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PERTH, Australia — Before this week, 20-year-old Corey Day had never stepped foot on Australian soil.
Now after two attempts at the Perth Motorplex, the Clovis, California native has completed two marvelous drives that has the sprint car world buzzing amid the second annual High Limit International.
Flying overseas to drive a second entry for teammate and local Western Australia hero Callum Williamson, Day’s expectations ran rampant from the moment his Aussie adventure was announced, and he’s lived up to every ounce of the hype.
On Friday, the soon-to-be full-time NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts competitor for Hendrick Motorsports delivered a Boxing Day Bonanza barnburner when he stormed from 28th to second. Returning on Sunday, the kid they call “Pay-Day” knew one small position is all he needed to turn in an even better performance, and he did just that.
Starting fourth in a 30-lap affair, Day immediately climbed into the second position as outside pole sitter Kaiden Manders controlled the early lead.
Manders paced the opening eight circuits before Day pounced with a slider to assume command on Lap 9. From there, he built a sizable advantage in lap traffic before the only stoppage of the race came on Lap 21 when ninth-running Kyle Larson slowed with a flat right-rear tire.
Coming to life on the restart, Manders fired back at Day into turn one and drove to lead the 22nd lap before Day returned serve and snook back into the top spot one trip around later. Racing to the end, Manders kept Day honest – pulling alongside at the white flag – but fell short by 0.502 seconds.
The victory makes Day the 20th American to win a sprint car feature at Perth Motorplex – and he joins James McFadden and Kyle Larson as the first three victors in the High Limit International series.
Heading into Monday’s second preliminary, he’s in the catbird seat as the current high point man with a chance to lock-in for Tuesday’s $110,000-to-win AUD finale.
Following the triumphant American to the line was a pair of Western Australia locals with Kaiden Manders and Dayne Kingshott completing the podium. A Tasmanian in Jock Goodyer and another Californian in Buddy Kofoid closed out Sunday’s top five.
The finish:
Feature (30 Laps): 1. U3-Corey Day[4]; 2. 71-Kaiden Manders[1]; 3. 2-Dayne Kingshott[3]; 4. T22-Jock Goodyer[2]; 5. U7-Michael Kofoid[5]; 6. A1-James McFadden[11]; 7. 3-Callum Williamson[8]; 8. U40-Cole Macedo[6]; 9. U95-Brock Zearfoss[14]; 10. U49-Brad Sweet[17]; 11. 26-Kerry Madsen[16]; 12. Q65-Luke Oldfield[7]; 13. 18-Daniel Harding[18]; 14. U21-Justin Whittall[22]; 15. U60-Carson Macedo[10]; 16. 11-Jason Kendrick[15]; 17. 1K-Kyle Larson[12]; 18. 4-Cameron McKenzie[21]; 19. 74-Mikey Green[23]; 20. 9-AJ Nash[20]; 21. U17-Aaron Reutzel[24]; 22. 24-Jack Williamson[19]; 23. U16-Xavier Doney[13]; 24. 5-James Inglis[9]
