Riley Herbst

The journeyman driver had one of his more successful campaigns last year with SHR. Herbst piloted the team's No. 98 Ford to his first-career win (Las Vegas), 17 Top-10 finishes and he ended the season on a heater. The 24-year-old driver would conclude 2023 on a five-race Top-5 streak and leave a great impression heading into the new season. It was announced last October that Herbst would be returning to the No. 98 team and to seek bigger goals in 2024. He'll look to secure his first multi-win season and penetrate the Top 10 in the driver points. Championship contention is not likely in the cards just yet, but Herbst's 142 starts of Xfinity Series experience are starting to stack up. It's time to strike while the iron is hot and to secure some higher ground. Herbst has a great team and great support around him, so he should continue his growth trajectory.

Herbst resigned with Stewart Haas Racing in November of last year. He's coming off a career-best campaign of eight Top-5 and 20 Top-10 finishes, however, no victories. Consistency wasn't an issue at all and it led to a career-best average finish of 13.0 for Herbst. With now over 100 starts of experience in this division of NASCAR and turning 24-years-old in February, he's becoming a seasoned young driver. Herbst returns to the same No. 98 SHR team and crew as last season and will look to break through for that first-career win as well as possibly throw his hat in the ring for the championship. He has a lot of unrealized potential to this point in his NASCAR career and a lot of room to grow. The presence of a new teammate, Cole Custer, could also help in that development.

Herbst returns for season two at Stewart Haas Racing. He piloted the No. 98 Ford in 2021 and grabbed five Top-5 and 13 Top-10 finishes in what was admittedly a campaign that fell a bit short of expectations. Other recent drivers have won in this car, but Herbst failed to scratch the win column last season and only led 57 laps for the full 33-race schedule. He'll look to take things up a notch in 2022. Herbst will once again be paired with crew chief, Richard Boswell, and the two will look to build on their performance. At just 21-years-old and with only 76 Xfinity Series starts to his credit, he has some learning and seasoning still ahead. The good news is that this team is capable of propelling him up the driver standings if Herbst puts in the work.

Herbst was the big winner in the Xfinity Series free agency shuffle. The 21-year-old Nevadan moves from Joe Gibbs Racing to Stewart Haas Racing in 2021. Herbst will take over the strong No. 98 Ford. This team propelled Chase Briscoe last season to nine victories and 16 Top-15 finishes. While they pulled up short in the chase for the championship, the No. 98 team was one of the more dominant entries in the 2020 season. Herbst will attempt to keep this team racing at a high level. He'll have his work cut out for him. Herbst compiled 17 Top 10's and no wins in his first full season of Xfinity Series action last year. He is talented, but a bit unproven to this point in his NASCAR career. It would be overly ambitious to expect Briscoe-like numbers out of Herbst in 2021. However, this strong race team will bring out the best in him. We expect multiple wins, 20+ Top 10's and an outside run at the championship.

After two seasons of part-time, preparatory racing in the Xfinity and Gander Truck Series, Herbst is ready to go full-time in 2020. He will be a Rookie of the Year candidate and make a strong bid to claim those honors. Herbst has spent the majority of his time racing in the K&N and ARCA Series the last four seasons, while he only has 17-combined starts in the Xfinity and Gander Truck Series. The lack of seat time in NASCAR's upper divisions is a bit concerning. However, Herbst did show some flashes in his nine Xfinity Series starts last season. The youngster will be guided by veteran crew chief Dave Rogers and two will look to hit the ground running in the upcoming season. Herbst still has a lot to learn, so inconsistency could be an issue for this driver and team well into 2020 campaign.

Signed to race with Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 18 Toyota this season. Herbst will make eight starts in the team's powerful Toyota Supra. The 19-year-old driver is a rising talent, and should make good impact in his handful of starts.