Corey Heim takes stunning first win in historic Anduril 250
It was a day that felt almost surreal for Corey Heim. In only his 13th NASCAR Cup Series start, the 23-year-old reigning NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion surged to his first-ever win in the top division. The victory came at the Anduril 250, a unique race held on the 3.4-mile Qualcomm Circuit at an active military installation. Heim’s No. 67 Toyota crossed the line 10.365 seconds ahead of his 23XI teammate Bubba Wallace, marking a historic first 1-2 finish for their organization.
The decisive moment arrived in the final three laps. After teammate Tyler Reddick slipped in Turn 2 on Lap 73, Heim pounced. The two teammates battled side-by-side through Turns 3 and 4, even making contact that pushed Heim toward the wall. In a display of immense respect, Reddick refused to force the issue despite his own championship lead being at stake. Reddick later suffered a flat tire and finished 25th, though he offered high praise for his young teammate’s drive.
It was not a clean race by any means. A violent Lap 32 wreck in Turn 1 wiped out several contenders, including pole winner Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch, who had both been running strong. Earlier in the day, Ryan Blaney secured the Stage 1 victory under caution, while Ryan Preece claimed the Stage 2 win. Ultimately, however, the day belonged to Heim, who spent most of the race fighting tire struggles before finding the speed to claim his milestone win.
