9.25.21 King of West Sprints Results
(9/25/2021 – Alex Nieten) Hanford, CA … Fifteen-year-old Corey Day continued his ascent to sprint car stardom by earning both his first 410 sprint car win and NARC-King of the West Fujitsu Sprint Car Feature victory in the Jim Turner Memorial at Hanford’s Keller Auto Speedway.
Day, the son of west coast legend Ronnie Day, has taken the sprint car world by storm in 2021. He’s shown speed night in and night out no matter what car he’s been in, and he finally put together a full night to claim a 410 checkered flag in Hanford.
The teenager scored a 360 win in Oregon earlier this year, but a 410 win in the series his dad had his fair share of triumphs competing in was an even greater level of special.
“Words can’t even describe it,” the rising star said in victory lane.
The front row composed of Tim Kaeding and Joel Myers Jr. brought the field to green. TK darted to an early advantage while Day immediately began his charge from row three. After starting sixth, Day completed the first lap in fifth. He picked off one car per lap over the next two circuits to move to third. Four laps later, Day slipped by Joel Myers Jr. for the runner-up spot.
Over the course of the charge, one might’ve guessed a veteran was in the No. 14 machine. While it was evident he had an extremely fast ride, Day remained patient, picking his spots and comfortably clearing each car in front of him with well-executed sliders.
A caution came out for a spun Tanner Boul shortly after Day took over second.
On the ensuing restart, Kaeding again pulled away while Justin Sanders and Joel Myers Jr. both went by Day, moving him back to fourth.
Day, though, stayed composed in his Four CCCC’s Construction/Meyers Constructors Inc. No. 14. On a lap 10 restart after a caution for Sean Watts, Day roared back to second and quickly applied pressure to Tim Kaeding. On lap 13, Day snatched the lead.
Another yellow for Joel Myers Jr. presented a challenge for Day as Kaeding peeked to his outside in his R&B Company/Teichert No. 42X as Day went to the bottom, but Day fended off the charge and pulled away.
As the final laps waned, Day encountered lap traffic using his preferred bottom line allowing Kaeding to reel him back in. Kaeding looked to the outside in turn two with a pair of laps to go and nearly drew even but Day powered out of the corner to hold on.
Ultimately, Day crossed the line with a narrow three-tenths of a second margin of victory over the west coast legend.
Day was quick to credit his team, who just so happened to add another level of significance to the Day family and their tradition of winning.
“This is the dream team,” Day said of his crew. “This was my dad’s team when he ran the car for them, so I’m glad I can be winning races for them too.”
Behind Day and Kaeding, ARP Fast Qualifier of the night, Justin Sanders, rounded out the podium, his fourth top-three in seven races since climbing aboard the Works Limited No. 57.
Completing the top-10 was Dominic Scelzi, Austin McCarl, DJ Netto, Billy Aton, Bud Kaeding, Keith Day Jr. and JJ Ringo.
FUJITSU GENERAL USA FEATURE (30 laps): 1. Corey Day 14 2. Tim Kaeding 42X 3. Justin Sanders 57 4. Dominic Scelzi 41 5. Austin McCarl 88 6. DJ Netto 88N 7. Billy Aton 26 8. Bud Kaeding 69 9. Keith Day Jr. 22 10. JJ Ringo 2 11. Joel Myers Jr 46JR 12. Zane Blanchard 7Z 13. Sean Becker 83V 14. Tanner Boul 99T 15. Tucker Worth 33 16. Grant Duinkerken 67G 17. Sean Watts 98 18. Geoffrey Strole 09S (Mitchell Faccinto and Connor Danell did not start)
HOOSIER TIRE LAP LEADERS: Tim Kaeding 1-12, Corey Day 13-30
SWIFT METAL FINISHING HARDCHARGER: Billy Aton 14th to 7th
ARP FAST QUALIFIER (20 cars): Justin Sanders 13.621
BROWN AND MILLER RACING SOLUTIONS HEAT ONE: (8 laps): McCarl, Sanders, Scelzi, Day Jr., Danell, Tanner Boul, Tucker Worth
FUJITSU GENERAL USA HEAT TWO (8 laps): Myers Jr., Day, B. Kaeding, Watts, Ringo, Faccinto, Strole
FLORACING.COM HEAT THREE (8 laps): T. Kaeding, Netto, Duinkerken, Becker, Aton, Blanchard
SUNNYVALLEY “POWERED BY BACON” TROPHY DASH (6 laps): T. Kaeding, Myers Jr., McCarl, Sanders, Netto, Day