After parts of five seasons – and 109 starts – competing on the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Riley Herbst remained winless.
Industry insiders debated whether Herbst, who also had appeared in 11 Truck Series events, could visit Victory Lane at stock-car racing’s highest levels.
Finally, 30 events into 2023, Herbst silenced some doubters by winning at his hometown track, Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With two race titles this season, including the season-finale at Phoenix Raceway, the 25-year old had the final say. Herbst earned a full-time promotion to the Cup Series, piloting 23XI Racing’s new entry.
Herbst’s crew chief for all three Xfinity wins, Davin Restivo, will be elevated to guide the No. 35 Toyota team. Long-time sponsor, Monster Energy, will continue to back Herbst, who joins regular-season champion and Championship 4 competitor Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace in 23XI Racing’s new three-machine stable.
“It’s an honor to join 23XI and Toyota for the opportunity to race in the Cup Series each week,” Herbst said, as reported by Racing America on SI. “Racing full-time in the Cup Series has been my goal since I started in NASCAR and I’m excited to start my Cup career with such an accomplished and driven team.
“What 23XI has accomplished in a short time is impressive and I look forward to building on their success as the organization grows. It’s also great to continue representing Monster and I’m excited about adding to their legacy in NASCAR.”
Welcome to the family #forwardtogether #teamtoyota pic.twitter.com/wegE9Mw5vY
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) November 20, 2024
Dale Jr. Wants To Alter Championship 4 Destination
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is beginning to speak out on NASCAR’s governing body to make a change to the Championship 4 weekend.
Change, as in, relocating the season’s final National Series races from Phoenix to alternating sites.
Among the tracks Earnhardt mentioned on his podcast, Dale Jr. Download, were Charlotte Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway and Las Vegas
“Should we race somewhere else for the final race of the year?” said Earnhardt, co-owner of JR Motorsports. “We probably should move it around. I think that Phoenix has had a great run.
“I think the general opinion is, there are more exciting race tracks”
Perhaps Homestead-Miami will become more viable in 2026 following track renovations.
Dale Earnhardt Jr at Bristol in 2004. 🏁#ThisBudsForYou 🍻 pic.twitter.com/a8Jbk955mI
— NASCAR Legends (@LegendsNascar) November 19, 2024
Drivers To Face New-Look COTA In 2025
The National Course at the Circuit of The Americas will give next season’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix a new dimension.
Or dimensions.
The redesign was highlighted by shorter straightaways, which created the turn to the back half immediately following the esses. The Cup race, slated for March 2, 2025, is expected to be about 100 laps, according to Fox Sports.
The new course will cover 2.3 miles and feature 20 turns.
NEW COURSE ACTIVATED. 😏
Watch as @NASCAR Cup Series driver @RossChastain tries out @COTA's National Course on @iRacing in anticipation of the 2025 #EchoParkGP!@TeamTrackhouse | #NASCARatCOTA pic.twitter.com/pLJ2IhCki8
— NASCAR at COTA (@NASCARatCOTA) November 20, 2024
