CONCORD, N.C. - Well, if nothing else, Corey Day's introduction to the NASCAR Xfinity Series was eventful.
The trip to Martinsville Speedway started well enough, with Day qualifying eighth. After dropping a couple of spots early, he was rebounding nicely and back in the eighth position looking for more before contact from behind sent him into wheel hop, causing him to miss the corner in turn one and plow into the fence. The impact knocked the rear end housing out of alignment and after falling two laps behind, Day spent the middle portion of the race nursing a damaged race car.
But with a barrage of caution flags brought out by over-aggressive driving down the stretch, suddenly, Day found himself all the way back on the lead lap and rallied to finish just outside the top 20 in 21st. And all that without power steering the last 75 laps or so.
"The caution laps were harder to drive without power steering than the green-flag laps were," Day told HendrickMotorsports.com on Thursday.
RELATED: Relive Terry Labonte's last career win at Darlington Raceway
On paper, years from now, people will look back and likely pass right over a 21st-place showing. But in the cockpit of the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, there was an education in the form of trial-by-fire happening. And over the course of 250 laps, Day learned a lot of what to do, and even more of what not to do.
"Definitely a lesson on never giving up," Day said. "We spent 150 laps two laps down and ended up not last and on the lead lap. With how bad everything went, it was still positive in that aspect - I never gave up, the team never gave up, so that's good.
"Getting to race around cars is huge too. Figuring out where my tires are - the wheelbase is shorter than the (NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series truck), the body is different - so you've got to figure out racing around cars, how close you can get and what your marks are for things. I think just getting seat time was a really good thing."
RELATED: Kyle Larson sees rides for Indy 500, Coca-Cola 600 for the first time
In the back - and later the middle - of the pack, Day had a front-row seat for one of the more controversial Xfinity Series races in recent memory. The yellow flag waved nine times in the final 100 laps alone and ended with a massive pile up at the start finish line.
It was enough to draw the ire of some of the sport's veteran drivers both in the Cup and Xfinity Series. Day wasn't involved in any of the late fracases as he survived and advanced up the scoring pylon.
And at just 19-years-old, he has his own opinions on respectful driving and what he saw behind the wheel last Saturday.
"I've been the young kid racing against the old guys for the past four years now," Day said. "I was really young when I moved up into sprint cars and I started racing at the highest level really, really soon, so, respect for me has always been one of my top priorities at the race track. You race like you want to be raced. There were a couple of cars out there that raced pretty terribly and I'm sure they have one coming from a list of people now. For me at least, it's always been my motto, 'You race people the way you want to be raced.'
"Guys like Justin Allgaier that have been doing this for how-many-ever years, he's going to give you respect to start because that's what good race car drivers do. But the second you give him a reason not to, he has years and years and years of doing this to be able to make your life miserable in the race. I've been the young guy racing older guys for a long time now and I want everyone's respect because I want it to be fair."
RELATED: Prime Video to sponsor Kyle Larson in Double attempt, documentary film
In addition to being Day's first race in the Xfinity Series, it was also the first time he and crew chief Adam Wall worked together in a race. Wall is the full-time crew chief of the No. 17 car, but until Martinsville, the ride had been occupied only by Hendrick Motorsports Cup Series drivers William Byron, Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson. Chase Elliott is scheduled to drive the entry this week at Darlington Raceway.
But as the season progresses, Day will be in the seat much more. Counting last week, he's scheduled to make 10 Xfinity Series starts this year.
Wall praised Day and his raw speed earlier this year. On Thursday, Day spoke of the natural fit between driver, crew chief and team.
"It's really good, I love Adam," Day said. "He does a great job and the whole team does a great job. It's a first-class operation over there for sure.
"At the end of the day, your crew chief can be your biggest help or he can be your biggest hurt. So, at the end of the day, you have to have a good relationship with your crew chief and I feel like Adam and I do. We're honestly really close personality-wise and we both want to win, bottom line."
And maybe those wins are coming. To expect one in race one, well, perhaps that would be a bit ambitious.
Yet, being the youngest member of the driver roster at Hendrick Motorsports comes with opportunity but also, its fair share of scrutiny and Day understands that. He's not hiding from it either.
RELATED: Driver averages for Darlington Raceway
In fact, Day believes he's at his best when the pressure is greatest. As he climbs the ladder through NASCAR's ranks, he'll have ample opportunities to prove just that.
"I see the comments and what people say. I look," Day said. "Pressure for me is a good thing. I love the pressure. I always shine, I feel like, in the big sprint car races. Every NASCAR race is big but I haven't run in the crown jewels to have all the pressure on me here yet but the crown jewel sprint car races, I feel like I hold myself to a higher standard and I run better. Gold Cup, I've won the last two years and that and (Grand) Nationals are the two highest-pressure situations you're in all year.
"I love the pressure. I love the haters. I love it all and I definitely do feel like there's pressure to run good and they don't give me any grace when I don't. But at the same time, I think that was like my 15th pavement race this weekend or something like that. I'm still a little new here."