By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
23XI Racing is about to enter a new Monster Energy athlete to its Cup Series lineup with Riley Herbst.
A three-time Xfinity Series winner, Herbst enters 2025 as the third car in 23XI’s recent charter expansion, joining veteran drivers Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick on America’s top racing stage.
Both Wallace and Reddick spawned from the Xfinity Series — and Camping World Truck Series — very akin to Herbst, rising from part-time schedules to race-winning contention in NASCAR’s two lower series. Reddick won two Xfinity championships (2018-’19) while Wallace won five times in the Truck Series before jumping to Xfinity himself.
Now, with a combined 12 years’ experience in the Cup Series, the two are backing rookie Herbst as he approaches a steep learning curve in ’25.
“You’re walking into a new avenue, it’s such a massive step getting here,” Wallace said. “I don’t want him to be discouraged if the first five races don’t go his way. It’s so hard, man.
“He’s got everything in front of him. Tyler [Reddick] was able to showcase what our team was capable of and how we go about business. I think that motivates Riley even more. He’s got everything, it’s up to him to go out and do it.”
Wallace made his Cup debut in 2017 subbing for an injured Aric Almirola. Since then, the 31-year-old has won twice, including the very first for 23XI back in 2021.
“I remember making my first Cup start at Pocono and I thought I was the best at restarts… I got my ass kicked six ways to Sunday,” Wallace said. “And I was like, ‘OK! I got to go to work.’
“It takes a lot of work to be competitive. I think he has that passion and drive to do it, it’s just putting everything together and making it work.”
Wallace saw Herbst’s burst of potential in 2024 in Xfinity. And though he sees the winning attitude, Wallace cautions Herbst to manage brashness.
“I think last year, knowing what he’s done, brought him a lot of confidence,” Wallace said. “But you have to learn how to manage that in the Cup Series. You’re walking into a new avenue, it’s such a massive step getting here. I don’t want him to be discouraged if the first five races don’t go his way. It’s so hard, man.”
Reddick raced with Herbst during the tail end of his Xfinity career. However, his relationship has blossomed with the Las Vegas native in recent years through multiple means.
“I have never worked with Riley as a teammate. We had a relationship through Monster Energy as Monster Energy athletes,” Reddick said. “Getting to work with him in-house now is pretty cool, getting to understand his approach, his involvement. I felt like I was at the shop a lot, but Riley has me beat there.
“His crew chief Gavin [Restivo], I worked with him back in my Xfinity days. I know he has a good one there. To see their relationship grow to the point they were winning races and performing, it seemed things were really starting to click for him. The light switch went off.”
Reddick joined Cup in 2020 under the Richard Childress Racing outfit. Joining a long-run organization gave the eight-time Cup winner some personal insight into what Herbst may experience himself in ’25.
“For me, I had a lot of great people around me who were helping me — teammates to lean on when I began racing Cup,” Reddick said. “A lot of the work that’s gone into improving our race preparation, we’ve got good people that do that at 23XI. I feel we have a really good starting foundation for Riley. Just seeing what he’s comfortable with, how much he’s doing before I give him my opinion.
“It seems he’s doing the right things right now. Obviously, as a teammate I am there to give feedback if necessary. He’s doing a really good job right from the get-go in my perspective.”