His future in NASCAR may be uncertain, but Stewart-Haas Racing driver Riley Herbst has a lot to celebrate. The 25-year-old recently won his first race of the 2024 Xfinity Series season at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and his No. 98 Ford Mustang has shown lightning-quick pace in the opening 20 races. The Nevada native is starting just behind Sheldon Creed for the race at Michigan, hoping to keep his momentum at the Cabo Wabo 250.

With Stewart-Haas Racing ceasing operations at the end of the 2024 season, Herbst has yet to disclose his plans for 2025. The situation he finds himself in is unfortunate, having been in the team co-owned by Gene Haas and Tony Stewart since 2021. However, the driver has nothing but gratitude for his employers, who have played an important role in his development.

Herbst expresses gratitude for the Stewart-Haas Racing opportunity

Stewart-Haas Racing is a team with contrasting fortunes. Despite their many struggles in the Cup Series, their Xfinity Series performances couldn’t be more different. Cole Custer is currently ranked first in the driver standings, with back-to-back top-two finishes, while Riley Herbst is fifth. Both drivers are in contention for the championship, with Herbst in particular looking like he has finally found his groove. The 25-year-old has finished in the top 10 thrice at Michigan International Speedway, and his second place in qualifying puts Herbst in a good position to double his win tally.

However, none of this would have been possible had Stewart-Haas Racing not given him the opportunity in 2021. The team took their chances on Herbst after his 12th-place finish with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2020. They have seen him develop from a promising talent to a championship contender in the last few years. Speaking in the pre-race press conference at Michigan International Speedway, Herbst said, “Obviously, I don’t know what that next step is, so hopefully we can get that figured out here shortly. But Stewart-Haas Racing, like I’ve said multiple times to multiple people, picked me up when I got pushed out of the door.”

“I owe a lot to Greg Zipadelli and obviously Tony Stewart and everybody over there to not only help me become who I am as a person but as a racecar driver as well. I feel like I’ve just grown so much as everything and I’m at the top of my game. It’s cool to say that it’s cool to be where I am as a racecar driver, coming off winning at one of the most historic tracks in the world and have all the momentum to take the speed and my team to Phoenix to compete for a Championship.”

Despite Stewart-Haas Racing operating with very limited resources, Riley Herbst has managed to secure four top-five and nine top-ten results, along with one win in the opening 20 races. The team has fought together against all odds to secure results, and with six races remaining until the playoffs begin, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that Herbst could get more wins under his belt. Finishing the season strongly could also make it easier for the driver to secure a seat for 2025, removing the uncertainty surrounding his future.

With teammate Cole Custer joining the Haas Factory Team in the Cup Series next year, Riley Herbst will also have to make a decision soon. Would he follow suit, perhaps settling for a non-competitive ride in NASCAR’s highest tier? Or will he remain in the Xfinity Series and join a team that is capable of fighting for the Championship every year? It may all depend on how well Herbst performs in the playoffs, which could potentially open more doors for the 25-year-old to choose from.

Riley Herbst hints at multiple options for 2025 seat

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With Stewart-Haas Racing shutting down eventually, the Haas Factory team will take over one of their charters in the Cup Series while retaining control of the two Xfinity Series teams. Cole Custer has already been confirmed for a return in NASCAR’s highest tier, and Sheldon Creed has been linked with a move to the Xfinity Series seat. With one spot remaining, could Riley Herbst opt to race for Gene Haas’ team in the 2025 season?

The 25-year-old has said that he has multiple options to choose from across all three National series, but his final decision will depend on his primary sponsor, Monster Energy. Speaking to SpeedwayDigest.com, Herbst said, “I think there’s a lot of things going on behind the scenes, but it’s not really just Riley Herbst, it’s Monster Energy as well. The biggest thing is trying to see what’s right for me, what’s right for Monster Energy.” The driver went on to say, “I have last year and I’m going to again this year and there’s a lot of options on the table, so we’re looking forward to everything and hearing everybody out.”

As things stand, Herbst’s focus will be to finish the ongoing Xfinity Series season strongly and land a competitive ride for 2025. The driver has made eight Cup Series appearances in his career so far, with his highest finish being 9th place at Talladega Superspeedway for Front Row Motorsports in the 2023 season. While his preference would be to compete at the highest level, Riley Herbst could settle for an Xfinity Series seat if the move helps his development in the long run.

What are your thoughts about Riley Herbst’s next career move? Let us know in the comments!