Corey Heim’s weekend at Martinsville got him a P2 finish, but people spoke more about the thing that took place after his on-track clash with Treyten Lapcevich. Heim was confronted by members of Lapcevich’s Chad Bryant Racing team near the Martinsville hot dog stand, with multiple punches thrown during the altercation. And while Dale Jr. has respect for Bryant for his competing in CARS Tour and Late Models, he felt he was out of line by jumping at Heim.
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On the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Dale Jr. called out Bryant and his team over the incident, despite acknowledging his longstanding respect for the team owner. NASCAR has since indefinitely suspended Bryant and another crew member for their involvement.
“Corey Heim is by the hot dog stand, and Chad Bryant and his guys jump him. Chad Bryant and his guys jumped Corey Heim. It’s all right there on the internet. That was over the line, way over the line.”
Earnhardt’s criticism was specifically directed at what happened after the checkered line was crossed. He acknowledged that Bryant has connections to the grassroots racing scene and the CARS Tour that go a long way back.
“I know Chad, you know, he’s raced in the CARS Tour, he’s raced in late-model stocks for a long time. I got a lot of good things to say about Chad, but not in that moment. That was a bad decision.”
The ValleyStar Credit Union 300 saw Caden Kvapil win the race, while Heim and Lapcevich came in P2 and P3 respectively. During the final stages, Heim and Lapcevich made contact twice, one of which was after crossing the checkered flag. Heim’s car ended up climbing over Lapcevich’s, causing significant damage.
Lapcevich then headed toward Heim, but was stopped by Bryant. The situation later escalated near the hot dog stand, where members of Bryant’s team and Bryant himself physically confronted Heim. Heim did not retaliate, and security and police eventually helped escort him back toward his hauler.
Besides Dale Jr., the incident has also drawn criticism from Lapcevich himself, who wasn’t actually involved in the brawl. In a statement posted on X, he admitted being frustrated and upset after the race, and also revealed his intention to have a conversation with Heim instead of being involved in a physical confrontation.
“What happened with Corey after the race was wrong, and it should not have happened. While I was not involved in the incident, I want to be clear that I do not condone any actions that took place. No matter the circumstances, frustration from a race never justifies putting your hands on another competitor,” Lapcevich said. “I am glad Corey was able to walk away from the situation okay.”
Denny Hamlin was even more forceful in his response while discussing the incident on the Actions Detrimental podcast. The 23XI Racing co-owner and JGR driver criticized Bryant and the crew members involved, arguing that they confronted Heim after he had been separated from his own team.
“Just complete classlessness from Chad Bryant, the owner, and his team. Those f****** cowards waited on Corey Heim to leave his car and leave his team and then jumped him while he was on the way to his hauler. I don’t know who’s in charge of NASCAR Regional, but there’s absolutely no way that any of those guys should be in a pit lane for the next year, at least. And I want them to say publicly what they do to them. And if it’s nothing, I will have a major problem.”
The incident eventually resulted in NASCAR issuing a series of penalties against those involved. As per an official statement on NASCAR’s official page, Bryant was fined $2,000 and suspended indefinitely, while Chad Bryant Racing crew member Steven Civatarese received a $1,000 fine and indefinite suspension.
Both were also suspended from the 2027 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville and placed on one-year probation. Bryant must complete anger-management training through a NASCAR-approved program if he wants to seek reinstatement.
Ryden Lapcevich, Treyten’s brother, was separately fined $500 and placed on probation through the end of the 2027 season. NASCAR also issued penalties to participants in a separate fight following a heat race, bringing the total number of people disciplined over the Martinsville altercations to seven, with two receiving indefinite suspensions.
NASCAR officials said they reviewed the post-race collision between Heim and Treyten Lapcevich before deciding on the penalties. However, the disciplinary action was focused on the physical confrontation involving crew members. Mike Forde, NASCAR’s Vice President of racing communications, also said that crew members putting their hands on drivers is unacceptable, regardless of whether the incident happens at a regional event or a Cup Series race.
There is a certain intensity and emotion behind short-track racing. Dale Jr. knows that far too well, but ultimately, that intensity and emotion crossed many lines at Martinsville. He still has ‘a lot of good things’ to say about the team owner, but what happened to Heim was, in his words and at the risk of repeating ourselves, ‘way over the line.’