Heim Wins Inaugural Cup Race
Corey Heim Wins Inaugural Anduril 250, Crowned First NASCAR Victor at Military Base
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Corey Heim, a 22-year-old part-time driver, won his first NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. Making only his 13th career start, Heim passed teammate Tyler Reddick with two laps to go and won the inaugural Anduril 250 by 10.365 seconds, according to Associated Press.
The victory made history twice over. It was the first Cup Series race ever held on an active U.S. military base. And it was the second time in three years that a first-time winner claimed a new street-course race, according to Audacy.
Heim Stalks Reddick, Then Seals the Deal
Heim drove the No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. He spent most of the final stage hunting down Reddick, the current points leader. With two laps left, Heim made his move and slipped into the lead. Reddick then suffered a flat tire and fell to a 25th-place finish, per Associated Press.
"I've dreamed of this moment since I started in the Truck series," Heim said after the race. "To do it here, on this base, representing the Navy and 23XI, is surreal." The win also set up a 23XI 1-2 finish, with Bubba Wallace crossing in second, according to SF Examiner.
A Big Crash Knocked Out the Race Favorite Early
Pole-sitter Shane van Gisbergen was the heavy favorite heading into the 75-lap race on the 3.4-mile, 16-turn Qualcomm Circuit. But a massive crash on Lap 32 ended his day. Van Gisbergen, Connor Zilisch, and Austin Hill were all caught up in the wreck, which caused a nine-minute red flag for wall repairs, according to Associated Press.
"I felt like I was giving Austin space, and the next thing, I was in the wall," Zilisch said. "I hate to end the day for Shane." The race saw 20 lead changes among 13 different drivers and seven caution periods covering 11 laps, per Jayski.
First Race Ever Run on a U.S. Military Base
The Anduril 250 was the first professional auto race held on an active U.S. Navy installation. The track used taxiways and service roads at Naval Air Station North Island. The USS Carl Vinson was visible in the background during the race, per NBC 7 San Diego.
The military angle was central to the weekend. Thousands of free tickets went to active-duty personnel through a program called MilTix. Local officials estimated the event generated over $80 million in economic activity for San Diego, according to live research from the Senior Investigative Research Division.
Heim Headed Full-Time in 2027, Reddick Still Leads Points
Heim's win carries extra weight beyond Sunday. 23XI Racing recently announced he will move to a full-time seat in the No. 35 car starting in 2027, per Motorsport.com. At 22, he is already being compared to other road-course specialists who broke through early in their careers.
Despite his flat tire and 25th-place finish, Reddick still leads the Cup Series standings. But Hamlin, who finished 14th on Sunday, has closed to within 19 points of the lead, according to Beyond the Flag. The total race purse was $11,849,963, per Jayski.
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