Corey Day has an opportunity to accomplish something special this weekend as he looks to capture the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship in his first full-time season with Hendrick Motorsports. Despite facing plenty of challenges throughout the season, Day has put himself in position to compete for a championship heading into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Day currently sits third in the championship standings, just 23 points behind leader Justin Allgaier. With only one race remaining, the Hendrick Motorsports driver will need an impressive performance if he wants to walk away with the championship trophy.
A Strong Season With Hendrick Motorsports
Day has shown tremendous improvement throughout his rookie campaign. The 20-year-old has collected three victories this season, including impressive wins at Talladega, Dover and Las Vegas.
His victory at Las Vegas was particularly impressive, as he battled Carson Kvapil during an intense closing stretch before making a late pass to secure the win.
Day has also demonstrated that he can compete with some of the most experienced drivers in the series. Racing for Hendrick Motorsports has given him the equipment and support needed to compete for wins every weekend.
However, his championship hopes have not come without adversity. A difficult stretch during the summer put him behind several competitors, forcing him to fight his way back into contention.
What Does Day Need at Homestead?
The biggest challenge for Day will be overcoming the points deficit against Allgaier and Jesse Love.
Allgaier enters the finale with the championship lead, while Love sits second, just 22 points behind. Day is another point behind Love, leaving very little room for mistakes.
Homestead is a challenging track that rewards drivers who can run multiple racing lines and maintain speed throughout long green-flag runs.
Fortunately for Day, his dirt track background could become a major advantage. His willingness to run different lines and get close to the wall could help him find speed that other championship contenders might struggle to discover.
A Championship Opportunity
Winning the championship would be a major accomplishment for Day and Hendrick Motorsports. It would also cap off an impressive rookie season for a driver who has quickly established himself as one of NASCAR’s rising stars.
Day knows the challenge ahead, but he has already proven that he can compete with the best in the series.
With one race remaining, Corey Day has one final opportunity to turn an impressive season into a championship-winning campaign. If he can put together a nearly perfect performance at Homestead, he could pull off one of the biggest accomplishments of his young racing career.