Riley Herbst Bio
Riley Dederick Kern Herbst, born on February 24, 1999, in Las Vegas, Nevada, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 35 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing. A third-generation racer from a family with deep roots in off-road and desert competition, Herbst has built a reputation as a determined competitor across NASCAR’s national touring divisions.
Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds, Herbst pilots Monster Energy-sponsored entries and has become a familiar face in the NASCAR garage. His career has taken him from karts and Super Late Models to the highest level of stock car racing in the United States.
Early Life and Background
Riley Herbst was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, to Troy Herbst and Laura Sosey Herbst. The Herbst family owns the well-known Terrible Herbst company, a business long associated with motorsports and convenience retail in the American Southwest. His father’s family has a multi-generational history in off-road racing, with grandfather Jerry Herbst and uncles Ed and Tim Herbst all competing in legendary desert events like the Baja 500 and Baja 1000. The four men were inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
Herbst began racing karts at the age of five, learning the basics of throttle control and race craft on small tracks in the Las Vegas area. He advanced through legends cars, Speed Trucks, and Super Late Models, gaining experience on both ovals and road courses. By his early teens, Herbst was already competing in major touring series, laying a foundation for what would become a professional career in NASCAR.
Path to NASCAR
Herbst’s progression through the racing ranks accelerated during his mid-teens. In 2015, he raced weekly at Irwindale Speedway in a Super Late Model and captured the track’s Speed Trucks championship. The following year, he added select NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West events to his schedule, continuing to develop his skills against older and more experienced competitors.
In 2017, Herbst moved into the ARCA Racing Series with Joe Gibbs Racing, driving the No. 18 Toyota full-time. He won at Pocono, earned multiple top-five finishes, and claimed the series’ Rookie of the Year award over Gus Dean. That same year, he was selected for the prestigious NASCAR Next class in 2018, an honor that highlighted his status as one of the sport’s rising talents. By 2018, Herbst had also begun running in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with Kyle Busch Motorsports, signaling his arrival on the national stage.
Riley Herbst Career
Early Career (2017-2018)
Herbst’s earliest national-level success came in the 2017 ARCA Racing Series, where he finished seventh in the final standings and was named Rookie of the Year. His performance demonstrated the consistency and race-trim speed that would become trademarks of his driving style. The following season, he joined Kyle Busch Motorsports for his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Gateway Motorsports Park, finishing eighth, and added a start at his home track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
In May 2018, Herbst was named to the NASCAR Next class, recognizing him as one of the top young talents in the sport. That June, he made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with Joe Gibbs Racing at Iowa Speedway. By 2019, he was splitting JGR’s No. 18 Xfinity entry with notable teammates including Jeffrey Earnhardt, Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin, gaining valuable seat time and exposure.
Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2020-2024)
Herbst took over full-time driving duties of the No. 18 Xfinity car for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2020. He qualified for the playoffs that season and finished 12th in the final standings, recording four top-five finishes and 17 top-ten results. His best runs included a runner-up finish at both Auto Club Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. Despite the strong campaign, JGR signed Daniel Hemric to drive the No. 18 in 2021, leaving Herbst without a full-time ride.
On December 10, 2020, Stewart-Haas Racing announced it had signed Herbst to drive the No. 98 Ford beginning with the 2021 Xfinity Series season. After a rocky start that included three wrecks in the first four races, none of which were his fault, he rebounded with a fourth-place run at Phoenix Raceway. In 2022, Herbst produced his best statistical Xfinity season, recording eight top-fives and 20 top-ten finishes.
Herbst finally reached Victory Lane in 2023. Although he missed the playoffs that year, he scored his first career Xfinity Series win at his hometown track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The victory was the highlight of a five-race stretch of top-five finishes to close the season. In 2024, Herbst won again, this time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway after a dramatic last-lap pass on Aric Almirola. He later gave Stewart-Haas Racing its final race win at Phoenix before the organization’s NASCAR operations shut down at the end of the year.
Cup Series Debut and 23XI Racing Era (2023-Present)
Herbst made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at the 2023 Daytona 500, driving the No. 15 Ford for Rick Ware Racing. He finished tenth in that first start, becoming one of only five drivers in NASCAR history to record a top-ten in his first Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series races. He added additional Cup starts that year at Talladega and Daytona, posting a ninth-place finish in the fall Talladega race after pushing Ryan Blaney and nearly Kevin Harvick into the lead on the final lap.
