Long-Awaited Victory: No. 67 Scores Elusive First Cup Series Win After 650 Attempts

In a historic moment for NASCAR, the No. 67 car has finally broken its winless streak in the Cup Series, achieving its maiden victory after an arduous 650 starts. The breakthrough came courtesy of part-time driver Corey Heim, who piloted the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota to the checkered flag in only his 13th career Cup Series start.

The dramatic finish saw Heim engage in an intense, wheel-to-wheel duel with championship leader and teammate Tyler Reddick in the closing laps. After a series of strategic passes and retaliations, Heim emerged victorious, etching his name and the No. 67 into the NASCAR record books. The win arrives at a particularly resonant time, coinciding with the popular "6-7" meme, adding a layer of cultural significance to the long-overdue triumph.

The history of the No. 67 in NASCAR is a tapestry woven with near misses and perseverance, stretching back over seven decades. Its inaugural appearance in a Cup Series race dates to February 5, 1950, at the Daytona Beach road course. Joe Harrison was the driver then, starting 31st and finishing 40th after completing just three laps. This marked Harrison’s sole start at NASCAR’s premier level.

The number’s journey towards recognition was gradual. Its first top-ten finish was achieved the following year, 1951, when Jim Fiebelkorn secured a seventh-place result at the notoriously challenging Langhorne dirt track in Pennsylvania. Even more significantly, the No. 67 came tantalizingly close to a win in 1951. Jim Reed, driving the No. 67 at the Thompson half-mile in Connecticut, led an impressive 58 laps, a record for the car number that stood for decades until Heim himself surpassed it by leading 69 laps at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year. Despite Reed’s strong performance, he ultimately finished one lap behind race winner Neil Cole.

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The pursuit of victory continued into the 1960 season, where the No. 67 was driven by NASCAR legend David Pearson. Piloting the car for his own team as a rookie, Pearson showcased the number’s potential. At the quarter-mile Gamecock Speedway in South Carolina, he captured the pole position, a feat that remains the No. 67’s only pole in Cup Series history. However, like Reed before him, Pearson finished second, this time to Ned Jarrett, marking another close call for the persistent number.

These runner-up finishes in 1951 and 1960 represented the closest the No. 67 had come to tasting victory until Heim’s triumph. Over its extensive history, the No. 67 has accumulated a total of 650 starts, leading 154 laps, achieving 24 top-five finishes, and 114 top-ten finishes. Prior to Heim’s win, its best results were these two second-place finishes and six third-place showings.

The No. 67’s presence in the Cup Series has been sporadic in recent decades. It was notably absent from the grid for a full twenty years before 23XI Racing reintroduced it on a part-time basis in 2023. Drivers such as Travis Pastrana and Kamui Kobayashi also piloted the No. 67 during this revival period before Heim took the reins. The last driver to compete with the No. 67 prior to this recent resurgence was Boris Said in 2002.

Heim’s victory also marks the No. 67’s first top-five finish in a Cup Series race since 1979. That year, Buddy Arrington, who holds the record for the most starts with the No. 67 (nearly 500), finished third at Talladega. Arrington’s third-place finish was the No. 67’s most recent top-five result until Heim’s performance. Heim, in his race-winning effort, led three laps en route to the checkered flag.

Interestingly, among the drivers who have competed with the No. 67 at the Cup Series level, only two have gone on to win NASCAR Cup Series championships: David Pearson and Dale Jarrett. Jarrett made a single start with the No. 67 in 1988, driving for Buddy Arrington’s team in the Coca-Cola 600.

Looking ahead, Corey Heim is slated to transition to a full-time driver for 23XI Racing next season. While team co-owner Denny Hamlin has remained non-committal when questioned, it is anticipated that Heim will likely move away from the No. 67. The prevailing speculation suggests he will pilot the No. 35. This potential move also carries historical weight, as the No. 35 has yet to record a Cup Series victory, presenting another opportunity for a driver to make history.

The data further illustrates the No. 67’s statistical journey:

• Total Starts: 650
• Wins: 1
• Poles: 1
• Top 5 Finishes: 24
• Top 10 Finishes: 114
• Laps Led: 154

The win by Corey Heim in the No. 67 car represents a significant milestone, not only for the driver and the 23XI Racing team but also for the storied history of the number itself within the NASCAR Cup Series. After decades of close calls and dedicated efforts, the No. 67 has finally reached the pinnacle of stock car racing.

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