In a stunning debut that has ignited the sprint car scene, 20-year-old Corey Day has made a spectacular entrance into Australian motorsport, leaving fans and competitors alike in awe. Before this week, Day, hailing from Clovis, California, had never set foot on Australian soil, but he certainly made his presence felt at the Perth Motorplex during the much-anticipated second annual High Limit International.
Teaming up with local legend Callum Williamson, Day came to Australia with high expectations, and he didn’t just meet them—he shattered them. His first performance was nothing short of electrifying. On Friday, Day, poised to transition to a full-time NASCAR career with Hendrick Motorsports, delivered a breathtaking drive, rocketing from 28th to second place in a thrilling Boxing Day showdown.
But the excitement didn’t stop there. Returning on Sunday for the main event, Day, known to fans as “Pay-Day,” approached the race with one goal in mind: to elevate his game even further. Starting from the fourth position in a 30-lap feature, Day quickly surged to second place, setting the stage for an epic showdown with Kaiden Manders, who initially held the lead.
Manders dominated the early laps, but Day was relentless. He made his move on Lap 9, executing a daring slider that propelled him into the lead. As the race progressed, Day showcased extraordinary skill, deftly navigating through lap traffic and building a formidable lead. The only interruption came on Lap 21 when Kyle Larson, in ninth place, suffered a flat tire.
The restart ignited the competition, with Manders making a fierce bid to reclaim the lead. He briefly succeeded in taking the lead on Lap 22, but Day wasn’t about to give up his hard-earned position. In a dramatic twist, Day reclaimed the top spot just one lap later and held on for victory, crossing the finish line a mere 0.502 seconds ahead of Manders.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Day, making him the 20th American to win a sprint car feature at the illustrious Perth Motorplex. He joins the ranks of sprint car giants like James McFadden and Kyle Larson as one of the inaugural victors in the High Limit International series. As the current high point man heading into Monday’s preliminary event, Day is in a prime position to secure a spot in Tuesday’s electrifying $110,000-to-win AUD finale.
Completing the podium were local heroes Kaiden Manders and Dayne Kingshott, followed closely by Tasmanian Jock Goodyer and Californian Buddy Kofoid, who rounded out the top five. With such a commanding performance, Corey Day has not only established himself as a formidable contender but has also ignited the passion of sprint car fans across Australia, proving that he is a force to be reckoned with in the world of motorsport.
