While Ryan Blaney‘s recent triumph has made headlines, the buzz around Kevin Harvick‘s disqualification has undeniably stolen the spotlight this week. Yet, a pivotal moment that might’ve escaped the discerning eyes of NASCAR experts, but not the spectators, was the crash that potentially paved the way for Blaney’s victory.

Impressively securing a P9 finish in just his fourth Cup Series race, the achievement of Tony Stewart‘s driver is nothing short of commendable. And now, the fanbase is stepping up, eager to share their insights and sentiments regarding this emerging talent in the Cup Series.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s young gun led to Kevin Harvick’s on-track misery

Hailing from a family deeply entrenched in off-road racing traditions, the part-time Front Row Motorsports driver, Riley Herbst, has racing in his veins. His lineage—father Troy, grandfather Jerry, and uncles Ed and Tim—has not only showcased their prowess in iconic desert races like the Baja 500 and Baja 1000, but the quartet also received the honor of induction into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. Though best recognized for his endeavors in the Xfinity Series, playing for Tony Stewart’s team, Herbst is carving out his own legacy in the Cup Series.

Marking a notable achievement, he secured a top-10 finish in only his fourth Cup race. Earlier this year, in a nod to his growing stature, Riley Herbst clinched a commendable 10th-place finish in the season-kicking Daytona 500 under the banner of Rick Ware Racing.

And now Talladega witnessed a pulse-quickening moment involving #36. As the race neared its climax, Harvick, bolstered by William Byron on the inside line, and Riley Herbst on the outside, charged ahead. When Harvick sensed an opportunity and veered to block Blaney, a fleeting gap materialized, allowing Blaney to dart between Harvick’s Ford and Byron’s Chevrolet. The ensuing shuffle placed Byron behind Blaney, while Herbst pushed Harvick. This chain of events deprived Harvick of a top podium finish, relegating him to second place.

Though his track record might be steadily solidifying his reputation among his peers, it seems the racing community remains divided on embracing Herbst as one of the sport’s elites.

Watch This Story: Denny Hamlin Blames Tony Stewart for Letting Down Slowest Kevin Harvick

Fans believe Riley Herbst is a good Xfinity driver but not a Cup one

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It’s hard to overlook the palpable anticipation around Kevin Harvick at Talladega, given that it marked his final race there. Yet, Riley Herbst’s decisive push in the ultimate lap thrust him into the limelight, and fans couldn’t help but weigh in on this budding talent.

A common refrain echoed amongst the Reddit fanbase: “He’s a good racer, but he’s not really a winner. He’ll bring your car home in a good enough position, though.” Remarks like, “Good plater racer. Not good enough for Cup” was frequently heard.

Others pointed out his exceptional skills on specific tracks: “Not quite cup caliber talent at any track that isn’t Daytona, Talladega, or Atlanta, but damn is he good at the plate tracks it seems. Really good pusher and really good at making things happen.”

Some tagged him as an average contender, saying, “He’s a mid to below average tier driver. More times than not, he can keep the car clean tho and teams will value that.” Jibes on his performance in comparison to others in top equipment was also evident: “Mediocre in top equipment. Chase Briscoe won how many races in #98 car? Lol”

However, a tongue-in-cheek comment truly stole the show: “Ryan Blaney sure likes him,” indicating how it was Herbst’s actions that indirectly propelled Blaney to clinch the Talladega title.

Read More: Tony Stewart & Co. Brutally Slam NASCAR’s Kevin Harvick Talladega Butchery; Fans Call Foul-Play

Well, what’s your verdict on this emerging driver? Is he on the path to Cup glory or just another name on the roster?