Riley Herbst May Have Earned Cup Series Deal at Indianapolis

If there was ever a sports performance that defined the next chapter in an athlete’s career, it was Riley Herbst’s winning pass on Aric Almirola to secure victory at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The 25-year-old driver passed Almirola on the final lap of the race and made the winning move just two turns before flying under the checkered flag to capture his second NASCAR Xfinity Series victory.

There were rumors in the garage that Herbst would be considered to drive a third Cup Series car for 23XI Racing. Saturday’s race-winning pass may have been significant not only for Herbst’s season, but for his NASCAR career as a whole.

Has Herbst shown enough in the Xfinity Series to truly be considered a Cup-level prospect? Maybe not. But if he can bring the same aggression and talent he showed on Saturday, along with the huge check he’ll deliver regardless, 23XI Racing would likely be happy to have him.

One race shouldn’t completely change the story for a driver who has generally underperformed in the Xfinity Series thus far, but Saturday’s race proved that Herbst can compete against the best of the best — and beat them.

Herbst didn’t just beat a bunch of rich kids on Saturday. The challengers who crossed the finish line behind him were:

Aric Almirola (three-time Cup Series winner)

Cole Custer (defending Xfinity Series champion and current standings leader)

AJ Allmendinger (three-time Cup Series winner)

Shane van Gisbergen (Cup Series winner and 2024 Xfinity Series wins leader)

Herbst also showed an invaluable quality in the final moments of Saturday’s race: the ability to not buckle under pressure. Faced with multiple restarts on the final lap, Herbst remained in position to win. When Herbst was passed for the lead on the final lap, he didn’t come back, but he came back strong to make the winning pass himself.

If there was ever a day Herbst drove like a Cup Series veteran, it was Saturday.

Herbst may have signed the biggest contract of his life at the most famous circuit in the world, during one of the biggest races on the calendar, without even putting pen to paper.

Enjoy your day, little boy.