Connor Zilisch doesn't mean Hendrick still isn't big on Corey Day

Connor Zilisch's signing to drive the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet in 2028 does not imply that Hendrick Motorsports has abandoned any plans for Corey Day. This was clarified during a press conference on Tuesday, where Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon introduced Zilisch as their next generation driver, emphasizing his two-year rookie contract stint at Trackhouse Racing.

Despite Day's promising start, being just 20 years old and already achieving two wins in the O’Reilly Series, he is in the early stages of his full-time pavement racing career. Day currently sits fifth in the championship standings with only one race remaining in the regular season and is fully backed by Hendrick Motorsports, who are financing his development program.

When compared to Christopher Bell, who had a similar dirt background and took a few more years to reach the Cup Series, Hendrick Motorsports emphasizes patience in Day's development. "Corey Day is a tremendous talent, and our plan is for him to be in our future for a long time," Hendrick stated during the conference. Despite having only been on pavement for about half a year, Hendrick Motorsports believes in Day's potential and has long-term plans for him.

Gordon also echoed this sentiment, expressing confidence in Day's future while noting that he is currently focused on helping him learn and grow in the O’Reilly Series. Hendrick Motorsports is not ruling out the possibility of exploring partnerships with other Chevrolet teams in the future, similar to what Gibbs did with Leavine Family Racing and Bell, but for now, they are committed to nurturing Day's talents at the second-tier level.