How an NBA Legend and Denny Hamlin Can Fix 23XI’s Weakest Link in 2026
23XI Racing is off to a fantastic start to begin the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series. Tyler Reddick has five wins, including a Daytona 500 Win, while Bubba Wallace sits in 10th place in the standings. The outlier is the 35 Toyota Camry driven by Riley Herbst. The 27-year-old sophomore is sitting in a disappointing 29th place in the standings with only a single lap lead through 12 races. Fans are speculating that a driver change may be necessary for the 35 car to compete with Reddick and Wallace, but is this the right move? NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin have a decision to make regarding the 35 car. If they turn in the right direction, this young Toyota team could have a full lineup of contenders each week.
Turn to One of NASCAR’s Top Prospects
Switching up drivers in the middle of a season is not uncommon in NASCAR, and 23XI may already have the solution for the weakest link in their system. He is none other than Corey Heim, the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion and 23XI’s main development driver. Heim has no full-time ride in any of NASCAR’s series in 2026. However, he has made several starts in the Cup and Truck Series. These starts include a win at Darlington in the Truck Series. In last year’s Truck Series campaign, he recorded a series-leading 12 wins. One potential downside could be Heim’s lack of experience in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with only 16 starts over the past two seasons. Another young driver, Carson Hocevar, may disprove this concern after he has quickly adapted to the Cup Series with minimal O’Reilly Series experience.
Stick with Herbst and Improve Elsewhere
In the case of any sport, some drivers may need more time to develop than others. For Herbst, this might be the case. He has shown flashes of development in 2026. In the 2026 Daytona 500, Herbst finished a career-best eighth place, and at Texas, he rallied from 33rd to seventh in the last two stages. Hamlin and ‘MJ’ could choose to focus on the car itself instead. Herbst's biggest struggles in 2026 have come at smaller-laned tracks like Darlington and Martinsville, where he finished 35th in both races. This may indicate that he has problems keeping the car tight in the corner. If 23XI’s engineers can give Herbst a car that can stabilize more easily on these tracks, he may see better and better results that could save his career.
The decision that Hamlin and Jordan make regarding the 35 Toyota Camry will affect the team both this year and in the future. They are already a competitive team, but the addition of a third contending car will be crucial if they want to become a superteam. Whether they decide to get the jump on Heim or keep going with Herbst will determine how fast this car becomes competitive. If their decision fails, it could be the end of the short-lived third full-time entry.
