Herbst keeping an open mind about life after 23XI

While Riley Herbst is looking ahead to this Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan, the 23XI Racing driver will enter the event with the knowledge that he will not be returning to the No. 35 Monster Energy Toyota in 2027. Set to be replaced by Corey Heim in 2027, the native of Las Vegas will be moving on after two years with the team.

“Our contract is up, so we’re moving on,” said Herbst, currently 27th in NASCAR Cup Series points with an average finishing position of 22. “Honestly, I’m grateful to Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan for giving me the opportunity to go Cup racing. It was a childhood dream. I’m excited for the future opportunities and the future ahead.”

Fourteen races into the season, Herbst is relatively pleased with his output up to this point.

“We are substantially better than last year," he said. “That’s a positive. Obviously, we had that little lull with Darlington and Martinsville where we were 35th, but yes, I think our speed is there and if we capitalize on these finishes, I think we can climb into the top 20 in points. I mean, we’re looking for top 10s now. We’re excited for the future. I think we’ve really progressed well. I think we’ve really gotten better, and our speed is starting to show. I think we can take that next step forward."

Immediately following the Michigan race on Sunday will come the very different Cup Series events at Pocono Raceway, the Naval Base Coronado and Sonoma Raceway. 

“Yes, this is a tough stretch, honestly,” Herbst said. “These are very unique racetracks. Pocono is obviously a triangle. There will be a road course race on a Navy base, which is going to be crazy, and which will be such a cool atmosphere. Yes, it’s all going to be difficult, to say the least. We’re going to try to do the best we can at Michigan and stack some points, and just head on to the next three weeks with an open mind. That’s how we have to look at it. Just being in the place that we are, we just want to take advantage of every opportunity that we have and trying to capitalize.”

Still remarkably early on in his Cup Series career, Herbst, who has competed in a mere 58 Cup races, is pleased with his progression at the sport’s elite level.

Herbst's best result of the season to date came at Daytona, where he was classified eighth. Sean Gardner/Getty Images

“I think that I am progressing," he said. "I hope there people see it. We’re a lot faster than we were last year. We’re making better moves than we did last year.

"Yeah, I’m just excited about everything. I’m extremely grateful to be where I am and to have these opportunities, and now we just have to go capitalize. It’s a difficult mind game, for sure, this NASCAR Cup Series. It’s a never-ending battle. It’s a progress thing that you take steps towards every day, and you’re never going to be perfect. My confidence level is at the highest level it has ever been, and I’m excited to get to the racetrack each week. If we finish the year in the top 20 in points, I’ll be really, really happy. That’s probably my main goal right now.”

With rumors around his next move swirling, Herbst said that he and the people around him are exploring options.

“Not yet, but I think it’s pretty close,” answered Herbst of a potential move. “Yeah, there are a lot of good things in the works. Like I said, I’m grateful for where I am and where I have been and I’m excited for what’s to come. I should know something, hopefully, in the next month or so. We’re working on it right now.”

So bring on the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series?

“We hope so," he said. “That’s the plan right now. I’m just excited for this upcoming weekend. I think we have a real opportunity here. I like Michigan. I won there in the lower series before. It’s super-fast. I think we can go get a top 10. The competition is stacked in this series and it’s just an honor to race these guys and to learn form them, to be honest. That’s how you get better and that’s how you become a winner.

"I’m confident, but more importantly, I’m just grateful. I have so much gratitude towards what I get to do each weekend, and I don’t take that lightly. Hopefully we can capitalize on this opportunity and go make the most of it. Hopefully we can get inside that top 20 point finish at the end of the year. We’re a little bit out of it right now, but we have the speed capability to go do it.”