LAS VEGAS—Hendrick Motorsports’ investment in Corey Day is paying off. 

The 19-year-old dirt-track standout scored his first top-five finish in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday night.

While Day has displayed speed in the past, the ability to revisit a track allowed the Clovis, Californian to put all the pieces together in the Focused Health 302.

“It feels really good,” Day said. “It’s what I’ve been working at for a whole entire year now—is to be able to race at this level. These guys are really, really good at what they do, and they don’t make many mistakes. 

Corey Day (Photo Credit: Logan Riely | Getty Images)

“I feel like it has been, ‘Get myself up to speed,’ and once I get up to speed, don’t make those silly mistakes.”

Day was fourth fastest on the speed chart and topped the board on Best 10 Consecutive Lap Averages. He qualified 17th and methodically worked his way through the field. He finished the first stage 13th. After restarting 16th on Lap 52, Day climbed to ninth by the end of the second stage. 

When the race restarted with 103 circuits remaining, Day was eighth. He maintained his position until the fourth and final caution on Lap 174. Day was seventh with 22 laps to go and made the most of the restart.

“That was really cool,” Day said. “The seas kind of parted for me there through the middle of (Turns) 1 and 2 on that restart. I just owe it to the guys. They gave me a real fast car. Just a super fun night. When the car’s that good, it makes my job a whole lot easier.”

Day wheeled the car past Sheldon Creed and around the battle between Jesse Love and Nick Sanchez to finish fourth in his ninth Xfinity start.

“I feel like I’ve been on the verge of a good run like this, just silly mistakes on my part have kept me from that,” Day said. “So, it feels really good.”

Perhaps the greatest challenge dirt racers experience with transitioning to stock cars is how to manipulate the air surrounding the car. Not only has Day had to acclimate to traditional aerodynamics in cars and trucks, but on Saturday, air played havoc with the cars as well.

Corey Day, driver of the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet and Carson Kvapil, driver of the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops | Clarience Chevrolet race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 11, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo Credit: Nigel Kinrade Photography)

“You can use air to your advantage here where in dirt racing you can’t,” Day said. “And you just want to stay out of other guys’ dirty air. Learning to use it to my advantage and also learning how not to let other guys use it to their advantage on me, has been a big part of it.

“I think I’m in a good place with all of that, finally.”

Day returns to High Limit Racing this week at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., for the Midweek Series Finale on Wednesday. His attention will then turn to TA2 where he’ll drive the No. 17 HendrickCars.com/SLR-M1 Chevrolet Camaro at Barber Motorsports Park. 

Day closes out the season behind the wheel of the No. 17 Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway for Hendrick Motorsports. He is expected to take over the ride full-time for the 2026 season. 

Fellow NorCal racer Jeff Gordon appreciated the challenges Day has faced during his NASCAR transition. The Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman has been impressed with Day’s progress.

“I think we’ve all seen the talent, seeing the progression that has been coming,” Gordon said. “He finally got to go to a track where he had laps at—in the truck race and back-to-back weekends with the team and the car.

“It’s just awesome to see him put it together with the whole team and we’re excited about his future.”

Follow Lee Spencer on Twitter @CandiceSpencer or email her at: [email protected].