Corey Day Reflects on “Wild” Perth Motorplex Debut in High Limit Racing
If there were any lingering doubts about why Hendrick Motorsports has pinned its future hopes on a 20-year-old dirt racer from California, those doubts were likely left in the dust at Perth Motorplex. Corey Day, the highly touted HMS prospect, didn’t just show up for his debut in the High Limit Racing Series Down Under. He put on a clinic in passing.
Starting deep in the field in P28, Day carved his way through traffic in a relentless charge that saw him finish second. While he ultimately crossed the line 2.7 seconds behind winner Michael Kofoid, the story of the night was undoubtedly Day’s refusal to settle. In a nonstop feature event that offered no breaks to regroup, passing 26 cars is not just a statistic. It’s a statement of raw talent and aggression.
Corey Day Electrifies Perth Motorplex
For race fans, a “hard charger” performance is often more thrilling than a wire-to-wire victory. It requires a driver to constantly search for grip, change lanes, and make split-second decisions while dodging slower traffic. Day’s reaction after the race was succinct but telling.
Taking to social media, Day described the night simply: “First night in the books down under, and it was a wild one. P28 to P2 in a non-stop feature.”The sheer difficulty of climbing from the back of the pack to the podium in a sprint car feature without caution flags to bunch the field cannot be overstated.
It requires a car that is perfectly set up and a driver who isn’t afraid to run the ragged edge. This performance sets a high bar as the High Limit Racing series continues its Australian tour, with Day signaling he is ready for battle starting Sunday.
A Winning Streak Rolling into 2026
This performance in Perth isn’t an isolated incident. It’s the continuation of a hot streak that has the racing world buzzing. Just last month, Corey Day etched his name alongside dirt racing royalty by winning his second consecutive Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura Raceway.
To understand the magnitude of that win, you have to look at the competition. NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson, widely considered the best all-around driver in the world right now, was in the field and failed to crack the top five.
Day, meanwhile, matched a feat last accomplished by Christopher Bell, another dirt-to-NASCAR superstar. Beating Larson on dirt is a resume-builder that few drivers possess, and it speaks volumes about Day’s car control and poise under pressure.
The Hendrick Factor: What Jeff Gordon Sees
The transition from dirt accolades to asphalt success is the path Hendrick Motorsports is banking on. Jeff Gordon, the Vice Chairman of HMS, has been vocal about why the organization signed Corey Day for a future ride. It isn’t just about speed. It’s about the racer’s mindset.
Gordon recently explained that dirt racers possess a unique adaptability. “Every race that Corey has been in, he’s the first guy to start searching for different lines and different ways to pass,” Gordon noted. “He’s never afraid to try things.”This specific skill set, the ability to “hunt” for speed rather than driving a programmed line, is invaluable in modern stock car racing.
As track conditions change over a 500-mile race, a driver who can instinctively find grip often prevails. Gordon emphasized that while you can teach a driver asphalt discipline, the instinctive car control learned on dirt is something innate. “That’s a skill set that you can’t teach people,” Gordon said.
The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities
As Day prepares to join the No. 17 team next year under the guidance of veteran crew chief Adam Wall, the expectations will be immense. He has already shown flashes of brilliance on pavement, securing a fourth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Truck Series. However, the transition isn’t without its hurdles.
Qualifying remains a sore spot for the young driver. In his limited starts with HMS equipment, Day has struggled to replicate his race pace in single-lap qualifying runs, breaking into the top 10 only twice. At tracks like Martinsville and the Charlotte Roval, he finished outside the top 20, highlighting the learning curve that still exists.
What’s Next?
But for now, all eyes are on the dirt. Corey Day is currently locked in a battle for FloRacing’s lucrative dirt race with High Limit International, where a $110,000 paycheck awaits the victor. He will once again face off against Kyle Larson, who is defending his title in the event. If Perth was any indication, Day isn’t just there to learn. He’s there to win.
