Heim emotional after first career win: 'I hope I don't wake up from this dream'
Hear from race winner Corey Heim after the 23XI Racing driver scored his first Cup Series win on the streets at Naval Base Coronado.
Video Transcript
How does it feel, man?
I'm speechless.
I mean, we started the race, I mean, I think we started 13th, we fell straight back to, like, 20th, then put on our scuffs from qualifying and struggled just as bad.
I don't know if we made any adjustments, but Buddy kept telling me that these were our worst two sets of tires and, you know, we were gonna be just fine, you know?
And, he was right.
I mean, I couldn't believe it.
We strapped another set of tires on and we were just fine.
Hit the wall a couple times, maybe knocked some good into the car.
I have no idea, just, after stage two, I just kind of took a deep breath and was like, you know, I had really high expectations coming into this race.
it's an even playing field for me.
I don't see that every day for a young driver like myself and, yeah, just kind of took a deep breath and, reset and went after it.
So, caught a couple breaks with, you know, some of the good guys wrecking out, but, they don't ask how, just how many.
Corey, I, I had cold chills watching you, man, 'cause I know how hard and how much work you've put in over these last three, four years in the Toyota program to have this opportunity.
And I watched you run down one of the best, Tyler Reddick, and be able to go up and contend.
Take me through that battle with him as you were pacing yourself not to wear out your tires, and then the pass, and the moment where you got on the marbles there.
Yeah, you've been a big help too, Trav.
I really appreciate you, man.
But, I don't know.
I feel like, you know, for a while there I thought he was kind of playing with me, but, you know, he's able to set the pace being the lead car, but I was kind of able to stick with it.
I'm like, I'm not really burning my stuff up, so five to go came, and, it was just kind of time to put some pressure on him, see if I could get him to make a mistake, and sure enough, he did.
I guess he ended up breaking or something.
I don't know what happened to him.
But, a lot of respect for him, though.
He, he doored me down there in, five, I think, and gave it back to me.
That's, that's something you don't see every day, great teammate.
So, you know, I, I don't know, just crazy.
I mean, it feels like a dream.
I hope I don't wake up from this dream.
But, I, I don't, I don't know.
This is insane.
Just so thankful for 23XI, Mobil 1, Toyota for this journey.
I mean, I didn't expect to come into my part-time season and win, but here we are, you know?
I mean, it's crazy.
So, I just, I, it hasn't even sunk in yet.
I'm sure I'll get emotional in a little bit, but, it really hasn't even sunk in yet.
Take this in, Corey.
It's a big one, one of the biggest ones that he could win here at Coronado at the Naval Base.
What a great race for the 67 Toyota team, Adam.
