“I Can’t Do It…Won’t Win”- Kevin Harvick’s Protege Makes Heartbreaking Admission Moments After Schooling Entire Xfinity Grid

Stewart-Haas Racing has been home to many legends of the sport. Co-owned by three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, the team sprung to its feet after a collaboration with Gene Haas laid the foundation. However, after having a look at the results of the latest Xfinity Series playoff race in Las Vegas, the question that comes up is whether Riley Herbst can be next on a list that includes the likes of Tony, Kevin Harvick, and Kurt Busch.

The 24-year-old SHR driver turned up in the #98 Ford to put an end to a streak of 154 races without a win in NASCAR’s three national series. The #98 driver put on a show despite having missed the playoffs and seemed uncatchable for even Joe Gibbs Racing prodigy John Hunter Nemechek, who was beaten by almost 15 seconds. Herbst’s win comes right after SHR announced that the Nevada native will be returning to #98 in 2024.

Riley Herbst silences critics who downplayed him

There is no better place Riley Herbst could have done it. To win your maiden race after a seemingly never-ending wait on the asphalt you grew up racing on must have been an indescribable feeling for him. However, it has come at a cost as well. Herbst made his NASCAR debut in 2018 and had to wait for five years before winning a race. With 23 top-5s and 67 top-10s to his name, he has surely made his years in Xfinity count.

Speaking in a post-race interview, Riley Herbst revealed that people started becoming impatient with time and started to lose faith in him as races went by and a win didn’t come in sight. He said, “We just beat everyone in the playoffs, they brought their best stuff, and we whooped them by about 10 seconds. Yeah, everyone said I can’t do it, wouldn’t do it, won’t win, not good enough. I just flat-out just beat them.”

His switch from JGR to SHR was the moment that attracted everyone to his talent. Following that, he deepened his roots in the organization after striking a deal with Kevin Harvick‘s agency, KHI Management, in 2022. This helped him attract sponsors, which also improved his personal brand and made him a more marketable driver in the competition. With their Cup Series team roster looking a bit shaky, the team also explored the possibility of having Herbst as a full-time driver following two departures.

Could a maiden win, auguring more good things coming his way? Well, there is no foolproof way to know, but if he continues to improve under able guidance in all aspects, the sky is the limit.

Read More: Days After Announcing SHR Return, Riley Herbst Claims Vegas Seize in Unprecedented First Career Dominance

Herbst wants to keep growing as a driver

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When Riley Herbst failed to secure a spot in the playoffs, people started to question the intentions of many Cup Series teams who intended to sign him. When Herbst ran in the Cup Series Round of 8 race at Talladega two weeks ago, the questions were answered. A top-10 finish for Front Row Motorsports in the #36 Ford gave everyone a glimpse of why Tony Stewart has remained so patient with him.

Prior to this win, Riley Herbst arrived in Las Vegas with an average finish of 16.6, with many races marred with wrecks and pit crew mistakes. Elaborating on the same, Riley explained, “We’ve either overstepped our boundaries or messed up on pit road. I’ve hit the fence. I’ve been wrecked. I ran 15th here last year. We dominated today and I didn’t change a thing. That’s the biggest misconception in this sport, with drivers, I didn’t become a better race car driver when last year I couldn’t hold my own weight. There’s a lot of factors.”

After battling this long for a maiden win, Riley Herbst’s hunger to win is not up for discussion. However, understanding his strengths and weaknesses at the same time can help him stay on the right track for the development of his budding career.

“Even after today, I’m still not where I want to be,” Herbst added.

“I don’t think I can strap in and go head to head against the best in the business on Sundays yet. I can go run mid-20s to 30s but that’s not what I want to do the rest of my life, honestly. I want to be the best version of myself and to belong with that caliber of competition when I believe and those around me believe, and then we can have those conversations.”

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With a ride for 2024 secured, the only thing that will be on the 24-year-old’s mind will be how to gradually transition into becoming a full-time Cup Series driver after ending his Xfinity Series tenure on a good note.