Ford’s Biggest Surprise Pulls Another Rabbit Out of the Bag as Tony Stewart’s Xfinity Recruit Outperforms

In the dramatic tale of the Talladega race, Tony Stewart found himself on an emotional rollercoaster. His Xfinity star, destined for a career-best performance, ran with the front-runners, promising a taste of victory. Meanwhile, Stewart’s retiring champion, Kevin Harvick, fought valiantly for the elusive win, only to fall short by a mere 0.012 seconds. But Stewart is no stranger to this season’s relentless string of misfortunes. Harvick, in his farewell season, saw his hard-earned P2 finish ripped away as he was disqualified for insecure windshield fasteners. Lady Luck had not been kind to him, especially after the recent Watkins Glen disaster.

Amidst the chaos, Harvick’s disqualification acted as a catalyst, reshuffling the pack and propelling Stewart’s Xfinity protege to a remarkable P9 finish, outdoing his previous best finish by one spot. Yet, the euphoria came tinged with regret, as he had been within striking distance of a much higher position. For Stewart’s stable, this bittersweet finish was becoming all too familiar, where good fortune was snatched only to be thwarted by the capricious hand of fate.

Tony Stewart’s rookie phenom

As the checkered flag waved, a battered No. 36 car careened across the finish line amidst smoke and screeching rubber, but emerging from the cockpit was a rookie phenom, showcasing his superspeedway prowess once again. Meet Riley Herbst, a 24-year-old with just four starts in NASCAR’s top tier all of them being on superspeedways.

Herbst, who usually pilots the No. 98 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing in the Xfinity series, found himself behind the wheel of a Cup Series car during the past race weekend in Alabama. Driving for Front Row Motorsports, Herbst started sixth and found himself almost assisting Kevin Harvick to victory before a dramatic spin by Corey LaJoie shook up the field. Herbst ultimately crossed the line in 9th place, marking his best career finish in the Cup Series.

While Herbst’s performance on the track is impressive, his ride didn’t go unnoticed either. The standout wrap on his car, featuring a sleek white scheme, earned praise on the “Rubbing is Racing” podcast. When Michael McCarthy asked his co-host Spider for his take on the race, Spider didn’t hesitate to commend Herbst’s unique car design.

Spider noted that Herbst’s Monster Ford Mustang, typically known for its traditional black paint scheme, sported a refreshing and unconventional white design, which stood out on the track. Spider appreciated the change and said, “That Mon [Monster] car, it was white, usually, and historically, NASCAR fans know them for their confusing black paint schemes that just remain pretty consistent. This week, we saw something new and fresh with the white scheme, so I like that.”

The podcast discussion didn’t stop at Herbst’s car aesthetics; it also delved into his on-track performance. Spider praised Herbst’s consistent presence throughout the race, expressing, “He was pretty much in the whole time in the whole race. At the finish. I mean, I would have liked to see him lock bumpers with Harvick and push him a little bit more aggressively, but that’s asking a lot from a guy that doesn’t race in this series. So, encouraged from Riley Herbst. I wish he finished better given where he was running at the end he spun there, and unfortunately, he finished top 9.”

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Riley Herbst’s fast track to stardom

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His journey to the Cup series began when he signed with Rick Ware Racing, making his debut in the No. 15 Ford at the 2023 Daytona 500, where he impressively finished tenth despite a late-race multi-car crash, joining the elite ranks of drivers to score a Top 10 finish in their first Cup, Xfinity, and Truck Series starts.

Herbst’s performance was nothing short of impressive as he even led his first laps in the Cup Series. Herbst’s ambition was clear, as he believed he had a shot at winning the race. However, his decision not to make a move in the closing moments was based on the uncertainty of whether others would follow him out of line.

Reflecting on his performance, Herbst shared his perspective from the care center, saying, “I felt like we probably should have finished fourth or third maybe [third or second after Harvick DQ]. I had a shot at it. Had a big run down the back. [I] decided not to take it down onto [turn] 4 because nobody behind me was going to go with me. So, I decided to give it to the [No.] 4, and that played us there.”

Ultimately, Herbst’s primary goal for the day was to learn and gain respect in the competitive world of NASCAR. Despite some setbacks, he felt he achieved that goal, stating, “Learn, that was my goal. Just wanted to come here and learn and gain some respect and we made adjustments all day to get the car better. The team did a really good job when it came to that and we were in a position to win there at the end and didn’t have the opportunity because we got hooked and, but it was fun and I learned a lot.”

With such a strong outing, all eyes are sure to follow the young gun and see him rise through the ranks to the upper echelon, ultimately.

Read more: NASCAR Fans Go to War as Wild Talladega Stat Has Fans Livid