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Corey Heim’s rise from Georgia tracks to dominating the Truck Series has fans buzzing. But the credit for Corey’s performance also goes to his family, which keeps him in the fast lane. The 22-year-old phenom, now full-time with Tricon Garage’s No. 11 Toyota, credits his roots in Marietta for building his grit in the early years, which fans today see on tracks like Daytona and Talladega. Behind those 22 victories in the truck series stand Lisa and Ray Heim, the everyday heroes steering his path with steady hands and big hearts. Today, let’s focus on the parents who are powering one of NASCAR’s brightest future stars. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Who are Corey Heim’s parents? Lisa Heim, a dedicated nurse from Park Ridge, Illinois, brings a calm, caring touch to the family’s high-speed life. She studied nursing at the University of Pittsburgh, honing skills that likely steady Corey’s ups and downs. Her role keeps things grounded amid the travel and tension of winning a race, offering the kind of support that lets Corey focus on the track. Ray Heim (Kevin Heim), Corey’s dad, hails from Pittsburgh’s West Deer and Verona areas, where he graduated from Riverview High School before chasing his own asphalt dreams back in Georgia. A former late model racer at Lanier National Speedway, he notched top finishes over a decade ago while juggling a career in the gambling industry. He also sold slot machine monitors to fund Corey Legend’s car runs. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Today, as Chief Technology Officer at Pen-Tech Associates in Kennesaw, Georgia, Ray channels that hustle into community tracks, mentoring young drivers through local events, and keeping racing accessible for families who are not rich like his own back in the day. While specifics on other kids stay private, Lisa and Ray focus on nurturing Corey’s talent, blending her nursing knowledge with his track smarts. But how did this Pennsylvania speedster and Illinois caregiver meet to spark a NASCAR legacy? Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Where and how did Lisa Heim and Ray Heim meet? Details of Lisa and Ray Heim’s origin story remain unknown from the spotlight. But they may have crossed paths in the early 2000s, likely through Ray’s East Coast roots with Lisa’s Midwest ones, during his move south for work and racing events. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Ray’s shift from Pittsburgh’s mills to Georgia’s speedways set the stage, where nursing opportunities might have drawn Lisa nearby, perhaps at a university event or through shared circles in the growing Atlanta area. Their low presence in the news headlines together suggests that their bond formed quietly, away from headlines, building a home in Marietta that became Corey’s launchpad by 2002. Public data has no record of when the two met, but their partnership might have started off around the time Ray dove deeper into tech and racing, with Lisa’s nursing path providing balance. It’s the kind of low-key start that mirrors NASCAR‘s underdog tales, away from media headlines, grinding hard every day just to shine on the big stages. What ethnicity are Corey Heim’s parents? Lisa and Ray Heim represent American culture without an exact ethnicity record in public data. But Ray’s Pittsburgh upbringing suggests a blue-collar Pennsylvania heritage, the kind that is found in steel towns. Lisa’s Illinois origins point to Midwest heritage, as she grew up in Park Ridge. Both hold U.S. nationality. Their backgrounds mix the drive of the East Coast with Central steadiness, and together they shaped a home that gave Corey a perfect Georgia-bred accent. In a sport full of diverse stories, the Heims keep it rooted in American culture that shows simplicity, letting his actions both on and off the track speak louder. Yet it’s their personal relationship with their son that motivates Corey’s drive. Inside Corey Heim’s relationship with his parents Corey Heim’s bond with Lisa and Ray runs deeper; they are a tight-knit trio in NASCAR, where they support and motivate Corey to do better. Ray’s there in the pits, tweaking setups for Corey like he did with his own Legends cars, while Lisa is there doing the nursing role of doing post-race checks. That influence hit early: at age five, Ray’s Christmas go-kart surprise ignited Corey’s interest in racing; what started as simple father-son track trips later turned into lessons on persistence. “My dad was always a big NASCAR fan. He raced Legend cars a lot when I was growing up at Lanier,” Corey shared in an interview, crediting those summers with his father for his truck-dominant edge. Ray echoes the pride: “Since Corey started picking it up, there’s been nothing better to see. He is so dedicated to becoming a better driver. He takes every racing experience and builds on it.” Lisa’s quieter role anchors it all; her nursing know-how likely helped in easing the mental grind of losses and wins. Together, they’ve turned rough starts, like low-budget quarter-midget days, into Truck Series victories, proving family support leads straight to victory.
