NASCAR Driver Corey Heim Ambushed By Rival Driver’s Crew After Martinsville Speedway Upset
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As the competitors in the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway crossed the finish line, an incident occurred between the 2nd and 3rd place finishers.
Shortly after the checkered flag waved as Caden Kvapil won the race at Martinsville, 2nd place finisher Corey Heim’s car jumped over the front of 3rd place finisher Treyten Lapcevich’s car.
Taking damage in the jump, Heim landed his car successfully — even as he scraped alongside the SAFER barrier before proceeding to his crew — but Lapcevich spun out.
However, the conflict didn’t end there.
See video of the inciting incident, here:
Everyone’s posting video of the brawl at Martinsville.
— Turn Four Racing (@TurnFourT4) September 27, 2026
Here’s what happened on the track between Corey Heim (no. 22) & Treyten Lapcevich (no. 77) at the end of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 Late Model race. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/L5WlVin3SY
Lapcevich was going to confront Heim, but was ultimately talked down by his manager, Chad Bryant, owner of Chad Bryant Racing.
Moments later, Heim was jumped by several members of Lapcevich’s crew.
This comes one week after the NASCAR Cup Series Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept. 19, where Ryan Blaney tried to attack Carson Hocevar, but his plan backfired as Hocevar repeatedly struck Blaney across the face.
That incident led to no penalties.
Still, other drivers, like Denny Hamlin, are calling on penalties to be leveled against Lapcevich’s crew for the Sept. 26 altercation.
As for the Hotdog Stand sign that also got hit, Corey Heim shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, humorously showing the sign at his office:
New office piece. Poor thing took a beating this weekend pic.twitter.com/FLIoApvxq7
— Corey Heim (@CoreyHeim_) September 28, 2026
RELATED: NASCAR Fans Get “Old School Bristol Show” As Fistfight Between Drivers Overshadows Race Winner
Watch Heim Get Jumped By Lapcevich’s Crew
Following the race, Corey Heim, age 24, was met by members of Lapcevich’s crew by the Hotdog Stand in concessions.
In video of the incident, at least two members of Lapcevich’s crew put their hands on Heim, with one getting several hits in before Heim was pulled away by law enforcement.
In video of the incident, it did not appear that Heim fought back.
See the altercation, here:
We got fists flying at the track tonight pic.twitter.com/WLfNiECg7u
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 27, 2026
On Sept. 28, Treyten Lapcevich, age 22, released a statement condemning the behavior of the crew members who attacked Heim.
In it, Lapcevich said, “What happened with Corey after the race was wrong, and it should not have happened … No matter the circumstances, frustration from a race never justifies putting hands on another competitor.”
See the full statement by Lapcevich, here:
Statement regarding VSCU 300: pic.twitter.com/8NYl2J5rC3
— Treyten Lapcevich (@TreytenL) September 29, 2026
RELATED: Kyle Busch’s Son, Brexton Busch, Just Won A Tense Photo-Finish Race
NASCAR Drivers Denny Hamlin And Kevin Harvick Respond To Attack Against Heim
Speaking on the Sept. 28 episode of his podcast, Actions Detrimental, NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin called out Lapcevich’s team owner, Chad Bryant, saying that Bryant and the crew members exhibited “classlessness.”
“Those f****** cowards waited on Corey Heim to leave his car and leave his team and jump him while he was on the way to his hauler,” Hamlin said. “I don’t know who’s in charge of NASCAR Regional, but there is absolutely no way that any of those guys should be in a pit lane for the next year, at least.”
Hamlin requested a public statement from NASCAR Regional regarding how Lapcevich’s crew members are punished.
He also commended Heim for not hitting anyone back.
NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick also spoke on the altercation, calling for the crew members who attacked Heim to be removed, adding, “This is the kind of stuff that gives late model racing a bad name.”
Watch Denny Hamlin speak about the altercation at Martinsville, here:
