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Corey Heim takes the blame after failing to qualify for NASCAR Chicago Street Race

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Jonathan Howard | Last updated Jul 5, 2025 7:00 PM ET

During NASCAR Cup Series qualifying on the streets of Chicago, Corey Heim failed to qualify for the race in the No. 67 car. The fourth 23XI Racing entry is the only DNQ in this race. Katherine Legge knocked him out with her time in qualifying.

Corey Heim drives full-time for Tricon Garage in the Craftsman Truck Series. No truck race this weekend, but 23XI wanted to put him in the 67 for this race. He could be moving up to the Cup Series sooner rather than later with how dominant he is in the Truck Series.

After his DNQ, Heim took to social media to explain the situation. The young driver took the blame for not having the speed to make the race.

“Made a mistake on my first lap and bent the toe link. Tried to get everything I could out of it after that but clearly wasn’t enough,” Heim posted. “That’s completely my fault and still trying to process all of it. Thank you [23XI Racing] for a car plenty capable enough to make the race.”

Made a mistake on my first lap and bent the toe link. Tried to get everything I could out of it after that but clearly wasn’t enough. That’s completely my fault and still trying to process all of it. Thank you @23XIRacing for a car plenty capable enough to make the race.
— Corey Heim (@CoreyHeim_) July 5, 2025

These Next Gen cars are tough. They can take pretty big hits and keep moving. But those toe links are not so tough. When you damage one, it throws off everything. Corey Heim bent his and from that point, the speed he needed wasn’t there.

23XI Racing had mixed results. Tyler Reddick was P4 in qualifying. Bubba Wallace was quickest in practice, but wrecked in qualifying for P37. Riley Herbst found a happy middle in P21.

Corey Heim is still getting the hang of the Cup car. He has never raced at this track, either. I’m sure he has had a lot of simulator time on the Chicago Street Race course. But things didn’t work out in his favor today.

Corey Heim fails to qualify for Chicago Street Race

After his absolutely dominant win in the Lime Rock Park Truck Series race, I thought Corey Heim was likely to make the Chicago Street Race field. A bent toe link is just something you can’t really overcome on any track.

23XI definitely wishes Heim was in this race. They see him as a future Cup Series driver and a potential star. A lot of people have their eyes on Heim as a future driver on Sunday. If 23XI doesn’t pick him up soon, maybe someone else does?

For Katherine Legge, this is a great result. To qualify that Live Fast No. 78 car into this race is nothing short of impressive. What is Corey Heim’s misfortune is her opportunity. She made the most of it, too.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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