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Martinsville Today
By the People, for the People
Rookie Corey Day Scores Career-Best Second Place at Martinsville
The Hendrick Motorsports driver overcame chaos to finish runner-up in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race.
Mar. 28, 2026 at 11:20pm
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Rookie Corey Day's career-best second-place finish at Martinsville Speedway showcases his growing talent and ability to thrive in the chaos of short-track racing.Martinsville TodayRookie driver Corey Day of Hendrick Motorsports scored his career-best finish of second place in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday. Despite the chaotic conditions with six cautions in the final 100 laps, Day was able to survive and finish alongside veteran driver Justin Allaier, the 30-time race winner and championship point leader.
Why it matters
This strong performance by the rookie Corey Day shows his continued development and ability to compete at the front of the field, even at a challenging short track like Martinsville. Finishing second to the series points leader is an impressive feat that will boost Day's confidence and momentum as he aims for his first career win.
The details
Starting seventh, Day only managed to score two stage points during the race. But he made a strong surge to the front in the final stage, navigating the numerous cautions and restarts. On the final restart with 15 laps to go, Day found himself alongside the veteran Allaier, who has mastered the art of restarts at Martinsville. Despite his relative inexperience at the front of the field on restarts, Day was able to hold his own and secure the runner-up finish.
- The O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race took place on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.
- There were six caution periods in the final 100 laps of the 500-lap race.
The players
Corey Day
A rookie driver for Hendrick Motorsports who scored his career-best finish of second place at Martinsville Speedway.
Justin Allaier
A 30-time race winner in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and the current championship point leader.
What they’re saying
“This place is not the place I'd expect my best finish to come, but I am good with it.”
— Corey Day, Hendrick Motorsports Driver
“A lot of learning for me today. I feel like every time I come back here I learn more and more, I start further ahead and I end further ahead than what I showed up with.”
— Corey Day, Hendrick Motorsports Driver
“Obviously, he's great at restarts. That's something that I don't have much experience yet with, which is the front row. I am definitely going to go back and study him there and see how he's so much better — or try to see at least.”
— Corey Day, Hendrick Motorsports Driver
What’s next
Corey Day will look to build on this strong second-place finish as he continues to gain experience and challenge for his first career win in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.
The takeaway
Corey Day's impressive performance at the challenging Martinsville Speedway demonstrates his growth and potential as a rookie driver. Finishing second to the series points leader shows Day can compete at the front of the field, and he will look to apply the lessons learned about restarts to continue his upward trajectory.
