“When Kyle Larson and Jeff Gordon say someone is the real deal, it certainly gets your attention.” Rick Hendrick once said this about his latest prodigy, Corey Day, and it seems like he is living up to the hype! At just 19 years old, Day has already made waves in the dirt racing scene, earning the respect of some of NASCAR’s biggest dirt racing legends, notably, the 3x Chili Bowl champion Christopher Bell.
During the pre-race press conference at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Christopher Bell, one of the sport’s top drivers, couldn’t help but sing Day’s praises. Bell, a three-time winner this Cup season, knows talent when he sees it. And for him to pick the young dirt maestro over seasoned veterans for success in the Craftsman Truck Series? That’s a bold statement worth exploring.
Christopher Bell sees Corey Day as a rising star in the making
Growing up in a racing family, Corey Day’s journey into motorsports seemed almost inevitable. Hailing from Clovis, California, Day began his career on dirt bikes at a young age but shifted gears after breaking his arm at age 9. His father, Ronnie Day, a West Coast racing legend, introduced him to Sprint Cars. By 15, he became the youngest driver to win a USAC National Midget Series event at Circle City Raceway, setting the stage for a remarkable career. For 2025, he signed a deal with Hendrick Motorsports as a development driver and currently drives for Spire Motorsports in the Truck Series, a team with a technical alliance to HMS.
Corey Day made his Truck Series debut last year at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Starting 22nd on the grid, he managed to finish a decent 18th. The next three races, Kansas, Homestead–Miami, and Martinsville, produced similar results. His best-place finish? 16th at Homestead. Corey’s skills were evident. But his results in the Truck Series weren’t just about numbers. Instead, they were a glimpse into the future. “I would not be surprised at all if he comes into the sport and takes it by storm… He certainly has the skill set.” Bell explained during the Las Vegas pre-race press conference
Christopher Bell, himself a product of dirt racing, sees a lot of parallels between Corey Day’s trajectory and his own. “What dirt racing teaches you is… it teaches you to run off of instinct and car control,” Bell said. Day’s impressive 2023 season saw him clinched the King of the West Sprint Car Series Championship and the Make-A-Wish Trophy Cup, underscoring these qualities. His ability to adapt and excel on dirt tracks has earned him comparisons to Bell and Kyle Larson. Kyle Larson is on record saying, “I don’t see anybody even close to his level, and he’s still in high school. He’s basically me. He’s better than I am, or I was obviously at that age.”
Bell’s confidence in Day stems from more than just raw talent, it’s also about his relentless work ethic. In 2024, Day competed in 73 dirt track events, securing 10 wins, 25 top-five finishes, and 44 top-10s. “He’s another guy coming up like myself and Kyle [Larson] that has a lot of raw ability,” Bell said. This relentless pursuit of excellence has not only made Day a standout on dirt tracks but also prepared him for the challenges of stock car racing.
Day’s versatility extends beyond dirt racing. In 2024, he made his NASCAR Late Model debut at Hickory Motor Speedway with JR Motorsports. The result? He stunned everyone by winning in his first outing. “It means a lot,” Day said after the race, crediting his team for helping him transition from dirt to asphalt.
Day grabs pole position at Las Vegas
Corey Day’s star continues to rise! Friday night at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was another milestone in his young career. In just his fifth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start, the 19-year-old secured his first career pole for the Ecosave 200. With a blistering lap time of 30.388 seconds (177.702 mph) in his No. 7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado. Day outpaced seasoned competitors and cemented his place as a driver to watch.
“Oh man, I’m shaking,” Day said after stepping out of his truck. “I just haven’t had the most success at this stuff… so it’s pretty awesome to get a pole,” he further added. His humility belies the raw talent that has already caught the attention of motorsports giants like Rick Hendrick. Day’s accomplishment also adds another feather to Spire Motorsports’ cap. It marks their sixth Truck Series pole and showcases the team’s knack for nurturing young talent.
Remarkably, Spire has now achieved poles with four different drivers in recent races, including Rajah Caruth and Connor Zilisch. Day credited crew chief Brian Pattie for making his job “easy” during qualifying. Lining up alongside Day on the front row is Tyler Ankrum, who posted an impressive lap of 177.602 mph in his McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet.
Despite his pole, Day didn’t have the best race at Las Vegas, finishing in 27th place, two laps behind the leaders. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Corey Heim went on to clinch the victory, as Day is still in pursuit of a solid showing in the Truck Series. However, his pole position is proof that he can hold his own, as the racing world expects big things from him. So, what do you think? Will we see Corey Day in a Cup Series car next season? Let us know in the comments!
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