Corey Day put together stellar NASCAR Cup audition with Dover win

Maybe Corey Day's answer on Saturday when asked about his NASCAR Cup Series future means something. Maybe it doesn't. 

But one thing is clear: The 20-year-old NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series rookie, who earned his second career win Saturday at Dover Motor Speedway, is incredibly talented and is likely a part of the long-term future at Hendrick Motorsports. 

Cup Series spotter Freddie Kraft said Monday that there are conversations being had about Day's future at Hendrick in regard to the team's No. 48 Cup entry, currently driven by Alex Bowman. Bowman has driven for HMS full-time since 2018 but his performance in 2026 has left something to be desired. Add in the fact that he missed four races due to vertigo and is 34th in points and there's a case for Day, who drives for HMS in the O'Reilly Series, to get in the No. 48 in 2027. 

In an era of NASCAR where trial by fire is arguably the best way to develop young stars for the Cup Series, it'd make sense if HMS were to move Day up in 2027. 

"I'm just doing all I can to focus on getting as good as I can this year," Day said Saturday when asked about potentially racing at the Cup level in 2027. 

Corey Day's character arc

Day made the wrong kind of headlines early in the season by triggering accidents at Daytona, Atlanta and Circuit of the Americas. But the Clovis, Calif., native who was tabbed by Cup champ Kyle Larson as a driver to watch has found his footing as of late. 

Day is fourth in the O'Reilly Series standings through 14 races with 10 top 10 finishes. The only other drivers with 10 top 10s are points leader Justin Allgaier, who Day beat for the win on Saturday, and second-place Sheldon Creed. 

Day scored career win No. 1 at Talladega on April 25, but Saturday's victory at Dover was easily the most impressive drive of his young NASCAR career. Using the top lane to his advantage, Day scooted around Sam Mayer for second and quickly ran down the race leader in Allgaier, passing him for the win in the closing laps. 

It was an incredible display of talent and racing acumen for Day, but more importantly, it was a display of maturity that showed he's taken quite the leap since early March when he had a target on his back. 

"It's super fulfilling," Day said. "I just owe it to my 17 guys. We really weren't good early in the race. Just appreciate them and their hard work to stay in it the whole entire race."

Day navigated lapped traffic and Allgaier trying to take his lane away as he raced for the win. 

"[Allgaier] was not using all the track," Day said. "He would always be half a car width below the edge of the rubber. That's what you chase here is the gray track. He was leaving that open for me. Was just enough that he left there for me. I would run hard to the center and turn down."

The run to the finish for Day looked eerily reminiscent of what his mentor in Larson, who was atop the No. 17 pit box on Saturday, has done to his Cup Series foes many times. 

If Day keeps running like he has recently, 2027 could see master and apprentice race as Cup teammates at Hendrick Motorsports.