Kyle Larson’s protege one step closer to NASCAR – Sports News
Corey Day, a 19-year-old racing driver who’s extensively thought of Kyle Larson’s high protege, will compete full-time for Hendrick Motorsports within the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series subsequent season.
Day made 11 appearances within the NASCAR Xfinity Series final season, racing within the No. 17 car for Hendrick Motorsports. He has now been handed a full-time function for subsequent season, within the rebranded NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, after impressing with two top-10 finishes by 2025.
The younger driver is seen as the following Larson, who just lately received the NASCAR Cup Series championship dramatically after Denny Hamlin noticed his title hopes crumble. Day solely signed with Hendrick in December 2024, however the group has high hopes for the prospect.
While Day gained notoriety for his efficiency within the Xfinity Series, he additionally made 9 begins within the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Day could occupy a full-time seat for the primary time, however he will likely be paired with a acquainted face, as Adam Wall will function his crew chief.
Wall oversaw the No. 17 car in 2025, as a number of drivers took turns rotating accountability. Last season, the No. 17 crew celebrated two victories and three poles within the Xfinity Series.
Now, the car will likely be solely pushed by Day after turning heads inside the Hendrick group. “Corey impressed us with how quickly he adapted this year,” mentioned crew proprietor Rick Hendrick.
“He’ll go into 2026 with less pavement experience than anyone in the field, but you’d never know it by watching him drive. The instincts and raw talent are off the charts, and he’s going to keep getting better with more seat time. Corey has a tremendous future, and we’re proud to have him represent HendrickCars.com.”
Day is delighted to have been given the chance, and plans to compete for the very best honors in his debut full-time season. “The opportunity to race full time for Mr. Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports is something I’ve been working toward and feel I’m ready for,” Day mentioned.
“I’ve learned so much from everyone here this past year, and I’m grateful for the chance to represent HendrickCars.com every week in 2026. Adam and the No. 17 team have shown the ability to win races, and I can’t wait to build on that foundation and compete for a championship.”
While Hendrick has proven religion in Day, Larson has additionally publicly endorsed his abilities on a number of events. Speaking on Sirius XM NASCAR, Larson mentioned: “He’s definitely, in my opinion, of guys who haven’t made it, he’s definitely the best prospect out there.
“So…yeah, I undoubtedly endorsed him for sure as a result of I’ve gotten a probability to race with him and first-hand see how good he’s. He’s in all probability the one one that… I really feel like seems to be like me nearly on the market…You know, similar type of driving model and all that, very versatile, can hop in something, and may determine it out.”
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