Who is the next up-and-coming driver who can take the NASCAR world by storm? While there are plenty of prospects touted to be next in line, Connor Zilisch is one of the favorites to live up to those expectations. However, Hendrick Motorsports star Kyle Larson has a different opinion on this discussion and is rallying behind a fellow dirt racer to cement his place among the greats in the sport.

Eighteen-year-old Corey Day is the driver that Larson thinks can make it big on the NASCAR stage. “I don’t see anybody even close to his level, and he’s still in high school. He’s basically me. He’s better than I am, or I was obviously at that age.” This is how Larson described Day and his racing talent. While the young driver is yet to make his foray into NASCAR racing with a full-time ride, he’s making a lot of noise with his antics on the dirt tracks.

Corey Day gets the better of Kyle Larson in the USAC National race at Merced Speedway

Now we all know Larson is one of the few racers who hardly takes time off from racing. Ahead of his international trip to Australia, he had three USAC National Midget events lined up on his calendar. A trip to Merced Speedway was first on Larson’s list, where he competed in a two-race event against some fierce drivers, including Corey Day.

Day was patient through the first feature of the race at Merced Speedway. But when he found the perfect opportunity to strike late in the race and catapulted himself from third into the lead, he managed to fend off his rivals in the last two laps and secured his first win in a USAC race. It ended a drought of more than three years.

Carson Mecado, who led 26 off the 30 laps, ended up finishing second, and Buddy Koffid finished third. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson could only manage a fourth-place finish, but the best was yet to come from the HMS star. Reflecting on his victory, Day explained, “I knew I could beat those guys at the exit of two; they’d have no run after I cut them off. Luckily I got Buddy there before we got to traffic, then we got to traffic and Caron messed up sliding car in three and four, which allowed us to get to him.” Day was quoted saying this via Speedway Digest.

Day’s performance in the Merced Speedway may not be a surprise to fans who followed his racing career. Back in 2021, he became the youngest USAC National Midget race winner when he took the win at the Circle City Raceway. Two years later, he took the Make-A-Wish Trophy Cup as well as the King of the West Sprint Car Series home. It wasn’t long before NASCAR came calling.

Corey Day made his Truck Series debut this year at the Bristol Motor Speedway. He drove the No. 81 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing truck, supported by HendrickCar.com. He competed in a total of four races at the Truck level, and his best finish (P16) came at Homestead Miami Speedway. The young driver finished in 18th place after 200 laps of the race. However, the result was not what the driver was most appreciative of. He believed driving for 200 laps in a vehicle he wasn’t used to was the biggest takeaway from the race.

As for Yung-Money, Kyle Larson did bounce back in the second feature and won the race, and this was his 29th career win competing in the USAC midgets. Although Larson has a packed racing schedule competing on the dirt track, his participation in the historic Chili Bowl event isn’t confirmed just yet.

Will Kyle Larson miss the Chili Bowl Nationals?

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The month of November is packed in terms of scheduled races for the HMS star. After last Sunday’s USAC Nationals event at Merced Speedway, he is scheduled to race at Bakersfield and Ventura Speedway from November 26-30. While he enjoys competing in different series and events, he has his racing series named High-Limits Racing. And with High Limits going international, Larson is also scheduled to travel to Australia.

Larson will partner with Jason Pryde Motorsport for the three-day event at Perth Motorplex on December 28-30. “I was really reliant on Brad Sweet; he had spent a few weeks down there this past season racing in Perth. So I relied on him to find who would be the best available car owner for me to get lined up with. I’m really excited to see that side of Australia; I’ve never been to that side of the country. It will be a good time,” he said to Flo Racing.

The Chili Bowl Nationals is scheduled from 13-18 January 2025 at SageNet Center. With the travel time and a packed schedule for December end, it’s hard to see Larson turn up for the Chili Bowl. However, he’s neither confirmed nor denied his participation, and there’s a chance he might turn up last moment like he did this year. If Kyle Larson does end up participating in the event, he goes up against debutant Kyle Busch, who announced his plans to participate a little while ago.