Corey Day signs long-term contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports; will make Cup debut in ’27

Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday that Corey Day has signed a long-term contract extension with the organization and will return to the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series in a full-time role for 2027, driving the No. 17 Chevrolet. Day will also make his NASCAR Cup Series debut next year in a part-time role with the team. Details will be announced at a later date. RELATED: Gateway schedule | Corey Day driver page "What Corey has accomplished in such a short time is remarkable," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, in a team statement. "He came to us with generational talent but almost no experience racing on pavement. The fact that he’s already competing for a championship at this level is extraordinary, and he’s just beginning to scratch the surface. We love Corey’s character and how he fits our organization, and we’re proud to have him with us for many years to come." Day earned his first national series victory at Talladega Superspeedway in April and followed it up with an impressive win at Dover Motor Speedway a month later. He qualified for the O'Reilly Series' inaugural Chase -- earning the No. 7 seed in his quest for the championship. Day finished runner-up last weekend at Darlington to climb to fifth in The Chase standings with eight races to go in the 2026 season. "There’s no substitute for seat time, which makes Corey’s progress even more impressive," said Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports. "We see growth every weekend when he gets in the car. He puts in the work and isn’t afraid to ask questions and apply what he learns. The Cup races next year will give him another opportunity to gain valuable experience and challenge himself at the highest level. It’s going to be fun to watch." "When I joined Hendrick Motorsports, I knew I had a lot to learn. And I still do," Day said. "But the people here have really embraced me and invested a lot of time in helping me grow, both as a driver and a person. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick give us all the resources we could possibly need. I’m so grateful to them, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Andrews and the 500 teammates who put so much into our success. I’m focused on winning a championship together this year and bringing many more trophies home to Hendrick Motorsports in the future."