NASCAR
Corey Day Takes Back-to-Back Wins in Sunday Charlotte O’Reilly Race
CONCORD, N.C. – For a second-straight week, Corey Day proved why he’s a future star in the making. Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 17 rebounded from an early setback to be victorious after a late sprint to the checkers. Now up to third in points with a razor-close Chase battle, Day looks to end his O’Reilly rookie year with a possible championship.
Second-place starter and last week’s winner Corey Day put the No. 17 back on top early on. The sprint car ace took the opening stage win, only to drive through too many pit boxes under the break. A simultaneous blistering pit stop put Justin Allgaier in second, and he soon motored to the Stage 2 win. At the time, these points gave the No. 7 the championship lead again.
After starting 23rd, @J_Allgaier takes the lead with 15 to go in Stage 2. pic.twitter.com/hc47N6DplT
— NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (@NASCAROReillyAP) October 12, 2026
The Nos. 7 and 17 were two of the main players in the final stage, alongside Jesse Love, who al saw a knockdown drag out battle. This trio were never separated by much on track, with Allgaier passing Love and trying to hold on. Love only got the upper hand back over the 7 after Allgaier got into the wall and had to check up with 18 laps left.
The battle for the lead heats up with just 15 laps to go.
Tune in on @TheCW_Sports. pic.twitter.com/lTwN8fY0a1
— NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (@NASCAROReillyAP) October 12, 2026
A spinning Brent Crews triggered a caution and restart with 10 laps left, where Day went three-wide to retake command from Love. Despite the 2 chasing him down, Love was never able to get back by Day, leading to consecutive wins for the California dirt track kid.
A two-for-one special puts @corey_day_ in victory lane! pic.twitter.com/LWPjNsPzBX
— NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (@NASCAROReillyAP) October 12, 2026
“I kind of knew it was going to be a struggle restarting in the top lane,” Day said. “There’s actually a big difference in restarting on the top versus the bottom. I was able to get through the gears good enough. Just had a really good car firing off and was almost completely flat-out going into turn 1. I could see (Allgaier) and (Love) didn’t have a great corner and I got to them pretty quick.”
“(Winning is) a whole team deal. I can’t be good and my team not be good, and my team can’t be good without me being good. Right now, we’re just firing on all eight cylinders as a team. I’m not really thinking about the championship right now. I’m just focused on having good runs these next four races and being consistent. If we run well enough, the points will take care of themselves.”
Behind Day and Love at the finish, Sheldon Creed just edged out Justin Allgaier for third. Not far back was young phenom Carson Brown in fifth, making only his second-ever O’Reilly start. Hear post-race thoughts from a few of these drivers below.
Now with only 15 points separating the top four Chase contenders, the O’Reilly Series heads onward to Phoenix Raceway. Both Justin Allgaier and Jesse Love will look for another trophy in The Valley of the Sun, as past winners on the desert mile. The Timberland Pro 200 goes green Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. O’Reilly remains the closest Chase battle left in NASCAR’s three series. A lot of drama still lies ahead over the course of four weeks.
Written by Peter Stratta
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Photo Credit to Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
