Riley Herbst, the driver of the No. 35 car, has received medical clearance to return to racing after being sidelined due to a concussion. The injury was a result of a crash during the Dollar Tree 301 at New Hampshire two weeks ago, which forced him to miss the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona last week. In his absence, Harrison Burton stepped in to take the wheel.
This week, Herbst confirmed that he had indeed suffered a concussion, which kept him out of the previous NASCAR Cup Series race. However, he reported that he is now fully recovered and ready to get back on the track. "I’m 100 percent healthy now," Herbst stated, expressing his eagerness to return to competition.
Despite passing concussion protocols and qualifying for the Daytona race, Herbst experienced significant discomfort on race day. He described waking up that Saturday feeling worse than he had all week, struggling with various symptoms related to the concussion. "I passed all my tests the week leading up to Daytona. Obviously, I qualified in the race car, and had really fast speed, and then I woke up Saturday morning, feeling really, really rough with trouble with all the symptoms, the worst I’ve had since the wreck," he explained to reporters at Darlington.
Given his condition, Herbst made the prudent decision to step aside for the Daytona race, prioritizing his health over competition. "I thought it was the best idea for me to step out and let Harrison drive the race car, but back to being 100 percent," he noted.
Burton, who substituted for Herbst, finished the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in 12th place. This race marked a significant moment for Burton, who is a previous Cup Series winner at Daytona, having secured his first and only Cup victory in the 2024 edition of the race while driving for the Wood Brothers Racing team.
In addition to his recovery news, Herbst received positive career news this week. He announced that he will be joining Legacy Motor Club to drive the No. 84 Toyota starting in 2027. This move is seen as a significant step in his career, as he expressed optimism about the opportunity. "My first two seasons in the Cup Series have taught me a great deal. Every driver goes through a learning curve, and the move to Legacy Motor Club is another step forward in that process. There is still plenty ahead of me, and I’m looking forward to taking it on," Herbst said in a statement.
As Herbst prepares for the upcoming Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington, he is looking to put the recent challenges behind him and focus on his performance on the track. Meanwhile, Corey Heim is set to take over the No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota next year, as Herbst transitions to his new role with Legacy Motor Club.
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