Corey Day Continues NASCAR Ascent with Ninth-Place Finish at Phoenix

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Corey Day, the 20-year-old rising star in NASCAR, secured a ninth-place finish at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, marking his third consecutive top-10 result in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The Hendrick Motorsports driver overcame a pit road issue and late-race chaos to deliver a strong performance in his first full-time season.

Race Recap

Starting eighth, Day initially lost a couple of positions but quickly regained momentum, demonstrating the speed of his No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet. He finished seventh in the first stage, earning valuable bonus points. A pit road mishap during the second stage dropped him to 23rd, but Day methodically climbed back through the field.

As the race entered its final stage, Day was challenging for a top-10 position when a late-race caution flag waved with 36 laps remaining. A subsequent multi-car crash further shuffled the field, setting up a thrilling sprint to the finish. Day capitalized on the opportunity, skillfully maneuvering through the pack to secure a ninth-place finish.

Key Stats from Phoenix

• Start Position: 8th
• Finish Position: 9th
• Stage 1 Finish: 7th

Hendrick Motorsports Teammate Results

William Byron, also driving for Hendrick Motorsports, finished 13th after sustaining damage in a late-race crash.

Looking Ahead

The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway next week for a race scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday.

Corey Day’s Career Highlights

Corey Day has quickly grow a name to watch in NASCAR, building a strong foundation through success in dirt track racing. Some of his notable achievements include:

• 2023 King of the West Sprint Car Series Champion
• 2023 & 2024 Trophy Cup Champion
• 2024 Turkey Night Grand Prix Winner
• 2017 Tulsa Shootout Restricted A-Class Winner
• 2023, 2024, & 2025 Gold Cup Sprint Car Champion

NASCAR Career Summary (as of March 7, 2026)

• NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: 14 races run, 5 top-10 finishes
• NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: 13 races run, 3 top-10 finishes, 1 pole
• ARCA Menards Series: 6 races run, 3 top-10 finishes
• ARCA Menards Series East: 1 race run, 1 top-10 finish
• ARCA Menards Series West: 2 races run, 2 top-10 finishes

Day drives the No. 17 Chevrolet Camaro SS for Hendrick Motorsports.