Corey Heim created history. As NASCAR visited Naval Base Coronado, Heim picked up his first Cup Series win in just 13 attempts. Yet, former racing crew chief and Hendrick Motorsports legend, Ray Everham, doesn't think he can cut it in the Cup Series full-time.

During the Door Bumper Clear podcast, when asked if Heim would have been consistent enough to make it to the Chase and show consistency across 26 races with his performance, Everham was doubtful.

"As much as I like him and as much as I know he's got potential, I'm going to say no only because it's great to do it and debut like that, but the Cup Series is tough. It's the best of the best, not just the drivers, but the mechanics, the teams, and it is so hard to put consistency together to do that."

Everham has a point. Another rookie, Connor Zilisch, is racing in his debut full-time season and has yet to make amends. With no top-five or top 10 appearances, Zilisch is 34th, at the bottom of the table. On the other end of the table, the top 16 are all veterans.

That's why Everham added, "I think that's tough for a rookie, no matter how good you are, to have that consistency. The first year's tough."

Corey Heim is racing with 23XI Racing under a part-time obligation. Without a doubt, Heim pulled off an immensely strong performance at the San Diego Street Course, but luck also aided him.

Thanks to a strong car and teammates Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace's mishaps, Heim was able to take the opportunity and win the race. Reddick had a flat tire, and Wallace received a two-lap penalty. They could not show enough resistance to stop young Heim in San Diego.

Despite this, Heim learned from his teammate and took the win.

Corey Heim Takes Tyler Reddick Inspiration Amid Race Win at Naval Base

Following his victory at the Naval Base Coronado, Corey Heim revealed that he took inspiration from his experienced teammate, Tyler Reddick. Highlighting how he pulled off a similar victory in the Cup Series, Heim said on Motorsport.com and NASCAR’s Inside the Race:

"This gives me a lot of confidence. His first win was at Road America, I think. I can relate to him in that manner, I think. It takes a lot. It took a really complete race from me."

“I avoided that big wreck that took out some of the key players. At the end of the day, I kept my head in the game, and to race head-to-head with one of the best and get side-by-side and pass cleanly, that’s a surreal feeling," Reddick further added.

Next season, Corey Heim is set to join 23XI Racing under full-time obligation. He will replace Riley Herbst, and with that said, it will be interesting to see how he performs on a long-term basis.

You can read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!

Written by

Sabyasachi Biswas

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar