That said, the fallout from the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway has arrived in a big way. As Motorsport.com reports, NASCAR has dropped the hammer after a dramatic altercation involving rising star and 23XI Racing's newest hire, Corey Heim, following the prominent late model race that is part of NASCAR Regional.
The trouble started with a run-in between Heim and Treyten Lapcevich at the end of the race, followed by even more significant contact after the checkered flag. Heim was then confronted by members of Lapcevich's Chad Bryant Racing team, with team owner Chad Bryant himself among those who physically attacked him. According to the report, they repeatedly hit and punched Heim next to the track's hot dog stand while Heim did not fight back.
As a result of the violence, NASCAR has indefinitely suspended team owner Chad Bryant and CBR crew member Steven Civitarese. Bryant was hit with a $2,000 fine, while Civitarese received a $1,000 fine, with both men placed on probation for one full year. Furthermore, NASCAR banned both Bryant and Civitarese from the 2027 edition of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville, and mandated that Bryant complete anger management training through a NASCAR-approved program if he ever wishes to be reinstated.
More penalties followed for the Chad Bryant Racing outfit. Ryden Lapcevich, brother of Treyten (who was driving the CBR entry and was not involved in the fight), was fined $500 and placed on probation until the end of the 2027 season.
That was not the only flashpoint of the weekend. A separate fight erupted following the heat races between drivers Brad Houseright and Chad Burrow, leaving one driver bloodied. Both drivers were fined $250 and placed on probation until the end of the 2027 season, while Burrow-affiliated crew members Ryan Burrow and Dylan Jenks each received $500 fines and probation until the end of the 2027 season without facing suspension.
In total, seven different people were fined and two were suspended across these two clashes. Denouncing the ambush on his podcast, Actions Detrimental, 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin—who shares ownership alongside NBA legend Michael Jordan—called the CBR team members who cornered and confronted NASCAR's newest Brickyard 400 winner while he was isolated "f****** cowards."
