Fresh off of his recent announcement that he would return to Stewart-Haas Racing, Riley Herbst earned it with a win. For the first time ever in a NASCAR national series, Herbst is in victory lane. He couldn’t get it done in the Truck Series or Xfinity Series until now.
It couldn’t have happened at a better track. Riley Herbst is a Las Vegas native. He didn’t just win this race, he dominated in the final stage. He put up a 12+ second lead over the rest of the field and didn’t look back.
Massive moment for Riley Herbst. We saw Sam Mayer turn a new leaf after his first career win earlier this season. Are we about to see the same for Herbst?
Riley Herbst had to start in the rear of this race. He worked his way up with John Hunter Nemechek. Once he got into clean air, it was clear he had the best car on the day. He flew around the track and left his competitors in the dust.
Herbst was lucky he avoided a mid-pack wreck in Stage 2. If he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time, it could have been real bad. However, he avoided it. Then, drove his way to the front. While it took almost four full-time season, Herbst is a winner in the Xfinity Series.
Riley Herbst pays SHR loyalty back with a win
This is one hell of a way to thank your team for letting you stay another year. Stewart-Haas Racing might be getting very excited right now. Ford needs prospects. Zane Smith left for Trackhouse/Spire and Chevy. If Riley Herbst is stepping up as a winner in the Xfinity Series, that’s a big deal.
For his entire career, Herbst has had sponsorship. He’s a “pay driver” as they say. While he doesn’t have the results to back up the support he’s gotten, he’s starting to now. A win can do a ton for a driver’s confidence. It can unlock all of this potential that’s built up over the years.
Riley Herbst is now a winner in the Xfinity Series. So, SHR looks like a genius by keeping him for another year. Perhaps next year, he can win at Las Vegas as a NASCAR Playoff driver. When you think about big moments in a career, this is up there with some of the biggest.
While in his hometown of Las Vegas, Riley Herbst gets the job done. 139 starts before this long-awaited victory for the 24-year-old.