Larson Offers Guidance to Protégé Day Amid NASCAR Criticism

Veteran driver Kyle Larson provides mentorship and support to young Corey Day as he navigates his rookie season in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 7:09pm

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Kyle Larson, the veteran NASCAR driver, has been offering guidance and support to his protégé Corey Day as the 20-year-old rookie navigates the challenges of his first full-time season in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. Day has faced criticism and on-track incidents with other drivers, but Larson is encouraging him to stay focused and trust in his abilities.

Why it matters

Larson's mentorship of Day is significant as the young driver transitions from dirt racing to the highly competitive world of NASCAR. Larson himself made a similar journey and understands the challenges Day is facing. The support from an experienced veteran like Larson could be crucial in helping Day develop and reach his full potential in the sport.

The details

Day, who is competing for Hendrick Motorsports, has had a rocky start to the 2026 season, with several on-track incidents involving drivers from the JR Motorsports team. This has led to criticism from the NASCAR community about whether Day is ready for the demands of the top-level series. Larson, who is teammates with Day, has been providing mentorship and advice to help the young driver navigate these challenges.

  • On March 11, 2026, Larson revealed his message of support and guidance for Day during an interview with FOX Sports' Bob Pockrass.
  • Day has experienced 'growing pains' in his first three races of the 2026 season, including incidents at Atlanta and COTA.

The players

Kyle Larson

A veteran NASCAR driver who is serving as a mentor and protégé to the young Corey Day.

Corey Day

A 20-year-old rookie driver competing in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series for Hendrick Motorsports, who is transitioning from dirt racing to the top level of stock car racing.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The co-owner of JR Motorsports, whose drivers have been involved in on-track incidents with Day, leading to a meeting between Earnhardt, Day, and Rick Hendrick.

Rick Hendrick

The owner of Hendrick Motorsports, the team for which Corey Day is driving.

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What they’re saying

“I would he say he's definitely — finally, I guess this weekend he had a good weekend and probably a much better Monday — but the previous three Mondays I know were rough and difficult and a lot of things he had to work through throughout the weeks. So, for me on that side, he was already getting a lot of mentoring and what not. For me, it was lending support and just letting him know that we all in believe in him and keep your head high and keep focused on the process.”

— Kyle Larson

“Yeah, I'm definitely getting everyone's opinion on how to handle myself off the track and like I said, it's just stuff I've never dealt with. It's just growing pains, right? I'm racing at the highest level, and I'm a rookie. So, it's stuff that's gonna happen, unfortunately.”

— Corey Day

What’s next

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The takeaway

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