The 23XI Racing team is set to grow to three cars in the 2025 season. They revealed that Riley Herbst, a seasoned Xfinity Series driver, will join Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace next year. Herbst, who has three Xfinity series wins under his belt starting at 175, has been a full-time driver for Stewart-Haas Racing over the past four years.
There have been ongoing rumors about 23XI’s expansion, but uncertainties arose due to an anti-trust lawsuit they and Front Row Motorsports (FRM) filed against NASCAR concerning a franchise agreement. The lawsuit accuses NASCAR of exclusive business practices. However, NASCAR recently removed the legal action clause related to participation, allowing FRM and 23XI to compete as open teams in 2025, even if the lawsuit does not succeed or the charter agreement isn’t signed by the 2025 Daytona 500.
FRM is also planning to expand to three cars next season. Both teams aimed to acquire charters from the now-defunct Stewart-Haas Racing, though the outcome of these purchases remains unclear due to the ongoing lawsuit and the fact that FRM doesn’t own enough charters itself.
In 2024, Herbst secured two wins and achieved a career-best seventh place in the points standings. He claimed his second victory at the season finale in Phoenix and earned his first career win in 2023 in his hometown of Las Vegas. Sponsored mainly by Monster Energy, a brand closely linked to his family’s convenience store business, Herbst continues to carry this sponsorship into the Cup Series. Monster Energy also sponsored Tyler Reddick and Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing in 2024.
Fan Take: This expansion and addition of Riley Herbst could shake up the competitive landscape in NASCAR, bringing fresh talent and excitement to the track. For fans, it signals growth and evolution within the sport, potentially leading to more thrilling races and new rivalries in the coming years.
