Riley Herbst, the driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing, is heading into the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs with confidence as he prepares for the opening race at Kansas Speedway this weekend. Currently sitting eighth in the standings and just three points above the Round of 8 cutline, Herbst believes his team has what it takes to compete for the championship.
“We definitely have the speed to do it,” said Herbst. “I’ve got the best team in the garage. We’re going to do the best we can every week, execute, and try to win this championship. Kansas is a great track for us. We’ve really excelled on the mile-and-a-half tracks this year, so we’re excited to head to one of the fastest tracks on the circuit.”
Herbst’s optimism stems from strong performances on similar tracks like Las Vegas and Texas, where his team has excelled this season. After Kansas, the playoffs move to Talladega and the reconfigured Charlotte Roval, which adds an extra layer of challenge to the schedule.
“The Roval is going to be interesting because it’s not the same track as last year,” Herbst noted. “It’s a new layout, and it’s going to be interesting to see how we all adapt.”
As he heads into his fifth full-time Xfinity Series season, Herbst has learned to manage expectations and make the most of whatever his car provides on race day. “If the opportunity to win presents itself at Kansas, we’re going for it. But if it doesn’t, we’ll take what the car gives us and aim for solid results across Kansas, Talladega, and Charlotte to move on to the next round,” he said.
However, looming over Herbst’s playoff run is the uncertainty of his future in the sport. The recent announcement of Stewart-Haas Racing’s closure at the end of the season has left his 2025 plans up in the air.
“It’s been tough, because Stewart-Haas Racing is closing down and going out of business,” Herbst admitted. “But it’s also been good in a way, like the last dance for all of us. It’s definitely been tough to overcome, but now that we know what’s happening, the distraction isn’t as bad as it used to be. As for 2025, it’s still to be determined. Hopefully, we can announce something soon.”
Herbst has shown considerable improvement in his last five seasons, becoming a multi-time race winner and a consistent contender. Despite recent struggles, including dropping from fourth to eighth in the standings over the summer, Herbst remains determined to win the championship.
“We’ve been really consistent, but we fell off a bit during the late summer,” Herbst said. “It’s frustrating, but we’re eager to get back on track, win this championship, and add more wins before the season ends. We’re still hungry, and if we do our job and execute, everything will work out.”
As the playoffs kick off, Herbst is ready to put his skills to the test and prove he has what it takes to compete at the highest level, even as he faces an uncertain future.
