The HyVee Perks 250 in Iowa ended up being a not-so-great outing for the 19-year-old drivers on the Xfinity Series grid. It started with Connor Zilisch’s expletive rant on team radio after having to pit twice before Stage 2 began. Once that was over, Corey Day was the driver under the spotlight, owing to what happened between him and Dean Thompson.
A development driver with HMS, Day’s NXS outings haven’t been anything to write home about. With five Xfinity races under his belt, the 19-year-old outside the top-20 on three occasions, and Saturday’s (August 2) race was no better.
Why Did Corey Day and Dean Thompson Square Off After the HyVee Perks 250?
Although he has fared better in the Truck series, Day’s frustrations seem to be growing with each passing race in the NXS. Racing in Iowa, he and Thompson were battling for P21 when Day took the inside line on Turn 3 during Lap 139. They made slight contact when side-by-side, and Thomson experienced a half spin while the No. 17 surged ahead.
Thankfully for him, Thompson avoided making any contact with the outside wall and continued onwards. Displeased with the 19-year-old’s actions, the No. 26 driver squared off against him once racing ended. While the post-race spat did not develop into anything more serious, Thompson looked visibly frustrated as he walled away.
Taking to X, NASCAR Journalist Toby Christie uploaded the footage of the two drivers engaging in a heated exchange with the caption, “We’ve got some post-race beef between Dean Thompson and Corey Day. Day got into Thompson, which sent him spinning out on Lap 139.”
We’ve got some post-race beef between Dean Thompson and Corey Day. Day got into Thompson, which sent him spinning out on Lap 139. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/TIjV2lPEmx
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) August 3, 2025
As for the race, when the dust settled, Day ended his outing in P24, while Thompson had to make do with a P31 finish at the Iowa Speedway.
For Day, the latest incident has added to the growing narrative around his aggressive driving style. With the HMS spotlight on him, Day’s every move attracts added scrutiny, especially given that he has often been compared with Kyle Larson.
What Did Day Say About Kyle Larson Comparisons?
Like Larson, Day rose through the ranks in the dirt race series and is now an HMS driver. In February this year, he addressed the similarities between him and the 2021 Cup Series champion while sitting down for an interview with Bob Pockrass.
Having looked up to Larson for “a long time,” he claimed he was still a young kid when Larson did the things that made him famous. Thus, hearing the comparisons was “super cool” for him.
He added that the comparisons don’t put any pressure on him, and, at the end of the day, “I’ve just got to do my job.”