Corey Day to race full time in NASCAR (O'Reilly) for Hendrick Motorsports in 2026

Hendrick Motorsports Press Relations ^ | 7 November 2025

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

CONCORD, N.C. – After making 11 appearances in the NASCAR (O'Reilly Auto Parts) Series in 2025, 19-year-old rising star Corey Day will compete full time on the circuit next season in the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet fielded by Hendrick Motorsports.

Day signed with Hendrick Motorsports in December 2024 and made his O'Reilly Auto Parts Series debut March 29 at Martinsville Speedway. The dirt racing phenom ran nearly 30 pavement events in 2025 across multiple series, including nine starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (one pole position and a best finish of second). In the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, Day notched a top finish of fourth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 11.

A native of Clovis, California, Day will be paired with crew chief Adam Wall, who oversaw the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet program in 2025. It recorded two wins, three pole positions, three runner-up finishes, 10 top 10s and nine top fives with a rotation of drivers. Running just 21 of 33 races, the team led the third-most laps in the series (577).

“Corey impressed us with how quickly he adapted this year,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group. “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, who will turn 20 on Nov. 28, arrived in NASCAR with an impressive dirt-track résumé that included 10 victories, 25 top-five finishes and 44 top 10s across 73 starts in 2024 alone. That year, he captured the 83rd Turkey Night Grand Prix, becoming the youngest winner in the event’s history. His 2025 dirt campaign featured marquee victories across multiple series, including a High Limit Racing win in Las Vegas, a World of Outlaws triumph at Knoxville, and a third straight Gold Cup Race of Champions title. He also scored an emotional High Limit victory at his home track of Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway.

Before his 2024 breakout, Day earned Chili Bowl Rookie of the Year honors in 2022, followed by the 2023 King of the West 410 NARC Championship and a World of Outlaws Gold Cup victory – adding his name to a list that includes his father, Ronnie Day.

“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 said. “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.”

---

TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: nascar; oreillyautoparts; payday

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

There was an issue in the press release because of a sponsor conflict in the Hendrick sponsor department (Genuine Parts Company - NYSE : GPC, which I hold shares; the series sponsor is O'Reilly Auto Parts - NASDAQ : ORLY), the correct series name was not referenced. It has been corrected for this printing.

"Pay Day" broke out last year in some of the best races in dirt. He also has made a Truck Series podium. He is a second-year driver under NASCAR rules.

2022: 17th in Chili Bowl (Rookie of the Year) 2023: NARC 410 King of the West Champion (father won in 2000), Silver Dollar Speedway Gold Cup (last WoO race; has become a High Limit race since) 2024: 8 High Limit wins, including Silver Dollar Speedway Gold Cup, Midget win Turkey Night GP, 1 WoO win (Knoxville, IA in May) 2025: 1 WoO win (Knoxville, IA in June), 6 High Limit Wins including Silver Dollar Speedway Gold Cup (again), Las Vegas opening night, and Eldora Double Down Duel.

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

Used to loooove Nascar. Watching Earnhardt Sr was incredible. Along came Jeff Gordon, and the Earnhardt Sr / Gordon battles were great.

Then Nascar went woke, and I haven’t watched since.

Each Nascar level has different title/sponsor.

I have never heard of the O’Reilly Auto Parts level, and still do not care.

My wife and I walk to the local Little League parks and games. They are way fun to watch.

[T.B. Yoits]

Yeah, good riddance to Noosecar after they spit in the face of all Americans.

[Tax-chick]

I visited Hendrick Motorsports on Wednesday evening with my son’s Automotive Explorers group. We’d been there 8 or 9 years earlier with our Cub Scouts. It was really cool.

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

The first one is an AI one. Bubba has the sponsorship of McDonald’s thanks to the folks from a few franchisees. But nobody wants to talk about the influence of Sir Lewis at the FIA level that is forced on ACCUS (which NASCAR founded in 1956, the national governing body of motorsport that reports to the FIA).

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

Hendrick Motorsports, part of President Trump's idea of military.

They build O'Reilly Auto Parts Series chassis and some Craftsman Truck Series chassis, but the majority of chassis builds now are for the Army M1301 ISV.


The U. S. Army M1301 Infantry Squad Vehicle, the Silent Tactical Energy Enhanced Dismount military cart, and the seats for the AH-64 Apache Helicopter are built by Hendrick Motorsports.

The NASCAR chassis builders are doing military vehicles. The suspension is done by Rod Hall Products, which is off-road racing's Chad Hall and his family. Trump's first administration selected this vehicle for a reason -- racing builds better military vehicles.

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article300655019.html

[Tax-chick]

The guide mentioned that they had some facilities for military production and testing. He also pointed out a very large new building that will be leased by a Formula One producer to build engines.