Placing an exclamation mark on the tip of his 5 NASCAR Xfinity Collection seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing, Riley Herbst led 167 laps to motor to victory within the season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Shortly after that, 23XI Racing introduced that it was tapping Herbst to drive its No. 35 Monster Power Toyota within the 2025 NASCAR Cup Collection.
The 25-year-old fills us in on the way it all took place, and what’s subsequent….
You’re now a full-time Cup racer. Simply how does that really feel?
“It’s superior. It’s been a lifelong dream, for certain, to have a full-time experience within the Cup sequence. We labored actually laborious at it. It’s thrilling and I can’t wait to get to Daytona.”
When Stewart-Haas Racing introduced its impending closure, you have been, in essence, left in no-man’s land. Was {that a} robust time for you?
“Somewhat bit. It was simply because I didn’t know what was going to occur. I do know I had good folks round me, however simply the end result was type of unsure. In order that’s the place the nervousness got here from. Like, we heard the rumors about SHR again in March, and so we labored with everyone to attempt to discover a good touchdown spot for subsequent 12 months and I feel we discovered the very best spot potential. It’s been a heck of a course of and I’m simply so grateful for the chance that I’ve in entrance of me.”
What did you consider the 23XI Racing staff earlier than you turned part of it?
“Properly, simply watching with Kurt Busch and Tyler Reddick and everyone, I may see simply actually quick race vehicles, and a very quick staff. So clearly I believed that staff was high notch, and simply to be talked about in that identify with that staff is superior, and hopefully we will capitalize on the chance now.”
Are you aware Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace in any respect?
“I’ve met them in passing, however I don’t know them. I’ve simply seen them across the observe and whatnot however yeah, I’m gonna develop that relationship with them and I’m excited for the long run.”
Have you ever been by the 23XI Racing Airspeed race store?
“Yeah, I went to the store one time. It’s world class. It’s so stunning — actually, actually fairly. And it’s very superior expertise considering, ahead considering, which is absolutely cool to see in our NASCAR business.”
You’ve achieved eight Cup races. Did you get any type of learn off of them?
“Somewhat bit. It was so much there, so I’m excited to now have a secure basis realizing how the vehicles drive. However I feel it’s going to be completely completely different. The vehicles are going to be so much higher ready, so much sooner than I drove final 12 months. I’m excited for the assets I’ve, and to proceed to be taught. It’s an enormous change, for certain, so it’s gonna be quite a lot of work however I’ve received actually good folks round me to get me prepared. I’m excited for the problem.
“I feel everyone progresses at their very own tempo however I’ve been pleased with the work that I put into my craft and the way I’ve been getting higher and higher over a brief time frame, and the outcomes are beginning to present. I’m enthusiastic about who I’ve change into as a race automobile driver, about all of the laborious work I’ve put within the final couple years within the Xfinity Collection.”
Wanting again in your Xfinity Collection profession, how would you sum that up?
“It was quite a lot of studying to start with however the final 12 months and a half, man, I felt like we’re pretty much as good as anyone. We had quite a lot of pace, and we gained these races fairly handedly, so it’s cool to see that and to exit on high at Phoenix, to win and to beat everyone within the championship race, was fairly particular.”
Herbst took the checkered flag first at Phoenix to log off with Stewart-Haas Racing within the Xfinity Collection. John Harrelson/Motorsport Photos
Your crew chief Davin Restivo is coming with you into Cup too.
“Yeah, Davin’s a younger, keen particular person like myself. He’s been within the Cup Collection earlier than as an engineer, so excited for him to take this journey, and he’s already on the store, working, making ready for subsequent 12 months, which is thrilling for me.”
What’s it wish to be again with Toyota?
“Yeah, it’s been a very long time since I’ve been within the Toyota constructing. That group is top quality, so excited for all of the assets that they will help me to develop and to change into a greater driver. Simply excited — I hold saying it, however I actually am that simply, there’s a lot good things in entrance of us.”
How vital is it to be popping out of Xfinity as a race winner?
“Yeah, that’s the most important factor. Understanding you may win is every part within the sport and actually good folks surrounding me can be essential.”
Who’s been serving to you as you began to gravitate in the direction of Cup? Anyone been lending a hand?
“Kevin Harvick, a bunch. Simply along with his data and his knowledge. He’s been to the height of the of the mountain, after which he’s gained the championship within the Cup Collection. So having any person like him to lean on, to ask questions is invaluable to me as a younger driver.”
So far as objectives and expectations, how will you do? What’s going to make you content as we glance to Daytona and the remainder of the 2025 Cup schedule?
“It’s going to be a studying course of. I feel it’s going to be extraordinarily troublesome, however I’m set for the challenges forward. I feel there’s going to be some actually good days and I feel there’s going to be some laborious days, laborious studying days, however that’s part of racing, so I’m excited. I wish to full all of the laps. I wish to be taught as a lot as I can. I wish to be taught each single time I’m within the race automobile, from my teammates, from everyone round Toyota, simply attempt to be higher and higher.”
Appears you’ve improved yearly — extra aggressive, extra assured, you get sooner. That ought to serve you properly.
“I certain hope so. The grueling schedule like that, you gotta be robust minded and assured in who you might be and simply proceed to get higher. That’s our fundamental objectives. We wish to be higher subsequent week than we have been the earlier week, and if we do that each week, and I feel we’ll have a really strong 12 months and one thing to be pleased with.”
You ran the Baja 1000 final weekend. How cool was that to go down there and win the Trophy Truck Spec classification with your loved ones? What did that imply to you?
“Yeah, it’s particular. My household’s been happening there because the ’60s. So to go down there and proceed the custom, and that’s back-to-back wins for the Herbst household. It’s simply so particular to go down there along with your cousins and your uncles and your dad and go have a very good time. And on high of that, go win the race. So yeah, I’m pleased with my cousins from profitable the championship in that division, and hopefully we will go do it once more subsequent 12 months.”
However now it’s time to go Cup racing…
“Yeah, it’s been a lifelong dream so everyone’s been pulling the rope in the identical route. We’ve all achieved this collectively. It hasn’t simply been myself; it’s been my complete household. So it’s simply actually cool. All people at Monster Power has been alongside each step of the best way, so it’s a weight off the shoulders. However now it’s time to go to work.”
