Corey Heim stuns NASCAR with Brickyard 400 win as part-time Cup driver

Key Points:

• Corey Heim won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in just his 15th career start, marking his second Cup Series victory this season and making him the first driver since 1965 to secure two wins within his first 15 starts.
• Heim, driving for 23XI Racing, passed co-owner Denny Hamlin late in the race and held off Christopher Bell to claim the victory, becoming the youngest Brickyard 400 winner since Jeff Gordon in 1994 and the first part-time driver with multiple wins in a season since 1987.
• The race featured notable incidents including Kyle Larson blowing a tire and crashing out late in Stage 1, and a multi-car accident involving Ryan Blaney and others during Stage 3, which also impacted the In-Season Challenge standings.
• Ross Chastain and Kyle Busch won Stages 1 and 2 respectively, with Chase Elliott retiring early due to damage, and Todd Gilliland ultimately winning the $1 million In-Season Challenge prize despite finishing 24th.
• Heim credited his team for flawless execution and overcoming challenges such as a loose car and limited clean air, emphasizing the physical and mental effort required to secure the prestigious win at the Brickyard.