CHICO, Calif. — At 19 years old, Corey Day is already rewriting the record books.
Winning his third-consecutive title at the Mike Curb Gold Cup Race of Champions presented by NOS Energy Drink on Saturday night, the Clovis, California native joins a category that only Steve Kinser shares with him. Those two — the greatest of all-time and the newest hot shot prodigy — are the only drivers to have pulled off a three-peat in the 71-year history of this event.
After leading all 40 laps in 2023 and all 40 laps again in 2024, the 2025 crown was the most challenging for Day en route to his historic hat trick.
Earning the pole position with a near-perfect 398 preliminary points, Day initially jumped to the lead and controlled the opening four laps before a restart allowed Justin Sanders to pounce and push the No. 14 as far back as third on Lap 7.
The Jason Meyers Racing pilot regrouped, recovered, and regained his composure, however. He jotted by Brad Sweet to reclaim second on Lap 8 and then took advantage of the slightest bobble from Sanders to retake the lead for good on Lap 23.
From there, “Pay Day” survived a nerve-wracking run to the checkered flag to cash the $100,071 payday. It’s not only his third-straight Gold Cup title, but also his fifth consecutive win at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway.
Day joins Kinser (12), Al Pombo (4), and Jac Haudenschild (3) as the only three-time champions in Gold Cup Race of Champions history.
Day’s third title propels Jason Meyers to five total – those three as the owner of Day’s No. 14 and the two he won himself as a driver in 2010 and 2013.
Behind Day by 1.630 seconds at the stripe was Friday’s preliminary winner Justin Sanders. The Aromas, California native drove the Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87 to the lead on Lap 5 and commanded 18 circuits before the smallest slip up allowed Day to work his way back by.
Ultimately, Sanders settled for his second runner-up finish in the Gold Cup Race of Champions worth $25,000 — delaying his shot at destiny another year.
Completing an all-California podium was Sweet with a $15,000 check in third-place aboard the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49.
The finish:
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 14-Corey Day[1]; 2. 87-Justin Sanders[2]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet[5]; 4. 21-James McFadden[7]; 5. 83T-Tanner Carrick[12]; 6. 13-Daison Pursley[11]; 7. W-Spencer Bayston[6]; 8. 41-Dominic Scelzi[18]; 9. 88A-Joey Ancona[10]; 10. 42-Sye Lynch[17]; 11. 121-Caeden Steele[24]; 12. 9-Chase Randall[13]; 13. X1-Chance Grasty[15]; 14. 7BC-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 15. 19-Brent Marks[4]; 16. 88-Tanner Thorson[8]; 17. 2XM-Max Mittry[21]; 18. 18-Dylan Bloomfield[14]; 19. 24-Rico Abreu[20]; 20. 73X-Brady Bacon[22]; 21. 73-Ryan Bernal[23]; 22. 0-Tim Kaeding[16]; 23. 7B-Sean Becker[19]; 24. 45-Cory Eliason[9]
