Riley Herbst is set to reunite with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) for a four-race stint in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series, commencing this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Piloting the No. 19 Toyota Supra, adorned with Monster Energy sponsorship, Herbst’s return to JGR marks a significant chapter in his racing career. citeturn0search0
Herbst, a 23-year-old Las Vegas native, began his Xfinity journey with JGR in 2018, debuting at Iowa Speedway with an impressive sixth-place finish. The following year, he participated in nine races, securing three top-10 finishes. In 2020, as a full-time driver of JGR’s No. 18 Toyota, Herbst achieved 17 top-10 results, qualified for the Xfinity Playoffs, and concluded the season 12th in the standings. citeturn0search0
After his tenure with JGR, Herbst transitioned to Stewart-Haas Racing in 2021, driving the No. 98 Ford Mustang. Over three seasons, he earned two poles, 23 top-five finishes, 50 top-10 finishes, and led 217 laps. Notably, he clinched his first career victory at his home track, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, in 2023. The 2024 season saw Herbst triumph at both Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the season finale at Phoenix Raceway, culminating in a career-best seventh-place finish in the final standings. citeturn0search0
In 2025, Herbst embarked on his rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series with 23XI Racing, driving the No. 35 Toyota. Demonstrating consistent performance, he secured back-to-back 17th-place finishes in the initial two events, positioning himself 18th in the driver standings and leading the Rookie of the Year race against Shane van Gisbergen. citeturn0search0
Returning to the Xfinity Series, Herbst aims to capitalize on his experience at COTA, where he has an average finish of 21.4 over four starts, including a top-10 result in 2023. This weekend’s race offers an opportunity to refine his skills ahead of his inaugural Cup Series appearance at COTA on Sunday, March 2. citeturn0search0
Throughout the 2025 Xfinity season, JGR’s No. 19 “all-star” entry will feature a diverse lineup. Justin Bonsignore and Aric Almirola have already competed in the season’s opening races at Daytona and Atlanta, respectively, with each slated for additional events. JGR Cup drivers Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe are scheduled to drive the No. 19 at Darlington Raceway in April and Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Seth Chavka will continue as the crew chief for the No. 19 team. citeturn0search0
Riley Herbst’s return to JGR in the Xfinity Series begins on Saturday, March 1, at COTA for the Focused Health 250, with the broadcast starting at 2:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network. This collaboration not only reunites Herbst with his former team but also underscores his commitment to gaining valuable experience across both the Xfinity and Cup Series platforms.
