After a career full of ups-and-downs, Riley Herbst dominates Alsco Uniforms 302 to collect first NASCAR Xfinity Series win at his hometown race
By Kyle Foster, photo courtesy of Eric Thompson (Shamboozled.com)
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Las Vegas-One of the most special things in racing is seeing a driver get their first career win. One way to make this first win even more special is if it comes at your home track.
In Saturday’s Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Riley Herbst was able to collect his first NASCAR National Series win as he won by a whopping 14.959 seconds over second-place John Hunter Nemechek, and the entire NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff contenders.
It first became evident that Herbst had the best car in the field when he blew by Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Cole Custer in turn 4 of the last lap of stage two, where he collected his second career stage win. This win was the 100th for Stewart-Haas Racing in NASCAR as well.
“So that will, that will be in the history books,” Herbst said of getting the 100th win for his team. “And like I said, I’m so grateful for everybody at that organization. Through all the ups and downs, they’ve been behind me and I love it.”
Custer also had an idea that his teammate may have the best car in the field when he finished second in the second stage of the day.
“I was around him and I was like ‘Yeah, I got nothing for him,’” Custer explained. “I mean, I think we could have made our car a little better if we got another stop to tighten it up. But they were very good.”
Once the final stage of the race came, Herbst dominated the long green flag run on his way to leading a race-high 103 laps over three different periods. Herbst entered this race having only led 45 laps in the season-to-date.
“We just beat everybody in the playoffs trying to go to Phoenix, they all brought their best stuff, and we whooped them by about 10 seconds,” Herbst said. “So yeah, everybody said I can’t do it, couldn’t do it won’t win. Not good enough, and I just flat-out just beat them.”
However, the most impressive thing of the day for Herbst came from the rear of the field after making unapproved adjustments overnight. Before this, he had qualified 8th.
He also got this win in front of over 60 friends and family members as well. The 24-year-old has been in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for five seasons but could never come through to get that first victory in 139 starts in the series. It was those same friends and family who believed in him when no one else did. This includes his mother, Laura, who embraced him at the start/finish line afterward.
“When you’re in your darkest days, there’s nobody around you besides your mom,” he explained. “And that’s her job and she was the best at it. There’s many times when you just don’t know and she’s the only one there to pick you up and I wouldn’t be here without her.”
At the beginning of the week, it was also announced that Herbst would be remaining with Stewart-Haas Racing to drive the No. 98 car again in 2024, despite the speculation that he may be moving to the Cup Series after opportunities this season.
Las Vegas was also the first race in the round of 8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs where anyone who is still alive for the title could punch their ticket to the championship race in Phoenix in three week’s time.
There were 5 cautions for 26 laps in the race as well.
Finishing second in the race was Nemechek. He started 38th and shot through the field to finish 6th in stage 1 and then he finished 3rd in the second stage. He was able to maximize the points despite not winning to move to 47 points above the cut line.
Despite being the best finisher of the playoff drivers, Nemechek isn’t at all feeling comfortable with two more races before Phoenix.
“I wouldn’t consider it a win,” Nemechek said of the good day. “A win is a win in this deal and we’re not locked into Phoenix yet so definitely doesn’t feel like a win.”
After that, the points are a bit tighter. Justin Allgaier is 21 points to the good, with Austin Hill 17 points above the cut line, and Custer just 15 markers above the cutline.
The first driver below the cut is Chandler Smith who finished the race fourth but was second in the first stage, and sixth in the second.
Sam Mayer finished fifth and is -16 behind the cut line with two races remaining. Sammy Smith and Sheldon Creed are in nearly must-win territory at -35 and -41 points below the cut.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs will continue with the round of 8 next week at Homestead-Miami for the Contender Boats 300 which will air at noon on USA Network.
