Bootie Barker on how Corey Heim 'is more talented than everyone else'

Sun, Jul 26, 2026

No. 67 23XI Racing crew chief Bootie Barker praises how Corey Heim is already equal to some of the best drivers in the Cup Series.

Bud, you've worked with a lot of drivers.

How does this guy win two of his eight races this year?

I think everybody thinks I'm always joking, but I mean, he's What'd I say?

He's more talented than everybody else.

But that, that is a bit of a A- as put, as, as almost being a disservice to some of the great drivers out here.

That's not the case.

He's-- They're all, like the people we were racing there at the end are the best of the best and tremendous.

So show much respect to them.

But, but Corey's there in talent.

Corey's also there in work ethic, and he's there as far as a mentality.

So he has all that now.

But now that's no guarantee going forward, but right now he has it.

Also, what Steve said, though, he's got us backing him.

He's got, you know, our, our cars and our team.

The 67 is not really the 67.

It's, it's the 2311 fourth car, I guess, is the best way to say it.

So I can name so many people from all our organization or team that helped me because I, that's what one of my-- I got two jobs at 2311, you know.

So crew chief and I'm whatever the title of the other thing is, but my point is I work on everybody's car.

Pain in the neck.

Yeah.

So it's the same.

Everybody-- Our structure is such that everybody contributes.

And, like, I mean, are you-- is there any part of you that is surprised?

No.

Okay.

If we could have qu- if we would've had a better metric in qualifying, we would've won more already