Corey Day Captured Pole Position at Las Vegas
Corey Day earned the top starting spot for the Focused Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Motorsports
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Corey Day secured the pole position for the upcoming Focused Health 302 after completing a qualifying lap in 29.858 seconds. He outperformed 36 other competitors at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway to earn his second pole of the 2026 season.
Why it matters
The result is critical for Day, who is currently ranked sixth in the 2026 Chase standings and aiming to close a 92-point gap from the leader. With only six Chase events remaining, securing the top starting spot provides a strategic advantage for the upcoming race.
Corey Day posted a qualifying lap of 180.856 mph to edge out Sheldon Creed, who clocked in at 180.741 mph. Nine of the 12 Chase contenders successfully qualified within the top 10 positions for the 36-car field.
The players
Corey Day
He is a race car driver from Clovis, California, who currently ranks sixth in the 2026 Chase standings.
Sheldon Creed
He is a professional driver who will depart the Haas Factory Team to join Sam Hunt Racing in 2027.
William Sawalich
He is a competitor in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series who faced mechanical difficulties during the qualifying session.
The details
Drivers competed in a single-car, single-lap qualifying session to determine the starting order for the Focused Health 302. While Day dominated the session, competitor William Sawalich failed to post a qualifying lap due to a mechanical issue.
Timeline
Corey Day secured the pole position on October 3, 2026.
The Focused Health 302 is scheduled for October 3 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Sheldon Creed will join Sam Hunt Racing in 2027.
Season Trajectory
This pole win shifts the momentum for Day as he attempts to narrow a 92-point deficit in the 2026 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season. With nine of 12 Chase contenders qualifying in the top 10, the field remains highly competitive as the series moves through the remaining six events.
Day enters the race with a 92-point gap to bridge in the Chase standings, making every position count for his playoff advancement. The starting order confirms that 36 competitors will vie for the win, with the top 10 grid spots heavily occupied by Chase contenders.
The takeaway
Corey Day's strong qualifying performance highlights the intense pressure facing Chase contenders in the final stretch of the season. Spectators should monitor how top-tier qualifiers navigate the race to overcome the tight point margins.
What happens next
The Focused Health 302 is scheduled to take place on October 3, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Further reading
For more on the current field and standings, visit the Las Vegas Motorsports section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Speedway Media.
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