Corey Day sits down for an exclusive interview with NASCAR Roundtable’s Tyler Jones, ahead of Saturday's United Rentals 300 at Daytona
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Hendrick Motorsports is making its full-time return to the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series—the series formerly known as the Xfinity Series—for the first time since 2007. The team has handed the keys to the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet to 20-year-old rookie sensation Corey Day, marking an exciting new chapter for both the driver and the storied Hendrick program.
Day, a native of Clovis, California, brings an impressive and diverse racing background to the pavement world of NASCAR. His journey began on two wheels, racing dirt bikes until around age 10, before transitioning to four-wheel competition.
For the past eight years, he has excelled in the dirt racing scene, capturing three Gold Cup Sprint Car championships and amassing a strong record of victories, top-five finishes, and consistent performances. This dirt pedigree has honed his skills in high-adrenaline, unpredictable racing environments, skills that many believe translate well to stock car racing—especially when paired with Hendrick's elite resources.
Last season, Day got his feet wet in NASCAR by competing in 11 races in what was then the Xfinity Series (now rebranded as the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series). He impressed with a standout fourth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, showing flashes of the talent that made Hendrick pursue him aggressively.
Now, stepping into a full-season campaign, Day is ready to tackle the challenges of superspeedways, road courses, and short tracks alike.
This Saturday's season-opening United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway will be a major milestone for Day—his first race in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series at the iconic 2.5-mile superspeedway and only his second career start on such a massive track.
The event, set for 5 p.m. ET on The CW, kicks off the 2026 campaign and puts Day immediately into the spotlight amid pack racing and potential chaos."I'm excited, I'm anxious, I'm all the things," Day shared openly about the upcoming race.
"It will be all-new, but hopefully a lot of fun—another new discipline for me to learn." His versatility shines through in his racing history: if it has wheels, he's likely competed in it.
From dirt bikes to microsprints, sprint cars, and now full-time stock cars, Day's adaptability is one of his greatest strengths.
Day isn't entering this venture alone. He has the full backing of Hendrick Motorsports, a team that dominates the NASCAR Cup Series with champions like two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, 2020 Cup Series champion Chase Elliott, two-time Daytona 500 winner William Byron, and Alex Bowman.
Day frequently turns to these veterans for advice, particularly those with dirt racing roots like Larson and team icon Jeff Gordon.
"Everyone involved over there has been super helpful—not giving me too much information, but just the right amount," Day explained. "I'm super lucky that guys like Kyle and Jeff have come from a dirt background like I have. They've felt the way I'm feeling and can relate to me in a way not many people in this world can."
Crew chief Adam Wall, who led the No. 17 program to strong results in limited 2025 action (including wins and top finishes), will guide Day through the season. Day is approaching his rookie year with clear, ambitious objectives.
He aims not just to qualify for the postseason—known as The Chase (or playoffs in NASCAR terminology)—but to make a deep run and contend for a championship. Winning a race is also high on his list.
With Hendrick's top-tier equipment, engineering support, and data resources at his disposal, Day emphasized that execution now falls squarely on his shoulders."I have the team and resources—now it's up to me to go out and execute," he said confidently.
As the green flag drops this Saturday at Daytona, all eyes will be on Corey Day.
His transition from dirt track standout to NASCAR contender represents the next generation of talent in the sport, and with Hendrick Motorsports' storied history behind him, the sky could be the limit for this young driver in 2026.