Corey Heim outduels Tyler Reddick for first NASCAR Cup win at inaugural San Diego race
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Corey Heim won his first NASCAR Cup Series race at the inaugural event on the Coronado Island street course, overcoming early crashes and tire damage to lead the final laps and secure victory.
- Heim, the 2024 Truck Series champion, edged teammate Tyler Reddick in the closing laps, while Bubba Wallace finished second, giving 23XI Racing a 1-2 finish.
- Reddick suffered a late flat tire and dropped to 25th, narrowing his points lead over Denny Hamlin to eight; Hamlin finished 14th.
- The race featured a nine-car crash involving Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch, ending van Gisbergen’s day early despite starting from pole, while Christopher Bell was briefly replaced due to injury.
- Jimmie Johnson crashed out in his second and final Cup start of 2026 but confirmed plans to race the 2027 Daytona 500 as his final Cup event.
