Corey Day, the 2023 NARC champion came out on top on the third night of the 2024 Chili Bowl Nationals preliminaries, this Wednesday night at the SageNet Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A second-generation sprint car driver who hails from California, and clinched the NARC 410 sprint car championship last year at the age of 17, Corey took the steering of the number 41 car, entered by Willie Kahne.
Corey trounced the Jake Swanson of Alex Bowman Racing to secure the first position finish marking the 18-year-old’s first preliminary feature win of his career. Briggs Danner finished in third place. Check the full result here.
Working together with Kahne is what Corey Day identifies as a major factor behind the win
Prelim night dub🤟 pic.twitter.com/osJq2qOtAI
— Corey Day (@corey_day_) January 11, 2024
Speaking to the media following the race, Corey opened up regarding his maiden prelims win, pointing out that being confident in their vehicle and the grippy racetrack have been the keys to his win.
“I think, having confidence in our race cars is a big part of it. I wasn’t too happy or too comfortable with our race car on Sunday (and) Monday and we got our homework last night, watched and came to a conclusion about what we felt we needed, and that works,” said Corey.
All that being said, Corey emphasized on the interaction he had with the crew chief Kahne before the race.
“Me and Willie’s relationship is really well that way, the way we work together and pick apart a problem and I feel that shows tonight,” he went on, “kind of the way the racetrack’s developed too, I think, was a big key. Hand a lot of grip in it, had a big curve on it- just how I like it.”
Corey Day gives his take on the upcoming pole shuffle
When asked about the pole shuffle on Saturday, Corey revealed how he’s preparing for it: “Just going in with a good headspace. Its easy to go in with a good headspace when you’re locked in, just kind of go through that pole shuffle. I guess there will be 10 cars in it, so no downsides to start in top 10.”
“We’ll try and make sure we don’t start 10th but even if we do, (we will) work on it and just see what it needs to get better,” he further stated.
“It’s really cool,” Corey added regarding his win. “Like I said out there, guys who are winning here are usually guys who are successful year around.”
Corey Day takes Willie Kahne to a win on a Chili Bowl prelim night
Also a win for the winged enthusiasts in the building pic.twitter.com/3OFKkcxLJq
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) January 11, 2024
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