Rick Hendrick’s new protégé may not entirely resemble Kyle Larson. Corey Day, the 19-year-old speedster who made waves with his prodigal success, is on his 2025 journey. Driving for the High Limit Racing series co-owned by Kyle Larson, Day clinched 10 wins and 23 top-five finishes in the dirt last year. However, Day seemingly cannot translate the same success in his first project this season.

The 39th running of the Chili Bowl witnessed a jaw-dropping HMS win already. Larson bagged the A-Main Preliminary victory en route to the final event. However, Larson 2.0 could not display the same prowess. This happened despite Corey Day’s dominance last season.

Corey Day fails to match his previous result

The 38th Chili Bowl saw the rise of a teenage racing star. In January 2024, 18-year-old Corey Day turned heads as he drove the No. 41 Factory Kahne Racing entry. The California native drove away from the pack during the 30-lap York Plumbing Qualifying Night feature to capture his first preliminary trophy. It was only his third year wheeling a midget car at SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A year ago, Day convinced people of his prowess at handling midgets. But unfortunately, this year he may be contradicting his own success as Day confessed recently.

In an interview with journalist Matt Weaver, Corey Day came clean about his faltering efforts. “I don’t know what’s been going on. But even on the sprint car side of things, we go to a place and be really good. Then we go back there and we’re like, ‘Oh, we were good, it’s the same thing.’ And it just does not work.” 

This represents an inauspicious start to a season packed with a load of anticipation. A week ago, Hendrick Motorsports signed Corey Day to a multi-year deal to drive on the pavement for Hendrick. Day is scheduled for select starts for Xfinity, Craftsman Truck, ARCA Menards, and Trans Am.

Corey Day continued the thread of his piling problems for the 2025 Chili Bowl. “Unfortunately…just a little frustration with a lack of knowing what to do. You know, every time I try and fix our type problem, fly in the nose – we just lose all grip. You’d rather have grip and be flying the nose than having to control it.” 

Matt Weaver updated on X how the Chili Bowl Nationals authorities brought the same package from last year. Despite that, Corey Day could not excel – the young racer admitted that extra lap time may not help either. “I’m glad we’ll have 20 laps in the B-Main to try something of course. I’d like to have a great race car like last year, be locked in – but it just doesn’t work that way.”

However, Day himself had been gaping in disbelief at his success last year.

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Calling it a stroke of luck

Well, Corey Day has a long resume of success on various tracks. In 2021, he won the USAC National Midget Series 2021 at 15 years of age – becoming the youngest driver to do so. Last year, Day clinched the 83rd Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura, California. Rick Hendrick has hailed Day for his marvelous talents and racing heritage: “Corey comes from a great racing family and in a short time has shown a level of talent that sets him apart. What he’s already accomplished at this point in his career speaks volumes.”

However, he also emphasized Day’s area of expertise. “It’s been impressive to see how quickly he’s adapted to pavement.” Similarly, Corey Day admitted his inefficiencies in Chili Bowl last season.

During the 2024 preliminary feature, he held off tough charges by Chili Bowl expert and pole-sitter Jack Swanson to take the lead. Then he went on to clinch the trophy as Swanson fought with Michael Faccinto. After the race, Day admitted: “To win a prelim night at Chili Bowl is crazy. I didn’t know if I’d ever achieve it — I’m not a midget guy and these are all the best guys in this building.”

Evidently, Corey Day’s lack of expertise in midgets was more prominent this season. As the year progresses, we hope to see the youngster make up for his Chili Bowl failure.