Corey Day emerged as a notable racer during Friday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying session at Bristol Motor Speedway, adding to the excitement surrounding the playoff opener. The NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying event brought increased attention to Day’s performance at the historic 0.533-mile oval in Tennessee, as he demonstrated impressive speed and consistency.
Busy Racing Weekend Unfolds at Bristol
Thursday’s races in both the ARCA Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series served as a prelude to an action-packed Friday at Bristol. The day’s schedule became even more intense with the arrival of Xfinity Series practice and qualifying, starting at 2 p.m., and Cup Series sessions following shortly after. Everything built toward the highly anticipated Xfinity Series playoff opener, slated for 7:30 p.m. at the iconic track.
Corey Day Delivers Strong Qualifying Effort
Day returned for his seventh series start of the season piloting the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet. Building on the momentum from a career-best ninth-place finish at WWT Raceway the previous week, he put down a swift lap in Friday’s practice—clocking in at 16.054 seconds, which was third-fastest overall and the best time in his qualifying group. He later secured his starting position for the main event with a time of 16.167 seconds, qualifying him 17th on the grid for the Xfinity Series playoff race.
Experience Counts: Day’s Track Record at Bristol and Team Success
This Bristol outing added to Day’s experience, as he now has three CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at the venue, finishing 18th, 15th, and, most recently, 11th on Thursday night. The No. 17 team tasted victory earlier in the year at Bristol when Kyle Larson drove them to a win in the spring, underscoring the team’s competitive edge at this challenging track.
Setting the Stage for the Xfinity Series Main Event
As anticipation builds, the field is ready to compete in Friday night’s Xfinity Series main event, with all eyes on whether Day can maintain his upward trajectory. Bristol’s reputation as a highlight on the NASCAR calendar ensures that the stakes are high for the drivers, teams, and fans gathered in Tennessee. The outcome of this playoff opener will set the tone for the remainder of the Xfinity Series postseason, as the drivers compete for both prestige and crucial points in their championship bids.
