NASCAR foolish season conversations are in full swing, and Corey Day’s identify sits proper on the middle. With reportedly on the new seat at Hendrick Motorsports, the No. 48 seat within the Cup Collection has more and more been linked to Day. Nevertheless, as some insiders counsel, he might not essentially be your best option for the workforce.
Whereas discussing Bowman’s future on his podcast, Dale Jr. Obtain, it was clear that each Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his visitor, Steve Letarte, agreed on his place within the Cup Collection. Nevertheless, issues shortly took a flip for the more severe.
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“I imagine that Alex deserves a Cup trip, and I believe when he’s at his greatest, he can win; he’s confirmed that. The unlucky half is it’s like when your favourite soccer participant goes down,” Letarte argues. “He’s your man; he might need taken you to nice heights. But when he simply can’t carry out or persistently carry out or simply keep wholesome sufficient, then you need to make unhealthy or powerful—powerful is a greater phrase—enterprise selections.”
This complete dialog stems from the current hypothesis surrounding Bowman’s future within the Cup Collection. A number of insiders, together with Jordan Bianchi and Bob Pockrass, assume that Bowman might not proceed with Hendrick Motorsports past 2027. Even earlier than his vertigo analysis in 2026, Bowman was already strolling a skinny line at HMS.
Bowman entered the ultimate yr of his contract with HMS in 2026, whereas carrying a 50-plus-race winless streak. His recurring accidents haven’t helped his case both.
Letarte, who beforehand labored as a crew chief for Hendrick Motorsports, hinted at “enterprise selections” probably affecting Bowman’s future with the workforce. As a substitute of backing Bowman, Letarte recognized Connor Zilisch as the popular selection.
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Whereas Letarte was excited concerning the thought of Zilisch in a prime trip within the Cup Collection, was not essentially on board with it. Regardless of Zilisch’s dominant efficiency final yr and his capability to drive house automobile into the victory lane, :
“They aren’t eliminating Byron. They aren’t eliminating Chase; they don’t seem to be eliminating these guys if they should carry Zilisch in. That may be a roadblock for Day. That may be a unhealthy signal for Day.”
The catch right here is that Connor Zilisch will not be a Hendrick Motorsports driver. He simply has a direct funding setup with GM and Chevrolet. With two legendary sponsors like WeatherTech and Crimson Bull on his aspect, Zilisch’s profession in NASCAR has been on a comparatively comfy monitor.
Nevertheless, his competitor for the rumored alternative at Hendrick Motorsports, Corey Day, has been part of the Hendrick Motorsports driver growth program since 2024. Day was in a position to rack up a number of begins within the O’Reilly and Truck Collection with the workforce earlier than getting a full-time trip with the workforce in 2026.
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The fated one vs. the ‘outsider’ expertise
On paper, this comparability seems like a no brainer. Day has but to show himself within the O’Reilly Collection. He gained his first race within the O’Reilly Collection this week at Dover Motor Speedway. In the meantime, Zilisch is already operating a full-time Cup schedule, and most specialists agree that he deserves a greater trip for his expertise. For Day, it might be disagreeable information. In his eyes, Zilisch is the outsider who has no enterprise racing for Hendrick Motorsports.
BRISTOL, TN – APRIL 11: Corey Day 17 Hendrick Motorsports HendrickCars.com Chevrolet watches the motion from pit street throughout qualifying for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA O Reilly Auto Elements Collection Suburban Propane 300 on April 11, 2026 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN. Photograph by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire AUTO: APR 11 NASCAR OReilly Auto Elements Collection Suburban Propane 300 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2604112016300
In any case, the 20-year-old is the direct successor of the HMS program. However despite ‘s backing, Corey Day is missing in terms of sponsors and wins. So realistically, the probabilities of him getting his well-planned-out trip within the Cup Collection are near zero.
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One might argue that Connor Zilisch is underneath a multi-year contract with . In any case they’ve performed for him, they gained’t let him go away with no battle. Nevertheless, on this scenario, Zilisch has the . He can signal an early take care of Hendrick Motorsports to change groups when his present contract expires.
That may additionally open up the potential for a buyout, permitting Connor Zilisch to maneuver in early. It will just about mirror the identical scenario that Tyler Reddick went via. He was set to hitch 23XI Racing in 2024, however after his fallout with Richard Childress Racing, he was in a position to get behind the wheel of the No. 45 in 2023 itself.
A buyout would additionally make numerous sense in Zilisch’s case. He’s at the moment racing with subpar tools. When he obtained the prospect to drive a top-performing automobile within the O’Reilly Collection this yr, no driver may compete towards him realistically. Both approach, the 2027 season continues to be far-off, and it’s a protracted look ahead to any such developments to occur.
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