Corey Day, a 19-year-old racing driver who is widely considered Kyle Larson’s top protege, will compete full-time for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series next season.

Day made 11 appearances in the NASCAR Xfinity Series last season, racing in the No. 17 car for Hendrick Motorsports. He has now been handed a full-time role for next season, in the rebranded NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, after impressing with two top-10 finishes through 2025.

The young driver is seen as the next Larson, who recently won the NASCAR Cup Series championship dramatically after Denny Hamlin saw his title hopes crumble. Day only signed with Hendrick in December 2024, but the organization has high hopes for the prospect.

While Day gained notoriety for his performance in the Xfinity Series, he also made nine starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Day may occupy a full-time seat for the first time, but he will be paired with a familiar face, as Adam Wall will serve as his crew chief.

Wall oversaw the No. 17 car in 2025, as several drivers took turns rotating responsibility. Last season, the No. 17 team celebrated two victories and three poles in the Xfinity Series.

Now, the car will be solely driven by Day after turning heads inside the Hendrick organization. “Corey impressed us with how quickly he adapted this year,” said team owner Rick Hendrick.

“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 is delighted to have been given the opportunity, and plans to compete for the highest honors in his debut full-time season. “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.”

While Hendrick has shown faith in Day, Larson has also publicly endorsed his talents on several occasions. Speaking on Sirius XM NASCAR, Larson said: “He’s definitely, in my opinion, of guys who haven’t made it, he’s definitely the best prospect out there.

“So…yeah, I definitely endorsed him for sure because I’ve gotten a chance to race with him and first-hand see how good he is. He’s probably the only one that… I feel like looks like me almost out there…You know, same sort of driving style and all that, very versatile, can hop in anything, and can figure it out.”