Corey Heim knows that being a successful NASCAR driver takes more than knowing how to handle a race car. It also requires a considerable amount of physical endurance, strength and preparation
The 24-year-old driver is coming off a record-setting 2025 season in which he won 12 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races and captured the championship. He’s also preparing for another major milestone: joining 23XI Racing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2027. Heim’s move to 23XI Racing marks the next step in a career he’s spent years building
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But getting there requires plenty of work away from the track, too
Ahead of NASCAR Championship Weekend, Heim is being announced as the newest athlete ambassador for Intake Breathing, a performance and wellness brand that makes a magnetic nasal breathing system. It’s also a product Heim says he’s been using for years, long before the partnership became official
In a conversation with Men’s Journal, Heim opened up about the physical demands of racing, how his training routine has changed as he’s progressed through NASCAR, and the recovery habits he relies on to stay ready for race day
For people who don’t follow racing closely, the physical demands of spending several hours behind the wheel might not be immediately obvious. But Heim says the G-forces drivers experience put considerable strain on their bodies, particularly their necks
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“That’s a very unique trait, is just how much the G-force puts strain on your neck and your body,” he explained
He’s spent the last couple of years working to improve his core and neck strength, along with his hips and glutes. Those muscle groups are particularly important when it comes to handling the physical demands of driving a race car
Endurance has also become a bigger priority as he’s moved up through the sport
Heim says his training this year has focused heavily on hip and core endurance, along with cardio. He’s incorporated more running and biking into his routine, even though running wasn’t something he previously did very often
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“I hadn’t run much the last, really seven years at all, until this year,” he said. “So that’s been tough, but it’s definitely helped a lot on track.”
The reason for the shift is simple: Longer races require more endurance
As Heim explained, the races he’s preparing for now can be several times longer than the ones he was competing in when he was racing in the ARCA Series
Training is only one part of the equation. Recovery is just as important, particularly when drivers are balancing demanding race schedules with travel and additional preparation
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For Heim, sleep is at the top of the list
“Sleep is my number one priority, always,” he said, adding that he tries to get eight to nine hours of sleep after a race
That’s not always easy. Sunday afternoon races can leave drivers with adrenaline still running through their bodies long after they’ve climbed out of the car, making it difficult to wind down
He also takes advantage of the recovery reat alternate between hot and cold water, saunas, an athletic trainer and a full-time deep-tissue massage therapist
It’s a comprehensive approach that helps him manage the physical demands of racing while preparing for what’s next
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One part of Heim’s routine that has remained consistent is his use of Intake Breathing
Unlike traditional adhesive nasal strips, Intake uses a reusable magnetic band and adhesive tabs designed to mechanically open the nasal valve, the narrowest part of the nasal airway. The company says the system is designed to increase airflow during sleep, training, recovery and everyday activities
Heim first discovered the product after seeing an Instagram advertisement featuring a track runner using it
“I saw a track runner ad on Instagram using it, and they had talked about the effects and how they can breathe just a lot better and not mouth breathe while they’re running,” he recalled
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He decided to give it a try, initially wearing it in the race car
He’d previously experimented with traditional adhesive nasal strips, but says he noticed a difference with Intake
“I don’t know if it’s like something specifically with my nose that made it so much drastically better, but a lot of people have had the same comments and how it just really honestly helps me breathe like 50% better,” he said
Today, he uses the product daily, including while sleeping, training and racing
He also incorporates Intake’s mouth tape into his nighttime routine
For people who haven’t tried the system, Heim recommends starting with sleep
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“I think sleep is the best one,” he said. He explained that he makes using Intake part of his nightly routine and believes it helps make breathing through his nose feel more effortless
He also sees a benefit when exercising. During more intense cardio sessions, breathing can become more difficult as the body’s demand for air increases. Heim says the magnetic system helps him avoid having to consciously think about breathing through his nose
“Your body will naturally choose whichever airway is going to get you more oxygen in your body,” he explained. “When your nose is more opened up from those bands, you don’t even have to think about that.”
For Heim, the partnership with Intake is a natural extension of something he’s already incorporated into his everyday life
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Despite the considerable amount of time he spends training, racing and working in the simulator, Heim also makes a point of getting outside when he has time away from the track
Golfing and fishing are two of his favorite ways to unwind. He also enjoys taking his two dogs for walks
With so much of his professional life spent in simulators, meetings and looking at screens, getting outside and enjoying some fresh air has become an important part of his routine
“Anything that can give me some fresh air, give me outside, give me breathing, I think that’s a priority for me,” he said. “It’s like a meditation for me. I don’t meditate specifically like that, but I feel like just getting outside is just very relaxing.”
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As he prepares for the next chapter of his racing career, Heim is continuing to focus on the fundamentals that have helped him get this far: consistent training, recovery, and finding ways to stay physically and mentally prepared
This story was originally published byMen’s Journalon Nov 6, 2026, where it first appeared in theSportssection. Add Men’s Journal as aPreferred
