NASCAR: New landing spot emerges for Brickyard winner

As a seasoned gamer who has spent countless hours on the virtual tracks of NASCAR video games, I’ve always been intrigued by the real-life careers of these speed demons. And Riley Herbst, with his journey from the Xfinity Series to the brink of the coveted Cup Series, has caught my attention like a shiny new paint job on a race car.

Keeping an eye on Riley Herbst as the 2025 NASCAR season approaches, since it’s still uncertain what his plans will be following his experience in the Xfinity Series.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, this 25-year-old racer has been a full-time competitor in the Xfinity Series since 2020. Since the year 2021, he has been representing Stewart-Haas Racing in these competitions.

At the Xfinity level, Herbst has been developing more gradually than expected. He managed to qualify for the playoffs every year since his debut, yet he’s never ranked higher than 10th overall in points, and he hasn’t claimed victory in any races throughout those three seasons.

Previously, he didn’t make it to the postseason at all, but he eventually clinched his initial career win during his hometown race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

As a longtime racing enthusiast and avid follower of the IndyCar series, I must say that the 2024 season has been particularly exciting for me. One driver who has really stood out this year is Herbst, who has proven himself to be a formidable competitor. After winning the most recent race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he now sits comfortably in fifth place in the point standings as we head into the four-week summer break.

Next year, Herbst has expressed that he might compete in any of NASCAR’s three major leagues, but if a competitive Cup Series team approaches him, it would be difficult to refuse such an opportunity, given it could mean racing in the top tier instead of the Xfinity or Truck Series.

It’s expected that Stewart-Haas Racing will close shop at the end of 2024, but Gene Haas plans to carry on with a two-car Xfinity Series program under his own name, Haas Factory Team. This might mean Herbst keeps his position as driver of the No. 98 Ford for a fifth consecutive year, given that his teammate and current champion Cole Custer is likely to return to the Cup Series.

But there is indeed a top-tier Cup Series team that could come calling Herbst’s name, and that team is 23XI Racing.

Although Herbst might not initially grab attention as the top young prospect, his substantial experience accumulated in NASCAR’s lower divisions, combined with the seven Cup Series races he has competed in for Rick Ware Racing and Front Row Motorsports this season, have drawn interest from other teams due to his clear advancement.

And his Brickyard win could not have come at a better time.

23XI Racing is rumored to be considering an increase in their car count from two to three next year, possibly by purchasing one of the four charters owned by Stewart-Haas Racing. It’s expected that Haas will keep one, Front Row Motorsports will acquire another for their own expansion to three cars, and Trackhouse Racing Team is believed to be planning a similar move.

It’s speculated that the third 23XI Racing Toyota, potentially labeled as No. 67, may be assigned to either Herbst or Corey Heim, a highly-regarded racer in Toyota Racing Development’s talent pool, who competes in the Truck Series for Tricon Garage.

However, as reported by Bob Pockrass from Fox Sports, Heim is seen as the team’s driver of tomorrow. Yet, it’s possible that he may need a year or two more to fully prepare for NASCAR’s premier Cup Series.

As a dedicated fan, I wholeheartedly agree with that insightful evaluation from a trusted sports insider. Last year, I witnessed firsthand how Heim proved his mettle by making it to the Truck Series Championship 4 as a rookie full-time driver, scoring an impressive three victories. This season, he’s maintaining momentum and currently ranks second in the point standings with a remarkable five wins under his belt. It’s truly inspiring to see such exceptional performance!

However, the 22-year-old from Marietta, Georgia has competed in just a handful of races in the Xfinity Series, totaling 13 since last year, without securing a win. It might be more beneficial for his career progression to devote an entire season as a full-time driver in NASCAR’s second tier before moving up to the top level.

Regarding Herbst, it’s not only his extensive experience that could benefit him. Throughout his career, he’s been backed by Monster Energy, a company that’s already connected to the racing team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan.

In 2019, Kurt Busch moved Monster Energy drinks company from Stewart-Haas Racing to Chip Ganassi Racing. After Trackhouse Racing Team purchased Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of the 2021 season, Busch shifted Monster Energy with him to 23XI Racing.

Although Busch had to retire prematurely following his head injury sustained during a qualifying crash at Pocono Raceway, Monster Energy decided to continue their partnership with 23XI Racing. Since then, they have been sponsoring Tyler Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota.

Besides being a former racer, Herbst has also had a long-standing relationship with Toyota, having raced for them in various series including K&N Pro Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, the ARCA Menards Series, the Truck Series, and even the Xfinity Series from 2016 to 2020.

With a solid track record, consistent growth, and strong support behind her, Herbst is the leading contender to team up with Reddick and Bubba Wallace at the Toyota team associated with Joe Gibbs Racing next year. This position even surpasses the promising Heim in terms of likelihood.

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2024-08-01 15:02