Riley Herbst is preparing for a new season in the Denny Hamlin Cup Series, eager to improve on last year’s struggles and justify the trust placed in him by Hamlin and Michael Jordan. Returning for another campaign with 23XI Racing, Herbst is determined to convert his rookie experience into on-track progress and fulfill the expectations set by his team.
Aiming for Progress After a Tough Rookie Season
In the 2024 season, Herbst stepped into the No. 35 Monster Energy Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing, joining a trio alongside Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. Despite this vote of confidence, his first year in the Cup Series was challenging. Herbst completed the year with eight finishes inside the top 20 but failed to crack the top 10, wrapping up his season 35th in the standings. The Nevada native experienced significant hurdles but hopes to begin anew with upcoming events at Bowman Gray Stadium and the Daytona 500 giving him a chance for a fresh start.
Reflecting on his introduction to Cup competition and how quickly the difficulty became apparent, Herbst said,
“Man, it was really difficult. But it was good to get that year under my belt and get all the experience and the laps. The rookie year is difficult. We learned a lot, and hopefully we can expand and have a better year this year. Some races were good, and a lot of races were bad. There were just a lot of learning races.”
– Riley Herbst, Driver
Denny Hamlin’s Guidance and Expectations
Denny Hamlin, serving as both team owner and active driver, was realistic from the outset about the steep learning curve facing rookies in the Next Gen era. While Hamlin praised Herbst for his competitive spirit and work ethic, he also recognized that breaking into the top 20 wouldn’t come easily. Though the goal of consistently racing inside the top 20 went unfulfilled, Herbst now finds comfort in having familiarity with both the tracks and the Cup car, attributes he believes will yield improved results in his second year.
Key Areas for Growth in the New Season
Last year, Herbst showed flashes of promise with three consecutive 17th-place finishes at venues such as Daytona, Atlanta, and Circuit of the Americas. After a setback in Phoenix, he rebounded in Las Vegas with another top-20 result. These moments, though brief, indicated potential for stronger results with better consistency. Herbst identified that eliminating mistakes and executing cleanly across race weekends could unlock more stable performance.
Fresh Team Dynamics and Stronger Preparation
The offseason has prompted changes and renewed energy around the No. 35 group. Crew chief Davin Restivo has focused on refining every detail, and the addition of new engineers has provided valuable technical insight. As Herbst explained,
“Davin (Restivo) has been working hard. We also have a couple of new engineers on the team, so I’m looking forward to their insight and experience on how to make our car go faster,”
– Riley Herbst, Driver
With these enhancements, 23XI Racing is striving for steadier results and minimizing the dramatic peaks and valleys experienced last year. Herbst’s approach centers on maintaining focus from the first practice lap through the race’s finish, targeting not just fleeting successes but a routine placement within the top 20.
What’s Next for Herbst and 23XI Racing?
The upcoming schedule, including the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium and the Daytona 500, gives Herbst the chance to capitalize on last season’s lessons. Determined to match and surpass Denny Hamlin’s original expectations, he aims to make regular top-20 finishes the standard for the No. 35 Monster Energy Toyota. Achieving this would not only justify the investment by Hamlin and Michael Jordan, but also help 23XI Racing solidify its standing as an organization capable of developing promising talent within the Denny Hamlin Cup Series.
