The rivalry between Corey Heim and Carson Hocevar intensified during Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Their aggressive on-track maneuvers culminated in Hocevar making headlines with a provocative gesture, while Heim cheekily responded after securing his second win of the season as a part-time driver.
During Lap 91, as both drivers fought intensely at nearly 180 mph, Hocevar, frustrated, was seen giving Heim the finger from his #77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. This moment quickly gained traction on social media, adding more fuel to the ongoing rivalry between the two.
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Corey Heim seemed unfazed by Hocevar’s gesture and offered a straightforward retort when shown the footage on TNT Sports’ post-race show.
“Handed him a big fat L,” remarked the 2026 Brickyard 400 winner (via NASCAR.com).
Hocevar, driving for Spire Motorsports, aggressively attempted to pass Heim to regain his lap. However, Heim deftly used air manipulation to block him effectively, keeping Hocevar behind.
Heim, representing 23XI Racing, reflected on the heated battle with Hocevar and defended his driving approach.
“I was blocking him, not really too bad, I thought. I mean, I was trying to just hold my position, and I never threw like a bad block. I was just trying to protect my entry, and he didn’t like it, but he lost and I won, so I don’t really care.” He added.
Ultimately, Corey Heim clinched the historic crown jewel race at Indy, while Hocevar finished in 9th place.
Corey Heim reveals winning the crown jewel Brickyard 400 was a dream
Corey Heim claimed victory after making a bold, aggressive move on his 23XI Racing co-owner, Denny Hamlin, during the final 34-lap green-flag run. He then fended off challenges from Christopher Bell and Joey Logano to secure the prestigious win, marking a significant achievement in his budding NASCAR Cup Series career.
Heim led for 58 laps and crossed the finish line 0.287 seconds ahead of Bell. This win adds to his record of two victories and four top-10 finishes in just 15 Cup Series starts.
Reflecting on his Brickyard 400 triumph, Heim expressed (via NASCAR.com):
“I’m pretty out of breath. That was a workout. It was a dream come true. Winning at the Brickyard. That’s unbelievable. Caught a break early with the pit cycle. And just executed all day. Made no mistakes.”
Corey Heim, a 2025 NASCAR Truck Series champion, is participating part-time with 23XI Racing in the Cup Series this season. The 24-year-old driver is set to assume a full-time role next year, driving the #35 Toyota for 23XI Racing.
Edited by Yash Soni
