Corey Heim notches best Xfinity Series finish at Iowa Speedway

Corey Heim once more proved why he's one of the most sought-after prospects in NASCAR on Saturday. 

With the Truck Series (which Heim races in full-time) off until June 28, Heim opted to run Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway. Driving the No. 26 Toyota for Sam Hunt Racing, Heim led the field in practice, being the fastest of all drivers during Friday's 50-minute session. 

With qualifying being canceled due to rain, Heim was forced to start 22nd on Saturday afternoon, though he quickly drove up inside the top 15. Even in a race where bad luck found several contenders, Heim kept his nose clean, quietly working his way into the top 10 when the pay window opened. 

As the laps wound down, Heim even drove his way into the top five, taking the green flag for NASCAR Overtime in row two. Finishing in third place, Heim had a front-row seat for the late-race battle between Sam Mayer and Riley Herbst, bringing a clean car home on the podium. 

Saturday's race is just another example of why Heim is such a hot prospect. Despite starting in the middle of the pack, he was patient, not forcing the issue and showing good race craft in the process. When the dominoes started to fall late in the going, he was opportunistic, pouncing on an opportunity to claim a top-five finish. 

Heim's third-place finish ties Sam Hunt Racing's team record for the best finish in team history and sets his personal-best career finish in NASCAR's second-highest division. 

It's also Heim's second top-five finish in Xfinity Series competition this season as he placed fourth at Richmond, a track nearly identical to Iowa in shape and size.