BRISTOL, Tenn.: Can Corey Day be the next dirt-tracking phenom to shake up the stock car ranks?
Day, 18, is making his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut behind the wheel of the No. 81 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet with support from HendrickCars.com at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend.
After making his NASCAR debut in the ARCA Menards Series at Salem Speedway in July—his first of three ARCA races with Pinnacle Racing Group—the Clovis, California, native is ready to tackle the high banks of Thunder Valley.
“I’m keeping an open mind completely on everything,” Day said. “I’ve only run the ARCA car one time, and this will be my first time in a truck—and running both of them in the same day.
“It’s definitely a lot on my plate, but that’s how you learn fast, having (challenges) like this and being put in tough positions. I’m really excited to be with two good teams and thankful for the opportunity.”
Day has learned “fast.” Day is currently sits fifth in the Kubota High Limit Sprint Car Series standings. He won eight races and posted 16 top fives and 28 top 10s in 44 starts.
In 2021, he became the youngest driver to win a USAC National Midget Series event with his victory at Circle City. Last year, Day scored his first World of Outlaws win. This season, Day won a qualifying feature at the Chili Bowl Nationals and finished third in Saturday’s A Main.
He added pavement to his resume last April when he competed for JR Motorsports in a Late Model Stock Car at Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway. He finished seventh in the first 40-lap feature and won wire-to-wire in the second. Day finished 15th in his ARCA debut at Salem.
Without any time in a truck prior to Friday’s UNOH 200, Day has had to rely on simulator time to get up to speed.
“I think you can learn a lot,” Day said. “You can learn the picture of how everything is going to look when you roll out there. I think it’s really, really good for that. I’m not too sure how the ‘feel’ sensation will be.
“I’ll figure that out right now (in practice). But good to have some sim time, get a look at pit road and get a look at the race track before you actually get here.”
Day’s fastest lap came on his 27th of 40 circuits in the practice session. He was 15th. With an early draw in truck qualifying, he ended up 22nd.
Day admits he’s a tad nervous not knowing what to expect at the Last Great Coliseum—but he tries to hide it well. Compared to winged-sprint cars, Day anticipates the pace of the truck race will be completely different.
“The race cars are different,” Day said. “The way the track develops is different. Just about everything is different. If sprint cars have taught me anything, it’s to search around and look for a better line. At this place, it’s definitely one of those places where you can benefit from that if you find something.
“I’m excited. I hope the truck race rubbers this place in tonight and we can get a second groove for racing. I think I’ll be right at home at the top if we can get there.”
Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].
