Hendrick Motorsports is set to make a notable return to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series as the 2026 NASCAR season starts at Daytona International Speedway on February 14. Corey Day, a standout in dirt racing and one of the sport’s top prospects, will launch his first full NASCAR campaign at just 19 years old, steering the No. 17 Chevrolet. The move marks the organization’s first full-season entry in the series since 2006, reviving strong interest in Hendrick Motorsports for the 2026 NASCAR season among fans and industry observers alike.
Path to the NASCAR Main Stage
Day transitioned into NASCAR’s upper levels following eleven Xfinity Series appearances in 2025, including an impressive fourth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway near the end of the year. His rapid progression and potential were evident, prompting Hendrick to exercise its contract option for Day to race full-time.
“That was what I was working towards this year,”
Day told NASCAR.com, reflecting on reaching this key milestone.
“To say I’m going to run a NASCAR series full-time next year is something I’ve dreamed about doing since I was a little kid. It’s really cool.”
The decision for Hendrick Motorsports was uncomplicated. After securing Day through a developmental contract in the prior January, they provided ample opportunities for him to adapt, partnering with Spire Motorsports for nine appearances in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2025. Day achieved a runner-up finish at Lucas Oil Raceway and wrapped up with a consistent stretch—four consecutive races finishing 11th or better, and three of those in the top ten.
In the Xfinity Series, Day demonstrated his skills with two top-ten results in eleven starts, boasting an average finish of 15.9—an achievement that outperformed established drivers like Sheldon Creed and Nick Sanchez in aggregate performance. “I’m ready, I’m excited,” Day remarked.
“This year, I ran a lot of different race cars, which is really challenging to be able to progress a lot in all of them. I learned a lot in each and every one of them. It’s hard to be really good at one of them when you only get to do it a certain amount of times per year.”
Building Experience and Facing New Challenges
Despite clear momentum, Day recognizes his relative inexperience behind the wheel compared to NASCAR’s full-season veterans. Gaining familiarity with the top levels of stock car racing is expected to be one of the steepest hurdles as he prepares for 2026. Notably, Day will be guided by crew chief Adam Wall, who will oversee the No. 17 team, offering consistency in leadership for his debut. As Day explained,
“You can study all you want and sim all you want, but until you do the real thing, it’s hard to get all the experience.”
He added,
“Getting into a rhythm and routine with the team”
will be a central priority in his rookie year.
Looking back on his 2025 efforts, Day shared a sense of anticipation for his first full campaign.
“At the beginning of this year, I think about how foreign it all was to me and how many first times I’ve had this year. I’m really excited for next year, my first times are only going to be going to a new track. I’m excited about that. I know the 17 car is going to be great every time I’m in it, so that makes me feel really good too.”
Evaluating Talent and Transitioning from Dirt to Pavement
Jeff Andrews, the president and general manager for Hendrick Motorsports, firmly believes in Day’s potential. Andrews’ connection extends beyond professional duties—he grew up alongside Corey’s father, Ronnie Day, himself a respected driver in sprint car circles.
“I’m a big believer in Corey and his talent,”
Andrews said. He continued,
“Corey has speed, there is no doubt about it. He is capable to go fast and not afraid to go fast. I think the progress that we wanted to see and are seeing now is what to do with that and to manage that. This isn’t a 30- or 40-lap sprint car race like he’s used to and having to go quickly and don’t have a lot of time.”
Vice chairman Jeff Gordon, who once made his own well-documented leap from dirt racing to asphalt, sees relatable attributes in Day.
“Every race that Corey has been in, he’s the first guy to start searching for different lines and different ways to pass,”
Gordon remarked. Highlighting Day’s willingness to experiment, Gordon added,
“He’s never afraid to try things. I think that’s what gravitates us towards a dirt driver. That’s a skill set that you can’t teach people. They have to get that experience, and usually it’s on dirt that they learn that. Once you learn that, you’re going to adapt to pavement and other types of cars.”
Preparing for the Next Step at Daytona
The official debut for Corey Day and the renewed Hendrick entry will come at the iconic Daytona International Speedway, marking his first-ever superspeedway race at the highest level. Day emphasized the importance of experience:
“More seat time, in general, racing around these guys.”
Reflecting on his current track record, he noted,
“I only have one top five, so I only have raced around the best guys one time. All my other races, I’ve been back in the pack racing with those guys. It’s going to be a new level to go race with the top five guys.”
Detailing the competitiveness of different sections within the field, Day explained,
“Tenth to 20th is way harder to race and make up spots than the top 10 because everyone in the back is all over the place and they are racing so much harder for those positions to hopefully get to the top 10. Whereas the guys in the top 10 are already there and more relaxed. That was good to get to learn some things.”
Setting Goals and Looking to the Future
With expectations both personal and from the racing community, Day remains focused on delivering strong, consistent results during his rookie year.
“I would love to win a race,”
he said. Setting realistic benchmarks, Day continued,
“I think top 10s, consistency, will be a big thing for me. Going to these new tracks, there is going to be a learning curve every time. I think try to have top 10s every race will be a good goal. I want to win.”
This opportunity with Hendrick Motorsports represents a culmination of persistence and development for Day, while also signaling Hendrick’s strategic commitment to rising talent in the NASCAR landscape. As the team returns to full-season competition and Day embarks on this challenging transition, the upcoming NASCAR year promises to be one filled with discovery and potential breakthroughs for the young driver and his team.
