Cover photo by Rachel Schuoler / Kickin’ the Tires.
(Las Vegas, NV) March 6, 2021 — Riley Herbst and Ty Dillon both had one goal in mind: packing the trailers with a decent finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the Alsco Uniforms 300. After multiple crashes in the opening three rounds of the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the left coast determined a continuation of their struggles.
Both drivers were involved in a crash on Lap 56 when Dillon lost control in Turn 2. Herbst had nowhere to go and crashed into Dillon’s door, ending Herbst’s day early.
“It just sucks. People spin in front of you,” said a dejected Herbst who now sits 19th in the season points standings. “It’s happened probably the last three weeks where people have started wrecking in front of me and there’s no place for me to go, so something has got to change. This is an absolute shame.”
It is a hometown track for Herbst, which gave him an added boost of confidence to turn things around. However, Vegas luck just wasn’t on his side as his hopes of seeing the checkered flag ended before the conclusion of Stage 2. His third DNF this season relegates him to 19th in the points standings.
“I just wanted to get a good race. Last week we got fenced. The week before people wrecked in front of us just like this week and it’s just a shame. I just want to run a full race without somebody wrecking in front of me.”
Dillon was able to continue and race competitively until crashing again on Lap 181 when his spotter’s battery died in his radio. Information that Brett Moffitt was on his outside couldn’t be relayed to him in time, which sent both drivers into the outside wall and collected three other cars.
The No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing team utilized pit strategy to allow Dillon to take over the race lead on Lap 177 for a couple laps, but fresh tires by the others prevailed, preceding his crash a few laps later.
After missing the Daytona Road Course and a blown radiator at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Dillon sits 24th in the Xfinity points standings.
