Riley Herbst will be returning to Indianapolis Motor Speedway next week for NASCAR’s annual event, but this time he is stepping up to stock car racing’s biggest stage.
The Las Vegas native will be making his Brickyard 400 debut as a Cup Series rookie, driving the No. 35 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing.
Herbst’s return to IMS carries different energy. For just the second time in his NASCAR career, he won’t be defending a race victory -- he has three wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, all with Stewart-Haas Racing.
His first Xfinity win came at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2023 and he returned the following year to defend that win. His other two victories came last season – one in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway and the other on the historic 2.5-mile IMS oval.
Rather than defending a win, Herbst has the chance to create a new chapter, this time in the Cup Series.
“I’m excited to go back to Indianapolis,” he said. “I love the atmosphere and the city and all the fans there. It’s a really cool and unique aspect for our sport to go to.
“Obviously, it’s going to be a different scenario in the Brickyard 400 and how cool that’s going to be, living out a childhood memory. Going there and taking in all the scenes and all the sights that I did last year as well.”
Herbst will enter the weekend with confidence. He is already 1-for-1 at IMS. Going 2-for-2 would do more than cement his legacy, it would launch him into the Cup Series playoffs.
His Indy victory last year in the Xfinity Series was a turning point, showcasing his potential and helping him earn his Cup Series promotion, a race that displayed what he is capable of.
“I just remember how great of a race it was, especially the last lap,” Herbst said. “Just getting to race at Indy is a dream come true, and I got to win my first race there, so that was super special.”
For four years, NASCAR’s top developmental series raced on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course. Last season’s return to the traditional oval restored tradition and opened the door for Herbst to create a moment worthy of history.
Herbst, who started second in the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford, held off Stewart-Haas Racing teammate and pole sitter Cole Custer by .167 of a second for his second career Xfinity Series victory in the Pennzoil 250 presented by Advance Auto Parts. Almirola was third in the No. 20 He Gets Us Toyota of Joe Gibbs Racing, .224 of a second behind the winner after a sizzling three-way fight for the lead on the last two laps of the 100-lap race.
Herbst lost the lead to Custer on a restart on Lap 90, and it appeared Custer might cruise to victory. He built a lead of 1.384 seconds by Lap 95. But Herbst began to chip away, trimming that lead to .649 of a second on Lap 97 and .270 of a second on Lap 98.
Almirola was gaining ground on the two leaders and took the lead on the front straightaway at the end of Lap 99 on a breathtaking move with the white flag in the air. Herbst and Custer were racing side-by-side for the lead low on the straightaway, and Almirola moved within inches of the wall to clear the dueling pair and slice down across the noses of their Fords for the top spot.
On the final lap, Herbst chased Almirola and dove under him for the lead in the short chute between Turns 3 and 4 and held on to the checkered flag. It was the last of 12 lead changes in the race.
Herbst and Custer combined to lead 77 of the 100 laps, with Custer out front for a race-high 47 and Herbst 30.
“This is Indianapolis,” Herbst said. “This is the most famous racetrack in the world, and it’s an honor just to walk into the place, let alone win.”
