title under the current system.
The format adds another hurdle. Any driver granted a waiver for a non-medical or non-family reason must start the Chase at the back with 2,000 points, leaving a mountain to climb.
Fans rally behind Corey Heim, demanding playoff eligibility if he finishes top 10
Fans, however, are not sitting on the fence. A discussion initiated by Dirty Mo Media on X asked whether Heim should be eligible if he finishes in the top 10, and the response leaned in his favor.
“💯 if a driver earns the points to qualify for the playoffs – they should be allowed to compete – period end of story,” one commented, “Yes, that is the only answer,” another fan wrote.
Not all took the same road. “I like the Full Time Employee to get the Full Time Benefits rule myself. Nobody is too special no matter how special you are but in some cases a guy who isn’t choosing to skip races(his full time job) shouldn’t be punished,” read another take.
Others called for a middle ground. “My perspective: NASCAR needs to create a provisional rule where if the reigning champion does not have a full time truck ride but still manages to win the regular season and/or place in the top 10, they get a provisional and a chance to defend their title.”
“Embarrassing….”
Another fan framed it in terms of competition. “Yep if you can do it missing races imo thats a competition skill issue. No team is gonna miss races just for the sake of it.”
One comment cut to the chase: “100%!!! The waiver made sense when “win and you’re in” was the format, but now it’s just points. If you miss races and you’re still able to point your way to a championship then who did you rob to win it? You earned it! Boy, could you imagine Corey Heim earning enough points to win the championship but not win it because he’s not Chase eligible? MAN! How embarassing that would be for the driver who was crowned champion! He’d be the poster child for the term “paper champion” 😂”
For now, the ball sits in NASCAR’s court. Heim leads the table, but the rulebook holds the key, and until that changes, his run may end without a shot at the title.
