“He’s better than I was at that age.” These golden words came from none other than Kyle Larson. The 2021 Cup Series champion has been compared to 4-time Formula One Champion Max Verstappen as being the best racer in the world. So when Larson concedes this level of respect to someone, you have to listen. He spoke those words of Corey Day – a 19-year-old Hendrick Motorsports phenomenon. And Day just proved that he is on that path to greatness by one-upping Larson!
High Limit Racing kicked off its 2025 season after a slew of problems. Heavy rainstorms delayed the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event, which ultimately led to HLR delaying its Friday activities. Despite the muddled-up schedule, Corey Day spewed gold.
Kyle Larson bows to his potential successor
Kubota High Limit Racing finally completed its season opener on Saturday with no dearth of drama. After the race was flagged off at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, one leader emerged dominant. And no, it was not Corey Day if you were thinking of him. Daryn Pittman looked like a strong contender as he led for the first 23 laps. However, he ran out of fuel with 7 laps remaining – and Day jumped at the opportunity. A caution on lap 24 set up a fierce fight between Day and HMS veteran Kyle Larson. Guess who prevailed in the end? It was not the 2021 Cup Series Champion!
Corey Day led seven of the final 30 laps and never allowed Kyle Larson to charge ahead. Both Larson and sprint car racing champion Brad Sweet hounded Day till the very end, but neither could get ahead. In the end, Day and Larson delivered a spectacular 1-2 finish. Bob Pockrass announced Rick Hendrick’s young speedster’s fresh glory on X. “Corey Day wins the High Limit opener ahead of Kyle Larson here at Vegas.” This victory marked Corey Day’s latest sprint car racing trophy in a long string of others. In 2024, he won 10 wins across 73 race starts besides clinching 44 top-ten and 25 top-five finishes.
@corey_day_ wins the 2025 @HighLimitRacing season opener from @LVMotorSpeedway!#HighLimitRacing pic.twitter.com/9iGD3W2fAP
— FloRacing (@FloRacing) March 16, 2025
What makes his latest win more jaw-dropping is that he beat Kyle Larson at his own game. Larson is highly touted as the potential winner at the upcoming Pennzoil 400 race, where people expect him to break Christopher Bell’s three-race win streak. Despite Larson falling short on the night, High Limit Racing, which Larson co-owns, proudly flaunted Day’s victory on Instagram: “ It’s like the kid never left at all. His first 410 Sprint Car race in five months and Corey Day goes right back to Whiskey Myers Victory Lane with Jason Meyers Racing! After a NASCAR Trucks Pole yesterday, tonight he takes $25,000 with Kubota Tractor Corporation High Limit Racing!”
Although Corey Day toppled Kyle Larson’s glory, the latter is also proud of the youngster.
Corey Day is already showing his prowess in NASCAR
The High Limit Racing program acts as a springboard to NASCAR for younger drivers. However, Corey Day is already proving that he is ahead of his time. During the qualifying race for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Ecosave 200, Rick Hendrick‘s young racer was quicker than the rest. Day won the pole at the 1.5-mile oval racetrack with a lap of 177.702 mph. It marked his first career Craftsman Truck Series pole, earned in just his fifth career Truck Series start. Although Day could not hold onto his lead during the final race – he finished in 27th place – it was a jaw-dropping start.
Kyle Larson also agreed with that after the Craftsman Truck Series event. He lauded Corey Day for his efforts: “I thought that first run went well. You know, he’s really experienced… definitely in battling for the lead in one of these. You could see it kind of showing in the side-drafting and stuff like that…That’s all stuff you learn in the beginning. So it’s fun to see that progression. You know, cool to see him run up front. He hasn’t run many pavement races and I know how his personality is and how competitive he is… You can see how good he is.”
Evidently, Kyle Larson’s faith just grew stronger in Corey Day after the latter won the HLR race. Here is to wishing Day many more wins this year!
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