INDIANAPOLIS – Corey Heim shocked the NASCAR industry as he held off Christopher Bell to win the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG in his first-ever visit to Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Heim made a statement at Naval Base Coronado back in June when he won his first-career NASCAR Cup Series race; however, on Sunday at Indy, he put on stout performance as he led a race high of 58 laps and stayed in command of the lead for the final 35 laps as he wrangles his 23XI Racing No. 67 Field & Stream Toyota with Bell and Joey Logano trying to chase him down.

“I was hanging on for dear life once the shade went down and the pace picked up,” Heim said. “My car got really loose. And I had never really been in a lot of clean air throughout the day, so that was the hardest I’ve ever fought in my life to just make sure I focused on exits and kept them in dirty air.

“I’m pretty out of breath. That was a workout. It was a dream come true. Winning at the Brickyard. That’s unbelievable. Thank you so much, fans, for coming out here.”

On the final lap, Bell caught Heim, but he just wasn’t fast enough to pull alongside and challenge for the win. The driver of the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Rheem Toyota had to settle for a second-place finish, but it was a good performance considering he started deep in the field in 23^rd.

“Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to be able to get there at all,” Bell said. “My guys were telling me he (Heim) was going loose. I knew really that was going to be my only opportunity, was a mistake from him. I knew whatever it was, 35 laps, was a very long run. I just needed one bobble. If he had one bobble, I was going to be able to get there.

“Yeah, he did a great job. He showed excellent mental toughness. Put together 35 really good laps. I didn’t have an opportunity.”

Logano finished third and rounding out the top-five was Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin who at one point, was battling Hiem, who drives a car who co-owns, for the lead.

“I don’t know what we do different,” Hamlin said referring to a late restart where he was battling Heim for the lead. “We’re part of circumstances where the inside line didn’t get organized. Really proud of 23XI overall. That part-time effort that Bootie (Barker, crew chief) and Corey is putting together, most times they’re on the racetrack, they’re our fastest car. They’re doing a heck of a job. Definitely a well-deserved victory.”

Brad Keselowski finished sixth, followed by Josh Berry, Ryan Preece, polesitter Carson Hocevar and Tyler Reddick.

Ty Gibbs won stage 1, and he also led 46 laps throughout the day. Ross Chastain won Stage 2.

There were 15 lead changes among 11 drivers.

The caution came out on five occasions for 27 laps.

The first caution came out on Lap 46, and it was quite a surprise. Kyle Larson blew a tire when he was about to cycle around to retake the lead during green flag pit stops. The crash ended Larson’s day, just six laps away from the conclusion of Stage 1. He finished last in 39^th.

STORY: Kyle Larson Crashes Out Early In Brickyard 400

The largest crash of the day occurred on Lap 121, when contact between John Hunter Nemechek and Ryan Blaney set off a nine-car crash in Turn 3 on a restart.

With only four races remaining in the Regular Season, Hamlin, Reddick, Blaney and now Gibbs have locked themselves in to the Chase for the Postseason. Austin Cindric currently holds the 16^th and final transfer spot. On the outside looking in is Ryan Preece (-38), Erik Jones (-44), Keselowski (-50) and Michael McDowell (-76).

The NASCAR Cup Series will visit Iowa Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 9, for the Iowa Corn 350 powered by Ethanol. Live coverage of the race will broadcast live on the USA Network at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Photo Credit: Christian Koelle/TheFourthTurn.com