Despite facing a challenging past two years, Bubba Wallace’s star continues to shine brightly. His enduring popularity and ability to inspire newcomers have set him apart, creating a unique niche that few drivers have managed to carve out. Today, as the face of Team 23XI—co-owned by the legendary Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin—Wallace remains a symbol of resilience and determination. Among those captivated by Wallace’s journey is newcomer Riley Herbst, who now finds himself in the same team as his idol. Herbst, eager to make his mark in the 2025 season, looks up to Wallace as a source of inspiration.

As Herbst steps into the spotlight, it’s clear that Wallace’s impact goes far beyond the racetrack, serving as a guiding light for a new generation of racers.

Herbst drawing inspiration from Team 23XI’s best

23XI Racing’s plans for a third charter may have been one of the worst-kept secrets in NASCAR. Fans knew they wanted a third driver, and Denny Hamlin’s team went ahead and brought Riley Herbst on board. Now, while the first few weeks after the announcement was overshadowed by uncertainty due to the NASCAR lawsuit proceedings, with things looking stable for the team now, Herbst spoke about the prospect of entering a start-loaded team.

Stepping into a team alongside veterans like Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick can be intimidating, given that each of these drivers are seasoned pros. Speaking of the kind of inspirational source Wallace has been for Herbst, he said, “You look at Bubba and Tyler. They are a success. They won at the top level of the sport. Tyler has taken it to the next level, the final 4 and it is pretty cool to watch as a spectator. Hopefully, I can add to that success. Obviously, it’s going to be a big challenge in the Cup Series. But I am more than ready. I have been working hard this off-season with the 23XI team, trying to lean on my team, trying to pick things, trying to understand what to expect. Everybody has been asking what is gonna be like. I don’t know, ’cause I don’t know. Just trying to get the roles from Tyler and Bubba and get the whole deal.”

Bubba Wallace concluded the 2024 NASCAR season ranked 18th overall. Despite not securing a victory, he earned six top-10 finishes and amassed a total of 878 points. More than that, Wallace holds a lot of influence in NASCAR. It’s not just his ability to attract sponsors. Wallace is the only Black driver on the grid. He’s made efforts to turn himself into the face of 23XI alongside the owners. It’s been complemented by his continuous improvement over the course of 2024. With another contract in hand, he’s looking like a strong contender for the playoffs, and it’s what inspiring Herbst. 

In that regard, Tyler Reddick is no slouch either. His performances throughout the Round of 8 proved his mettle, leading the team to their first Championship race. Although he didn’t win, Redidick delivered a standout performance last season, setting career highs across four key categories: 12 top-five finishes, 21 top-10 finishes, 597 laps led, and an impressive average finish of 13.2. He also joined an elite group of just five drivers to secure at least three victories and three pole positions during the 2024 season. 

 Team 23XI is currently in a tough position, given that it is already in close combat with NASCAR over a legal struggle over antitrust laws. Currently, the teams have regained their charter status and hence they do not have to compete in open races. Entering the team at such a time may be worrying for some drivers, but Herbst is taking this head on. 

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Herbst opens up on the opportunity that has come his way

In 2024, Riley Herbst claimed two victories in the Xfinity Series with Stewart-Haas Racing, including a standout performance in the season finale at Phoenix. At just 24 years old, Herbst has already made eight career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series. Four of those came in 2024 with Rick Ware Racing. In this aspect, his best finish was a 24th-place result at the Daytona 500. His Xfinity Series career began in 2018. It includes a total of 175 starts to date. 

Speaking of the opportunity that has come his way, Herbst said, “It’s an honor to join 23XI and Toyota for the opportunity to race in the Cup Series each week. Racing full-time in the Cup Series has been my goal since I started in NASCAR and I’m excited to start my Cup career with such an accomplished and driven team. What 23XI has accomplished in a short time is impressive and I look forward to building on their success as the organization grows. It’s also great to continue representing Monster and I’m excited about adding to their legacy in NASCAR”. 

Even the team president, Steve Lauletta has shared how everyone is welcoming Herbst with open arms. She said, “As 23XI enters our fifth season next year, we felt the time was right to continue the growth of our organization by adding a third team, and Riley is a driver we think will be a great fit for us. We have a very solid foundation with both Bubba and Tyler, and we know they will be a great resource for Riley as he begins his journey in the Cup Series”. For the 2025 run, Herbst will be under the supervision of Davin Restivo who has been his crew chief in the Xfinity Series till now.