Skip to main content
Join Now
NASCAR Logo

Denny Hamlin, Corey Heim react to late hit from Connor Zilisch at COTA

JHby:Jonathan Howard•03/01/25•

Jondean25

Denny Hamlin
Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

As the leaders jostled for position late in the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at COTA, Connor Zilisch doored Corey Heim. Denny Hamlin didn’t like it. Of course, Heim is a 23XI Racing development driver and was put in the Sam Hunt No. 24 car with help from 23XI.

Denny Hamlin didn’t like seeing his development driver knocked off the track. Corey Heim definitely didn’t like it. Neither is taking drastic measures, but have let their displeasure be known.

First, Heim posted a couple of emojis. Sunglasses smiling and a thumbs up. Kind of a way of saying “Really cool thing you did there, Connor.” Then Denny was a bit more direct with his emoji choice.

A simple thumbs down.

Here is the move that Denny Hamlin and Corey Heim are reacting to. Zilisch goes too far wide and sends Heim off the track and spinning around.

If you’re Corey Heim, you should be upset. That was likely a top-five finish for Heim and Sam Hunt Racing. Instead, the No. 24 car finished P31. At least this isn’t Heim’s full-time series. But for Sam Hunt, it hurts in the owners points for sure.

I like seeing Denny Hamlin stick up for his driver. Even if Heim isn’t racing for 23XI yet, he will be soon. No offense to Riley Herbst, but it feels like he is serving as a stop-gap driver until Heim can get the funding for a Cup ride.

Even as talented as Connor Zilisch is, mistakes happen. He overstepped the line in a crucial part of the race. Heim paid for it.

Denny Hamlin will race Connor Zilisch for first time

On Sunday when Connor Zilisch makes his Cup Series debut, he will race against Denny Hamlin for the first time ever. Hamlin starts P11 with Zilisch firing off P14. So, there is a chance for these two to race one-on-one early and often.

Do I think Hamlin will “retaliate?” Absolutely not. This, besides being a point of displeasure, has nothing to do with Hamlin. Retaliating sits squarely with Corey Heim in the future when he gets back into a Sam Hunt Racing car.

It will be interesting to see how Zilisch does in the Cup Series. Not just his overall result and performance, but how he races against these drivers he has never raced against. There will be a few familiar faces, but not many.