Corey Day's Impressive Fourth Place Finish at Las Vegas: A Breakthrough Moment
It's been over a year since Corey Day made his NASCAR debut, and the Clovis, California native is proving that his hard work is paying off. In his ninth start across the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Day achieved his career-best fourth-place finish in the Focused Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, a remarkable feat for the 19-year-old protégé of Kyle Larson.
Day's performance is a testament to his talent and dedication. Since joining NASCAR's National Series, he's consistently shown the pace to compete, with a notable pole position in the Truck Series at Las Vegas in the Spring. However, he's struggled to put together a full weekend of strong performances, a common challenge for rookie drivers.
But recent top-five results in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Nashville and Indianapolis Raceway Park have signaled a turning point. Day's ability to adapt to different racing styles and learn from his mentors, including Kyle Larson, Josh Wise, and Scott Speed, has been instrumental in his progress.
Day's Las Vegas performance was a testament to his resilience. Starting 19th due to a qualifying bobble, he made a steady progress through the field, keeping his car intact. In the final 23-lap green-flag run, he drove his No. 17 Chevrolet into the top-five, an impressive eight-spot gain, finishing fourth.
Day's success is a result of his strong support system, including Rick Hendrick and the entire Hendrick Motorsports organization. His ability to simplify complex concepts and learn from experienced drivers like Kyle Larson has been crucial to his development. As he prepares for the final two NASCAR Xfinity Series events of 2025, Day's future in racing looks bright, with a promising career ahead.
