KANSAS CITY — Corey Day is taking life in the fast lane to the extreme.

Between 22 NASCAR races and as many High Limit Racing events he can squeeze into his schedule, the 19-year-old racer continues to sharpen his skills on dirt and asphalt.

Day’s double-duty return to competition in both disciplines at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March was nothing short of impressive. A whirlwind of activity surrounded Day’s weekend, starting with the premiere of DIRT II: A Season with High Limit Presented by NOS Energy Drink—in which he was featured prominently.

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While rain and wind played prominently in the disruption of the race schedule, Day delighted fans by earning his first Craftsman Truck Series pole on the 1.5-mile oval Friday. He then scored his ninth High Limit Racing win across the LVMS property at The Dirt Track on Saturday night—in the season opener.

Last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, Day juggled both motorsports disciplines again—this time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series on Saturday, followed by High Limit later that night. 

Day finished a career-best 16th on the 1.5-mile asphalt track with HMS before crossing the parking lot to the four-tenths-mile dirt oval. He finished fifth in the No. 14BC Jason Meyers Racing sprinter, his third race of the season. 

“It will be good to get a lot of laps in a lot of different race cars this year,” Day said. “I'm super fortunate for the opportunity that Hendrick Motorsports has given me, and, yeah, just loving every second of it.”

Day feels like he’s living a dream. Although he grew up a Jeff Gordon fan, the Clovis, California, native could have never imagined driving for Hendrick Motorsports, let alone having the four-time champion and current vice chairman be his mentor and boss. 

HMS president Jeff Andrews, also a huge supporter of Day’s, is often seen in the pits at companion events. Then there’s Kyle Larson, the poster boy for motorsports versatility, at the rookie’s disposal, whether at the HMS campus in Concord, N.C., or wherever the NASCAR/High Limit schedule takes him.

Currently, Day’s stock car schedule includes 10 NASCAR Xfinity Series, eight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and four ARCA races.

“They all do a great job in answering my questions and giving me a direction to go with all this stuff,” Day said. “Luckily, Jeff (Gordon) grew up sprint car racing, and Kyle did. Jeff Andrews was around sprint cars in his young life as well. So they all know what I'm feeling, and how to help me, or how to explain to me why I'm feeling what I'm feeling, and how to how to get better. 

“I feel super fortunate for them and the format they've given me to put me on the path to success.”

Certainly, there have been challenges for Day along the way. He’s had to adapt to the varying formats of the series, the complexity of the cockpit and the data and simply the feel of the cars. The cadence and distance of the races are dramatically different.

“There are a lot of things,” Day said. “There are things inside the race car and outside the race car. If I had to pick one, I would definitely say how long the race is. In the sprint car, you’ve got to get all you can from the drop of the green flag. 

“Whereas NASCAR is not like that. You’ve got to set yourself up for the third stage. You don't have to go try and win it in the first 10 laps. That's definitely a big change.”

In 2024, Day competed in seven NASCAR events between trucks and ARCA. At two of the three truck tracks he saw for a second time this season, Day improved his performance. His truck suffered from a mechanical failure at Martinsville.

Day has changed his approach to NASCAR and the results reflect the effort.

“It's easy to do because of how fast a sprint car racing is and everything, (NASCAR is) definitely a lot slower,” Day said. “I'm thinking more in the race car than I ever have. Sprint cars, we do a lot of things that are just off instinct. 

“In the NASCAR stuff, you got time to think, because the pace is just slower. And two, it's a way bigger and heavier race car. You have to be way more calculated with the move you're making. That's one thing that I definitely have to get better at.” 

Starting on Friday at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Day hopes to regain the groove he established racing full-time with High Limit in 2024.

While he raced at Thunderbowl Speedway—his home track—in Tulare, Calif., following Las Vegas, Day skipped the next eight races to concentrate on NASCAR. Still, his average finish is 3.3 in 2025 HLR competition.

“I feel behind, but at the same time, I'm not behind, just not where I want to be,” Day said. “This racing is just way different than what I'm doing now. And I'm not to the point yet, like where Kyle (Larson) is, where he can show up and be fast the first lap.

“I'm fast by the heat race. Hopefully, running this month will get me back comfortable. We'll be able to work on our race car, work with the team and just get everything ironed out, getting a really good place for all of the big races that I'm getting to do this year.

“So yeah, I'm excited to get back into it. I always enjoy running the sprint car. It helps me to go back to the pavement stuff as well with how fast-paced the racing is. I think just that keeps me sharp.”