Corey Day delivered a thrilling performance at Perth Motorplex by capturing victory during the opening night of the High Limit International on December 28. The 19-year-old racer held off strong challenges from local star Kaiden Manders, showcasing why “Corey Day High Limit International” is a phrase echoing in dirt racing circles, especially with packed stands eager to see the international lineup on this famous dirt track.
From the outset, the Perth Motorplex’s 0.31-mile oval presented a shifting challenge, with its ever-changing surface requiring drivers to constantly adapt. The field featured 24 international sprint cars, and the atmosphere was electric as fans watched drivers hustle to master the unpredictable conditions. For Day, success hinged on patience and strategic traffic management, using calculated moves and flawless execution to make clean passes at key moments.
Day’s Preparation and Determined Climb Through the Field
Arriving in Australia with impressive momentum, Corey Day had already built anticipation after racing since Boxing Day and charging from 28th to second place during Friday’s heats. Those sessions revealed both his raw pace and areas where his team needed to adjust the car’s handling for longer runs. By Saturday, lessons learned showed their value. Reflecting on his affinity for Perth Motorplex, Day shared:
“T his place is just awesome. It just suits my style really well. Definitely a different track tonight than we had on Boxing Day. So, good to know we got our car good in both of those conditions… It just gets tricky there in lap traffic when you get to them and you lose your clean air and your race car starts working a little worse.”
– Corey Day, Sprint Car Driver
The fierce opening contest, part of the High Limit International schedule and headlined by the Maddington Toyota Sprintcars, awarded $15,000 AUD to the winner. Corey Day started from the outside of the second row, while Manders – a crowd favorite – led the field away from pole, controlling the race’s early stages with precision and little challenge from his competitors. Day moved forward methodically, advancing with every opportunity that traffic afforded.
Key Moments and On-Track Battles Shape the Feature Event
As the laps unfolded, Day made a decisive pass on Manders by Lap 9, leveraging the track’s wider lanes to find extra speed out of each corner. Manders refused to let the lead slip easily; on Lap 22, he capitalized on heavy traffic to retake the top spot from Day, making the already emotional race even more intense. Day responded soon after, reclaiming first place by finding cleaner air and settling into the lead once more. In the closing stages, Manders searched for a new line in the middle but lost momentum at a crucial moment, allowing Day to guard the inside, hold position, and take the checkered flag.
Day made a point to credit his rival, stating:
“Man, hats off to the 71 (Kaiden Manders) here. He kept me honest for sure,” Day said. “I did my best to stay in clean air and keep it rolling, but it’s really hard to win when the track is this wide. There are so many grooves you can run.”
– Corey Day, Sprint Car Driver
In the final standings, Corey Day secured first place, collecting $15,000 AUD, with Kaiden Manders finishing second after a relentless fight. Dayne Kingshott rounded out the podium, underlining the strength of the local competition and setting the stage for high drama across the remainder of the week’s racing.
Day’s Racing Versatility and Upcoming International Races
Corey Day’s emergence is rooted in his adaptability across a broad range of racing disciplines. Whether in sprint cars, Xfinity, trucks, or Trans-Am events, Day consistently applies the same intensity and focus that have made him a standout. He is set to compete full-time with Hendrick Motorsports in the No.17 Chevrolet for the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. For now, his stint racing on Australian dirt is a proving ground ahead of NASCAR’s return – and his performances in Perth are building his reputation well beyond the United States.
The High Limit International schedule only intensifies from here. Night Two, taking place on December 29, features another $15,000-to-win preliminary for the Maddington Toyota Sprintcars, followed by a Late Model contest. The action crescendos on December 30 with the lucrative $110,000 AUD High Limit International Main Event, bolstered by a Formula 500s feature and the City of Kwinana Monster Fireworks show. Last year’s finale saw NASCAR legend Kyle Larson take the top prize, a result that further established Perth Motorplex as one of the premier international dirt venues outside North America.
As the week continues, anticipation grows for whether Corey Day can repeat his success and possibly claim the major spoils, as well as how Manders, Kingshott, and other rivals will rise to the challenge. The results thus far have energized fans across Australia and reaffirmed Perth’s reputation as a critical stop on the global sprint car calendar.
“This place is just awesome.” 🙌🏼@Corey_Day_ reacted to his first victory in Australia after topping Sunday’s High Limit International prelim at @PerthMotorplex. pic.twitter.com/hIOzyCeewd
— High Limit Racing (@HighLimitRacing) December 28, 2025
