If you tuned into the Turkey Night Grand Prix expecting to see Kyle Larson put on a dirt-track clinic, you weren’t alone. Fans packed the stands, ready for the Hendrick Motorsports ace to do what he does best—fly around the track and leave the competition in his dust.

But things didn’t go quite as planned. With 52 laps to go, chaos struck, and Larson’s race unraveled in a way that had fans fuming, debating, and, of course, firing off spicy tweets. While Larson limped to a 20th-place finish, a certain Rick Hendricks prodigy was basking in victory—a win that came after some friendly fire.

Corey Day’s risky move that changed everything

Let’s talk about Corey Day. The 18-year-old phenom—dubbed “Kyle Larson 2.0” by none other than Larson himself—has been turning heads all season. With multiple wins and accolades, he’s been hailed as the future of dirt racing. But on Turkey Night, his ambition might’ve gotten the better of him. It all went down with 52 laps to go. Day, running aggressively, went for an inside move on Larson. The move backfired. Contact sent Larson spinning, bringing out a caution and shoving the NASCAR champ to the rear of the field. For Larson, it was game over. For Day, it was the move that arguably paved his way to victory.

And oh, the fans had thoughts. “HendrickCars should end their deal with Day after that,” one angry commenter said, echoing the sentiments of many Larson loyalists. Others weren’t as harsh but still felt the sting of the moment. “For me, put an asterisk by Day’s name due to his contact with Larson,” another fan said. “Although it looked unintentional, we’ll never know how everything could’ve played out if it didn’t happen.”

Some stuck up for Day, chalking it up to racing’s inherent unpredictability. “Sh*t happens,” one defender shrugged. Others called out what they saw as inconsistent officiating. “@USACNation How does Macedo cause a caution at Tulare and retain his position, but you send Larson to the rear? This makes no sense.”

Like mentor, Like protégé?

Here’s the thing though, Corey Day might not even be in this position without Kyle Larson’s support. Nicknamed “Yung Money”, Larson has been one of Day’s biggest champions, publicly comparing him to a younger version of himself. “He’s basically me,” Larson said earlier this year. “He’s better than I am—or was—at that age.”

Day’s aggressive, fearless style mirrors the way Larson attacked the dirt tracks in his early years (some might argue he still does). The problem? Sometimes that ambition crosses the line, and Turkey Night wasn’t the first time these two clashed.

Just last week at Merced Speedway, Day once again got the better of his mentor. While Day celebrated a dominant win, Larson struggled all night, finishing well outside the top 10. The two had been expected to battle for the win, but Larson’s missteps left the door wide open for Day to shine. It was another example of Day’s growing prowess and the occasional unpredictability of Larson.

Larson himself admitted to making similar mistakes at that age, saying, “When I was Corey’s age, I made moves that didn’t always work out either. It’s part of learning and growing as a driver.”

The dynamic between Larson and Day is further deepened by their shared ties to Kubota High Limit Racing. The team, co-owned by Larson and his brother-in-law Brad Sweet, played a crucial role in Day’s breakout year. With eight sprint car victories and a reputation for thriving under pressure, Day has thrived in the environment they’ve cultivated.

However, Larson knows a thing or two about overambitious moves. Look no further than his 2024 NASCAR season, when he tried an ill-advised wall ride with 14 laps to go while running third. The move ended with sparks flying and his car nose-down on the track. It’s a reminder that even seasoned pros like Larson occasionally let their hunger for victory get the better of them.

For Day, the Turkey Night incident is another chapter in a breakout year that’s seen him win a bucket load of sprint car races and dominate on the dirt. But while the talent is undeniable, as is natural, the 18-year-old still has a lot to learn about managing risk versus reward.