Corey Heim's Longtime Spotter and Mentor Lloyd Garner Dies at 54 After Cancer Battle

The NASCAR community is mourning Lloyd Garner, the longtime spotter and mentor who helped guide Corey Heim from short-track late models to the sport’s national series. Garner died Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 54 after a battle with cancer, according to his obituary as reported by Parade.

Heim, 23XI Racing’s incoming full-time Cup Series driver, had publicly credited Garner as a key figure in his rise. As of Thursday, Heim’s own public response to the death had not been widely reported, and this article does not attribute any new statement to him.

Who was Lloyd Garner?

Garner was a spotter, the person who stands high above the track and serves as a driver’s eyes over the radio, warning of traffic, wrecks and other dangers. He worked with several drivers over the years and was known in the garage as a mentor to young racers coming through the short-track ranks, EssentiallySports reported.

Parade, citing Short Track Scene, reported that Garner was fondly nicknamed “Sleepy Lloyd” for his habit of napping almost anywhere.

What was his connection to Corey Heim?

Garner spotted for Heim from his earliest days in late-model racing and into the ARCA series. EssentiallySports recalled Garner calling “Crossover!” over and over during an ARCA race Heim won at Cordele Speedway in 2020.

Before the 2026 ValleyStar Credit Union 300, Heim spoke about Garner’s influence:

“He’s the man. He’s a big part of my development. You know, he spotted me all the way through my beginning in late models and did some ARCA with me as well,” Heim said, as quoted by EssentiallySports and Parade.

How did Lloyd Garner die?

Garner died after a battle with cancer. Geo News reported that his family had revealed weeks earlier that he had been diagnosed with metastatic esophageal cancer.

His sister, Angela Medina, launched a GoFundMe campaign on Sept. 30 to help with treatment, medication, transportation and household bills. In updates before his death, she described the family’s struggle to get care, including a long emergency room wait and unsuccessful attempts to reach his oncologist, and later said hospice care had been arranged, according to Geo News. Those details come from the family’s fundraiser updates as described in news reports; no further medical information has been released.

How has the NASCAR world reacted?

Tributes spread through the garage on Wednesday. NASCAR spotter Freddie Kraft shared a black-and-white photo of Garner with a short message: “Rest in peace Big Buddy.” Motorsport journalist Matt Weaver described him as a kind, thoughtful man who had earned the trust of many drivers, Geo News reported.

Family and friends plan to celebrate Garner’s life at Hickory Motor Speedway on Nov. 2, according to Parade.

When does Corey Heim race next?

Heim is not scheduled to race again in a NASCAR national series until the season finale weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he is set to run both the Truck Series and Cup Series races, Beyond the Flag reported.

His recent results:

• Phoenix (Cup): Started 36th and finished fifth in the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota
• Talladega (Trucks): Finished 10th despite two flat tires
• Talladega (Cup): Did not enter, as planned

Beyond the Flag said Heim has won twice in 12 Cup starts this season, at Naval Base Coronado and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, in a part-time schedule ahead of his move to full-time Cup racing in 2027.

What is Corey Heim’s 2027 plan?

Heim is set to drive full-time in the Cup Series in 2027. Beyond the Flag reported that he is set to take over the No. 35 Toyota, which Riley Herbst has driven since 2025, as Herbst moves to Legacy Motor Club.

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