RIDGEWAY, Va. — Corey Day is steadily establishing himself in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, turning a part-time schedule into a showcase of growing talent and adaptability. The 19-year-old from Clovis, California, has navigated the challenging transition from dirt track racing to asphalt with the support of Hendrick Motorsports, mentorship from Kyle Larson, and guidance from crew chief Adam Wall.
In October, Day displayed the fruits of his hard work and adaptability with a standout fourth-place finish at Las Vegas. For Day, the race marked a personal milestone.
“Yeah. It was just a good day overall. We were first group of practice. I thought my car was really good starting practice, but it’s always hard to tell being first group and not getting the read that all the fast guys do. So yeah, I felt really good in practice.”
Even with a slight hiccup in qualifying, Day’s confidence remained intact.
“And then I had a loose moment in qualifying, but still thought we had a really fast car. So yeah, I think it was just a good day, top to bottom for my confidence. And just from an experience perspective, just getting to start 19th and pass cars and then go race in the top five was really good too.”
Finding Comfort on Asphalt
Day’s progression in Las Vegas wasn’t just about speed. It reflected his growing comfort and maturity in the car.
“Yeah, I think just a mix of all of it. We had a really good car. I’m finally at the point where I feel really comfortable in the car. I think that was my ninth Xfinity race. I think I’m just finally at the point where it’s all starting to come together.”
He emphasized the importance of seat time and learning racecraft.
“I’m finally getting seat time [so] to be comfortable in the car and figuring out the racecraft side of things. And there’s just a lot that goes into it that it’s not easy to just hop in and go fast right away. You gotta learn some things and you gotta put some things together. So yeah, overall, I just think it was a good day for me in the seat, the team, the car was phenomenal. Yeah, it was just a good day. I think everything clicked for sure.”
Mental Approach and Routine
For a driver making the jump from dirt to asphalt, routine and mental preparation are crucial. Day has learned to translate lessons from one race to the next while adapting to the unique challenges of each track.
“You know, I don’t really know. I always try and do the same thing I did the weekend before. If it went well, I guess I’ll try and mimic that from the start of the day to the end of the day. But, it’s all really subjective to the racetrack. Going to Vegas is vastly different than Martinsville, right? So you’re going to approach Martinsville different than you would Vegas.”
He stressed the importance of starting strong and guiding the team in the right direction.
“But yeah, I think you just got to start the day strong with a good practice and get a good read on your stuff. And I feel like I did a pretty good job at that. And I think that just leads the team in the right direction, too. So, I just take it one race or one session on the track at a time. And if it goes good, then that’s good.”