A back-to-back streak of bad luck stings indeed. Rick Hendrick’s team mostly had a thumping good 2025 season. Most notably, Kyle Larson clinched his second NASCAR Cup Series championship after narrowly defeating season-favorite Denny Hamlin. As 2026 rolls into view, a blooming talent akin to Larson’s is set to join the ranks. However, Hendrick’s recruit slammed into an unexpected roadblock at the Chili Bowl before his season could start.

Rick Hendrick’s new racer laments

“Last year, we were terrible. Just going off on what we had in 2024,” Corey Day told journalist Matt Weaver. “Just kind of playing with it. You know you do something different than outdoors when you come to this building. So we’re trying to figure out what works best for your car. We were one end of the spectrum that first practice session and then the other in there. Just kind of trying to find our limits at both ends.”

Chili Bowl’s practice day commenced on 11th January, Sunday, and Corey Day almost fell prey to an accident. Wheeling the No. 41 Factory Kahne midget car, Rick Hendrick’s new driver did not have a smooth ride maneuvering the turns on the dirt track of Tulsa, Oklahoma. At one point, his vehicle almost flipped over. According to FloRacing, an announcer apparently gave a foresight about his ill-handling car.

This seems similar to Corey Day’s 2025 Chili Bowl campaign, which was also chaotic. Handling treacherous track conditions, Day had the front tires off the ground on the exit of turn 2 multiple times late in the qualifier race. The Californian did not have the pace to keep up with frontrunners Emerson Axsom and Daison Pursley. As a consequence, he found himself outside of row four for the main event.

What’s more, Rick Hendrick‘s young racer has a fuzzy idea about what went wrong. “We wish we really knew how. We don’t know. I think that track had a lot of grip in it last year compared to the year prior. Just the curb was really thick and grippy. And it would suck in. Whereas the year before was kinda powdery, and it would crumble and wasn’t completely that way. So I think its like in the middle of both of those.”

His Chili Bowl curse has become a talking point because, despite being a phenomenal dirt‑track racer, he hasn’t been able to seal the big one in the main A‑Feature. And the reason it feels even more frustrating is because Day has been dominant in other grassroots and dirt racing events.

For instance, he was the 2022 Chili Bowl Rookie of the Year. He has multiple wins across dirt series and has also won the King of the West 410 NARC championship. He even became the youngest winner of the Turkey Night Grand Prix.

Plus, Day’s talent has also been evident whenever he’s raced against established stars. He even beat Kyle Larson at the 2025 Kubota High Limit Racing season opener at Las Vegas in March last year. He described that win as special, as naturally he beat one of the best in the sport.

Nevertheless, Corey Day is focused: “I don’t really care as long I’m locked come Saturday night.”

As the 19-year-old navigates his Chili Bowl aspirations, he also looks forward to a grand NASCAR entry despite certain doubts.

Top Stories

NASCAR 2026 Championship Format Explained: Points System, Bonuses, Stages & More

7 NASCAR Drivers Facing a Do-or-Die Situation in the 2026 Season

Tony Stewart Takes a Dig at the Daytona 500 With 7-Word Chili Bowl Verdict Amid Souring NASCAR Ties

Livid Fans Rip Into FOX Sports as They Publicly Call Out Daytona 500 Disgrace

NASCAR Insider Reveals Growing Industry Anxiety After Greg Biffle’s Fatal Plane Crash

Harboring a wild history

Last November, Rick Hendrick announced that Corey Day will drive for Hendrick Motorsports full-time in 2026. Wheeling the No. 17 HMS Chevrolet in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, marking his first full-time entry. Day packs a lot of heat, having started 11 races already in 2025, with a jaw-dropping 4th-place finish in Las Vegas. However, his sprint car racing history has given him a competitive itch that may turn haywire at times.

“I’m used to 30-lap sprint car races, and I caught myself in the middle of the year getting mad in the car if we weren’t good stage one or if I was backing up, I’d do something stupid. Telling myself, ‘Just hold on until a pit stop,'” Corey Day said.

More specifically, Day was concerned about resorting to short-run explosiveness instead of proper race execution. Dirt racing conditions drivers to attack in small, intense sprints. In contrast, NASCAR demands patience, pit-road strategy, and letting the car pick up pace over a race. So the impending transition is concerning Day.

Nevertheless, a sufficient battery of enthusiasm may be enough for Rick Hendrick’s recruit. Let’s wait and see how he performs.