14 Days to Daytona: 23XI Racing #35

In 2 weeks, the NASCAR Cup Series will be on track at the Daytona International Speedway. The season is almost here, with The Clash this weekend marking the first national series action of 2025. Hitting the track for the first time this season will be the 23XI Racing #35 team. Riley Herbst gets the call up from the Xfinity Series as 23XI expands to 3 teams. There are 14 Days to Daytona and it is time to preview 2025 for the 23XI Racing #35 team.

The #35 Team

Days to Daytona: 23XI Racing #35 - Team — Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Driver: Riley Herbst

Crew Chief: Davin Restivo

Sponsors: Monster Energy

2024 Statistics: 4 Starts, 32.3 Average Finish, 31.6 Average Driver Rating

2025 Season Preview

Days to Daytona: 23XI Racing #35 - Herbst — Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Long Path to Cup

Although Riley Herbst will enter the 2025 season at 25 years old, his road to the Cup Series has been a lengthy one. Originally a TRD driver, Herbst has spent 7 years building upon his lower series career in order to get a Cup chance. Even after that time, his success only started to blossom in the past 2 seasons. After 5 fulltime seasons in the Xfinity Series, it is a wonder if that experience will aid him in his rookie season. Also, the standard expansion question for 23XI Racing is lingering.

Crew Chief/Driver Success

Joining Riley Herbst in his rookie season will be his Xfinity Series crew chief from the past two seasons: Davin Restivo. Taking over crew chief duties in the middle of 2023, Restivo guided Herbst to his best 52 races as a driver. Together, the pair won 3 times, including the season finale at Phoenix last year. For 23XI Racing, it was the perfect move to help get the most of Herbst immediately. Will their Xfinity success translate over to the Cup Series though?

A Field of 2

Now official, the Cup Series Rookie of the Year battle will come down between Shane van Gisbergen and Riley Herbst. Currently, the heavy favorite to win that battle is definitely Gisbergen, who already has a Cup win and 6 road courses on the schedule. Does Riley Herbst have a chance to compete with SVG? Obviously, Herbst could win a superspeedway to put himself into the playoffs to either meet or clinch that award. Outside of that, Herbst should have an edge on the ovals. Although, his limited Cup numbers do not bode well for Herbst. With equipment being equal, the Rookie of the Year may simply come down to who can win at their specialty.

Daytona 500 Outlook

In his brief 8-start Cup career, Daytona International Speedway is the only track where Riley Herbst has made 3 starts. Two of those were Daytona 500s for Rick Ware Racing’s #15 team. After nabbing a Top-10 in his first Daytona start, Herbst has followed that up with 2 incident filled races. Looking at his Xfinity Series days, Herbst has never won at Daytona but puts together a nice resume. In 11 starts, Herbst has a Top-10 in more than half (6) while averaging a 13.5 finish.

Riley Herbst’s 5 start experience on superspeedways should be a boost to this year’s Daytona 500. Even a small reputation in the pack can do wonders. Herbst has experienced that himself. During the 2023 Coke Zero Sugar 400, Herbst can left out to dry in the closing laps of Stage 1. Fast forward to the fall Talladega race of that race and Herbst is helping push Kevin Harvick to battle for the win. As for this year’s Daytona 500, Herbst certainly will not be many people’s first pick but he could put together a strong run to kick off the season.