Corey Day, an 18-year-old rookie, has been under the spotlight lately, facing criticism after two incidents during races at Kansas Speedway. The young driver, who’s often compared to NASCAR champion Kyle Larson, has drawn ire from fans following a collision with Andy Jankowiak on the final lap of the ARCA Menards Series. Adding to the drama, he was forced to retire early from the Kubota Tractor 200 after an incident with Matt Mills’ No. 42 Chevy during the final stage of the race.
While it might feel like the NASCAR community has turned against him, Corey Day has a powerful ally in his corner—his idol Kyle Larson. Despite the mistakes Day made on the Kansas track, Larson has come to his defense, providing some much-needed encouragement for the budding driver.
Day’s weekend at Kansas was filled with both triumph and disappointment. On the bright side, he achieved his best-ever finish in the ARCA Menards Series, placing fourth. However, the joy was short-lived as he clashed with Andy Jankowiak following their last-lap collision. Later, in only his second Truck Series race, his momentum was abruptly halted after his car made contact with Matt Mills during lap 77, forcing him out of the race.
The backlash from fans has been intense, but Larson’s support might provide Day with some solace. In an interview with Frontstretch’s Stephen Stumpf, Larson reflected on his own early days in the Truck Series. He noted similarities between his mistakes and Day’s learning curve, saying, “I think you can look at my first few Truck starts, like at Homestead, I wrecked the field pulling a similar move. When you’re young and don’t come from a stock car background, there’s a lot you’ve got to learn.”
Larson emphasized that the incidents at Kansas should serve as valuable lessons for Day as he navigates the challenges of NASCAR. According to Larson, these experiences will help Day better understand how to position his car on the track and when to take or hold back from making certain moves. “He’s got a lot of talent and hype, but he’s still new to stock cars and learning quickly,” Larson added.
Coming from a background in sprint racing, Corey Day is still adapting to the demands of NASCAR. At just 18 years old, it’s not surprising that he’s making rookie mistakes, but it’s clear that Hendrick Motorsports sees his potential, having signed him as a development driver. NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon has also expressed confidence in Day’s ability to reach the highest levels of stock car racing. The big question is: can Day rise to these high expectations, or will the pressure get to him?
The comparisons to Kyle Larson are both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, being likened to a NASCAR Cup Series champion highlights Day’s potential. On the other hand, the weight of those comparisons could overwhelm the young driver if he’s not careful. Rather than focusing on the pressure from fans and the media, Day needs to concentrate on his own steady development. Growth, after all, doesn’t happen overnight. If he can adopt a long-term mindset, he’ll have a much better chance of climbing the NASCAR ranks.
Larson himself has faith in Day’s abilities, believing the young driver has what it takes to succeed. After a rollercoaster of a weekend, Larson’s words of encouragement could be exactly what Day needs to regain his confidence as he prepares for upcoming Truck Series races at Homestead-Miami and Martinsville Speedway.
In praising Day, Larson highlighted some of the qualities that make him a standout prospect. “He’s got a good feel for the grip and the tire, and he knows how to drive on the edge, a lot like I did,” Larson said. “He’s still young, but he learns quickly. He’ll be good.”
For Corey Day, patience will be key. At 18, time is on his side, and with experienced figures like Kyle Larson and Jeff Gordon in his corner, he has a solid foundation to build on. His immediate focus should be on performing well in his remaining two Truck Series races this year, with the goal of securing a full-time seat with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing.
By taking a step-by-step approach and learning from each race, Day can gradually adjust to the intricacies of stock car racing. As he hones his skills and gains experience, there’s no reason he can’t progress to higher levels like the Xfinity Series and eventually the Cup Series. With talent, determination, and the right guidance, Corey Day has a promising career ahead of him in NASCAR.
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