Denny Hamlin has perfect one-word response to incredible Xfinity Series finish
After the NASCAR Xfinity Series race concluded, with Riley Herbst triumphant, Denny Hamlin chimed in with only a single word. It just so happens that Hamlin might be looking for a third driver for 23XI Racing in 2025.
Denny Hamlin can be deliberate. He likes to upset the bee hive and stir people up. So, I can’t help but think Hamlin has more of a message than his social media post says.
“Impressive,” is all Hamlin had to say after Herbst made a last-lap pass on Aric Almirola for the win at Indy. Yeah, it was impressive.
Once again, the NASCAR Xfinity Series put on a great race. There were cautions, wrecks, big and small, and the end of the race was the cherry on top. Almirola was spun out not long before the end of the race and still came back to contend for the checkered flag.
There is something about Indianapolis and last-lap passes. If I am a racer at Indy and it’s close, I want to be P2 or P3 coming to the white flag. Whoever leads heading into Turn 1 has not had great luck recently at Indianapolis. Mostly thinking about poor Pato O’Ward…
Don’t let that fantastic finish distract you from Denny Hamlin’s messaging, though. Rumors are starting to go around about who he is going to hire, if and when, 23XI buys a third charter. For months it was thought to be Corey Heim. Lately, it’s rumored to be Riley Herbst.
Herbst is a Monster Energy athlete, Kurt Busch already brought Monster into the 23XI family. Tyler Reddick carries the brand now. It makes sense from a sponsorship perspective.
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Is Denny Hamlin giving Riley Herbst the nod of approval?
As a team owner, Denny Hamlin has to do what is best for 23XI Racing. That means putting a team together that can compete and pay the bills. That is the state of motorsports worldwide, money talks.
I think that many people would say Corey Heim is the more talented prospect. He’s younger, has 10 career wins in the Truck Series. Heim carries himself like a Cup driver already. But, even for his lack of wins, don’t overlook Riley Herbst.
Herbst is still only 25 years old. He has sponsorship from Monster. He’s clearly turned the corner as far as his winless issue went. He now has two wins in Xfinity going back to the Las Vegas playoff race in 2023. He also ran top-10 in the Daytona 500 in a Rick Ware Racing car last year. Then was P9 at Talladega in the fall of 2023
My point is, there is a lot of reasons why Riley Herbst could end up in a 23XI Racing car next year. There are a lot of reasons why it should be Corey Heim. A lot times, these decisions come down to who you know and who you are connected to. Herbst has Monster, he might have the keys to a new Toyota next year.