Corey Day Has His Day, Wins Career First O'Reilly Auto Parts Race at Talladega
Hendrick Motorsports signed Corey Day as its first full-time driver in NASCAR's second-tier series in two decades. At Talladega, he paid off that trust with his first win.
Corey Day Wins Tallladega as First Full-Time Hendrick Driver in O'Reilly's Series Sean Gardner - Getty Images The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series drivers survived Talladega with just one first-lap and one last-lap incident in an extremely clean Super Speedway race Saturday afternoon. With a slew of clean race cars late, rows of three wide racing brought the racing to the final lap as Sheldon Creed, Sam Mayer, and Corey Day raced up front. Creed was chasing his second career win after finally ridding himself of the ‘bridesmaid’ banner with his first win this February at Atlanta, following 15 second-place finishes in his O’Reilly’s career.
Mayer was looking for his first of the year, and Day was looking for the first of his career. The three battled close with Mayer on the bottom, Creed up top, and Day in the middle. Coming to the backstretch, Mayer was turned from behind, crashing out and sliding up track, collecting Jeb Burton, Harrison Burton, and Ryan Sieg, ending his chance of a win.
Day was running ahead at the time of the caution light and cleanly made it back to the checkers for his first victory. Day in the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet with support of JRM brought the company their first win with a full-time driver since Kyle Busch’s rookie year with the team in 2004.
The No. 17 team had an unexpected winger this weekend as former Philadelphia Eagle Offensive Lineman Jason Kelce suited up to get a taste of what it's like to compete on a NASCAR pit crew. Jason Kelce just won a @NASCAROReillyAP race as a crew member.