Riley Herbst’s Future Is in Limbo Due to 23XI Lawsuit
What’s Happening? As the offseason creeps closer, one NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff driver has yet to announce his plans for 2025….
Not to be outdone by Ryan Preece’s announcement, 23XI Racing posted a teaser for their new driver. This post was out of nowhere to some fans. However, there is a long paper trail of clues as to who it is.
The video posted to the team’s X shows a shadowy figure with a date of 11/20/2024, so what are the origins of this third car for 23XI Racing? This saga began this spring when Stewart-Haas Racing announced its closure and dispersal of charters, with Trackhouse Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and 23XI Racing listed as potential buyers.
As part of Toyota, 23XI has a wealth of talent from which to make decisions. First, there is Chandler Smith, who just had a championship-caliber year with Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series. Then there is Corey Heim, who put up similar numbers in the Craftsman Truck Series for Tricon Garage.
However, one former Toyota driver is leading the pack. As attractive as these options are, Smith is dealing with sponsor troubles and has rumors of him, Chevrolet, and Richard Childress Racing floating around. Furthermore, Heim, who might have a future with 23XI, already re-signed with Tricon for 2025, leaving Riley Herbst as the clear candidate.
What’s Happening? As the offseason creeps closer, one NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff driver has yet to announce his plans for 2025….
Herbst, who entered the Xfinity Series via Toyota, was the initial driver involved in this third 23XI ride. His ride with the new Haas Factory team has a new driver, and his sponsorship from Monster Energy, already a partner of 23XI, and Terrible Herbst, his family’s company, brings the necessary backing.
However, the ongoing lawsuit between NASCAR and 23XI put Herbst at risk of not having this ride. The initial filing revealed that the team had agreed to buy the final SHR charter. However, a North Carolina judge denied a preliminary injunction that would allow the team to race as chartered teams during the antitrust lawsuit.
Jeffery Kessler, the team’s lawyer, told the media after the initial hearing that 23XI plans to proceed with the purchase. However, the loss of the injunction complicates this. While the team is appealing this decision, leaving the potential for charter status in 2025, the rumor has continued that they will race their third car no matter what. This post on X confirms this rumor that the third team will run as an open car, at the least.
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