Young drivers in NASCAR often make waves, and Corey Day is no exception. The 18-year-old has quickly captured attention, drawing comparisons to none other than NASCAR’s “golden boy” Kyle Larson. Rick Hendrick, Larson’s team owner, now has his eyes on Day, seeing him as a potential successor to the NASCAR superstar. However, along with talent, Day seems to have inherited Larson’s fearless attitude, and it’s already causing ripples on and off the track.
Corey Day has made an impressive entrance into the world of NASCAR, participating in both the ARCA Menards Series and the Craftsman Truck Series this year. He’s been showing great promise, turning heads with his energetic and aggressive driving style. Some even call him “Kyle Larson 2.0,” a nod to the driver many see as the best in NASCAR today. But with all this talent comes a certain level of confidence – or maybe overconfidence.
Day debuted in the ARCA Menards Series at Salem Speedway in July, securing a respectable 7th-place finish. Shortly after, he competed in his first Craftsman Truck race at Bristol, completing all 405 laps. These initial successes boosted his confidence as he set out to prove himself, but not without controversy. His driving in the ARCA races has been aggressive, particularly during his latest race in Kansas, where his bold moves didn’t sit well with everyone.
Day’s latest performance at Kansas Speedway during the ARCA Menards Series Reese’s 150 drew a lot of attention, but not entirely for the right reasons. On the final lap, he made a bold and questionable move to secure a better position. Day, gunning for a top-three finish, saw Andy Jankowiak as a threat to his runner-up spot. In a risky maneuver, Day bumped Jankowiak’s car from behind, sending him into the wall. While Day managed to finish 4th, Jankowiak dropped to 7th, sparking criticism from many, including Brad Keselowski’s spotter, TJ Majors.
Majors, speaking on the popular NASCAR podcast “Door, Bumper, Clear,” didn’t hold back his thoughts on Day’s actions. “It was pretty bad if you ask me,” Majors said, referring to the incident. He highlighted how smaller teams like Jankowiak’s often struggle to compete with limited resources, and Day’s aggressive driving wasn’t helping matters. Majors’ frustration wasn’t just about the on-track incident, though. It was Day’s post-race attitude that really set him off.
After the race, Day’s comments during his interview came across as dismissive, further irritating Majors and others. Day shrugged off the incident, saying he didn’t care much about the contact and was simply focused on winning. This attitude rubbed many the wrong way. As Majors pointed out, “When you go and use somebody up, you don’t just get out and say, ‘I don’t care, I’m just here to win.’” For Majors and many in the NASCAR community, Day’s response was a sign of immaturity and disrespect for his fellow drivers.
This criticism of Day’s attitude brings up an important question: Can he balance his aggressive driving style with respect for the sport and his competitors? If not, he may find himself on the wrong side of NASCAR’s tightly-knit community.
Day’s aggressive driving didn’t come without its own set of consequences. Just after his top-five finish in Kansas, he moved on to compete in the Truck Series at Kansas Speedway. Things seemed to be going well initially, as Day worked his way through the field, cracking the top 15 by lap 12. By the end of the first stage, he had climbed seven more spots, showing his potential for a top-10 finish.
However, things took a turn for the worse during his second pit stop. Matt Mills unexpectedly moved up the track, colliding with Day’s car and sending him into the wall on lap 76. The damage was severe, and Day’s race ended prematurely with a disappointing 32nd-place finish after just 75 laps. Day’s post-race remarks were less confident than his previous comments, reflecting some confusion and frustration over the incident. “I’m not real sure… just kind of following the 17 [Tanner Gray] down the track trying to grab some air, and next thing I knew, I was sideways,” Day said.
Despite the setback, Day took a moment to thank his team, acknowledging their hard work and expressing hope for the future. “We struggled on pit stops a little bit… but I felt like I had a top-10 truck for sure,” he said, showing a glimpse of humility after a tough day.
As Corey Day continues his journey in NASCAR, it’s clear that he’s learning the hard way that raw talent and aggression need to be tempered with respect and control. His early career is marked by both promising results and avoidable mistakes, much like many young drivers before him. Whether he can fully realize his potential will depend on his ability to learn from these experiences and adjust his attitude accordingly.
NASCAR fans and insiders will be watching closely to see if Day can follow in Kyle Larson’s footsteps – not just in terms of success, but in developing the maturity needed to thrive in the sport for the long haul.
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