Denny Hamlin warns Corey Day after a string of contentious moments in the early O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races, calling out the youngster for his repeated errors and lack of accountability. The issues emerged following multiple incidents involving Day, a Hendrick Motorsports developmental driver, leading to escalating tension with fellow competitors and prominent figures in motorsports.
Corey Day, new to the Hendrick Motorsports program, has sparked controversy during all three opening events of the season. In each race, he was tied to a wreck, and observers say Day largely escaped responsibility for these mishaps. The tension peaked following a heated altercation with Connor Zilisch at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA), prompting Denny Hamlin—a seasoned Joe Gibbs Racing driver and co-owner of 23XI Racing—to speak publicly about Day’s performances.
Hamlin’s Take on Day’s On-Track Errors and Reputation
Hamlin, referencing Day’s racecraft and developmental trajectory, firmly stated that Day’s current tenure was marked more by glaring errors than by any truly impressive runs. Hamlin’s pointed criticism suggested that Day’s recurring mistakes have not only cost race results but have also started to alienate others in the paddock.
“How long does the experiment continue to go? I mean you’ve seen good runs out of him. I haven’t seen a lot of great runs out of him. You’ve seen more mistakes than you’ve seen great runs. And like when I say mistakes, like big ole blatant mistakes. And every weekend there’s some guys that are upset.” – Denny Hamlin, via Actions Detrimental.
The feeling in the garage is growing increasingly negative around Day, as many believe he is not shouldering enough of the blame for these incidents. According to Hamlin, Day’s frequency of high-profile mistakes overshadows any moments of promise, raising questions about his readiness for higher levels of competition.
Comparing Corey Day to Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson
Part of the conversation has compared Corey Day to other young talents, most notably Carson Hocevar and reigning Cup Series champion Kyle Larson. Hamlin drew a distinction between Hocevar’s aggressive, strategic contacts and Day’s more aimless collisions.
“It’s very different than Carson Hocevar, right? Like it feels different in the sense of like Carson’s just really, really aggressive and makes contact where Day just makes contact. There’s a difference.” – Denny Hamlin
While some in the racing world hope Day could evolve into a driver of Larson’s caliber, Hamlin suggested the key difference lies in performance under pressure. Larson often made mistakes while operating at the edge of control, but those instances were offset by his consistent ability to deliver wins—something Day has not yet achieved at the same rate.
“Because when you make a ton of mistakes like it seems like he’s making, you’ve just got to think that you’re not as willing to deal with not winning if you’re also making mistakes. If you win a lot of races and you’re making a lot of mistakes, it sounds like Kyle Larson. You know what I mean? But yeah, you’re willing to deal with it in the Kyle Larson sense because the guy’s going to win you a ton of races.” – Denny Hamlin
This difference has led insiders, including Hamlin, to question whether Hendrick Motorsports’ investment in Day will produce the same level of return, especially if results don’t soon improve.
Future Uncertainty for Day at Hendrick Motorsports
The ongoing debate centers now on how much patience Hendrick Motorsports is willing to afford Corey Day as he navigates a rocky start to his professional racing career. Hamlin highlighted that, for a team like Hendrick, driver development is not an endless charity—it must lead to victories and a positive team environment.
“My question will be for Hendrick, because obviously I don’t think they’re in this to, just, for charity reasons. I think they’re trying to develop someone. How long do of a rope do you give him? Is it to the end of the year? Is it next year also? Like, OK, by next year you need to be winning three or four races or more. How long is the rope?” – Denny Hamlin
Hamlin’s question reflects the mounting expectation within the organization for Day to show measurable progress. Unlike Larson, Day’s mistakes have yet to be balanced out by achievements on the track, which leaves open the possibility that team executives may issue warnings—or ultimately reconsider his place in the program—if improvement is not forthcoming. The message from established names like Hamlin is clear: Day must clean up his racing and work on his relationships with others if he wants a lasting future with a top-tier team like Hendrick Motorsports.
As the season continues, the spotlight will remain fixed on Corey Day, his response to public criticism, and any adjustments Hendrick or the young driver chooses to make. For now, Denny Hamlin’s warning stands: the tolerance for “big, blatant mistakes” is running thin, and sustained underperformance could mean a shorter leash for any rising star in such a fiercely competitive environment.