On November 20, 2024, 23XI Racing announced that Herbst would drive the No. 35 Toyota full-time beginning with the 2025 Cup Series season, with Monster Energy continuing as his primary sponsor. He opened 2025 with a 17th-place run at the Daytona 500. The season proved challenging, as he failed to record a top-ten finish and managed only eight top-20 results, with a best of 14th at Texas. He ended the year 35th in the final standings, and the No. 35 was later disqualified following the Charlotte Roval race for a post-race height inspection failure.
Driving Style and Strengths
Herbst is recognized for his aggressive race craft and his ability to navigate superspeedway traffic. He has shown a particular fondness for drafting battles and late-race restarts, skills he has demonstrated in dramatic fashion at Daytona and Talladega. His willingness to commit to bold moves, like his last-lap pass at Indianapolis in 2024, has made him a fan favorite, even in seasons when consistency has been elusive.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Herbst’s most memorable moments are his first Xfinity Series win at Las Vegas in 2023, his dramatic last-lap victory at Indianapolis in 2024, and his top-ten Cup debut at the 2023 Daytona 500. He also earned a top-ten in his first Truck Series start at Gateway in 2018, completing a rare set of debut results across all three national series. Off the track, he has added the Baja 1000 Trophy Truck Spec class title in 2023 and 2024 to his racing resume.
Riley Herbst Career Wins
Riley Herbst has captured victories in both stock car and off-road competition. His NASCAR Xfinity Series wins came at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2023 and at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2024, the latter serving as the final victory for Stewart-Haas Racing. In off-road racing, he has won the Baja 1000 Trophy Truck Spec class in both 2023 and 2024, continuing his family’s long tradition in desert competition.
Xfinity Series Highlights
Herbst’s two Xfinity Series victories bookend a journey that included multiple playoff appearances and steady statistical growth. His 2022 season set personal bests with eight top-five finishes and 20 top-ten results, while his 2024 campaign saw him give Stewart-Haas Racing one last trip to Victory Lane. Although he has not yet secured a Cup Series win, his consistent presence in the national series spotlight continues to build his profile.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his Xfinity success, Herbst has excelled in off-road racing. He finished second in the Trophy Truck Spec class at the 2020 Baja 1000 alongside cousins Pierce and Thor, and the trio placed ninth in 2021. He followed those runs with class victories in 2023 and 2024, partnering with his father Troy and Jordan Dean. Earlier in his career, he won Irwindale Speedway’s Speed Trucks championship in 2015 and an ARCA race at Pocono in 2017.
Riley Herbst Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
The Herbst family is one of the most storied racing families in the American Southwest. Riley’s father, Troy Herbst, grandfather Jerry Herbst, and uncles Ed and Tim Herbst have all competed in desert racing events including the Baja 500 and Baja 1000. In 2014, the four men were inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of their contributions to off-road motorsports.
Personal Life
Riley is the son of Troy Herbst and Laura Sosey Herbst. The family owns the Terrible Herbst company, a business empire that has long been associated with motorsports sponsorship. Herbst has continued to honor his family’s off-road heritage by competing in Baja events alongside his father and cousins, blending his NASCAR career with the desert racing traditions passed down through his family.
2025 Season Performance
Herbst’s first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season with 23XI Racing proved to be a learning year. Driving the No. 35 Toyota Camry XSE with Monster Energy as his primary sponsor, he opened the year with a 17th-place finish at the Daytona 500. Across the season, he struggled to find consistent pace and was unable to crack the top ten in any event, managing a best result of 14th at Texas Motor Speedway.
He recorded eight top-20 finishes and ended the year 35th in the final Cup Series standings, well outside the playoff picture. The campaign was further complicated when his No. 35 entry was disqualified following the Charlotte Roval race for failing post-race height inspection, a setback that underscored the technical learning curve of moving full-time into Cup competition.
Despite the difficult statistical season, the year provided valuable experience at NASCAR’s top level and the opportunity to build chemistry with his new 23XI Racing team. Looking ahead, Herbst and the No. 35 group are expected to use the lessons of 2025 as a foundation for stronger results in the seasons to come.