Riley Herbst may have earned Cup Series deal with winning pass at Indianapolis

If there was ever a play in sports activities that outlined the subsequent chapter of an athlete’s profession, it might be Riley Herbst’s race-winning cross on Aric Almirola to safe the win at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 

The 25-year-old driver handed Almirola on the race’s last lap, making the profitable transfer simply two corners earlier than he would fly beneath the checkered flag for his second profession NASCAR Xfinity Collection victory. 

With speak circulating across the storage space that Herbst is being thought of to pilot a 3rd Cup Collection automotive for 23XI Racing, Saturday’s race-winning cross won’t have simply been large for Herbst’s season, however his NASCAR profession as an entire. 

Has Herbst proven sufficient within the Xfinity Collection to actually be thought of a Cup-level expertise? Perhaps not. But when he can convey the identical aggression and expertise he confirmed on Saturday together with the large verify he’ll present regardless, 23XI Racing would presumably be completely satisfied to have him. 

One race should not fully change the narrative for a driver who’s largely been underwhelming throughout his time within the Xfinity Collection, however Saturday’s race proved Herbst is able to going toe-to-toe with the very best of the very best — and can even beat them within the course of. 

Herbst did not simply beat a bunch of wealthy children on Saturday, both. The challengers that crossed the road behind him included:

Aric Almirola (three-time Cup Collection winner)

Cole Custer (defending Xfinity Collection champion and present factors chief)

AJ Allmendinger (three-time Cup Collection winner)

Shane van Gisbergen (Cup Collection winner and 2024 Xfinity Collection wins chief)

Herbst additionally confirmed a useful trait throughout the waning moments of Saturday’s race: The power to not buckle beneath strain. Confronted with a number of late-race restarts, Herbst stayed able to win. When Herbst was handed for the lead on the ultimate lap, somewhat than falter, he got here again robust to make the profitable cross himself. 

If there was ever a day the place Herbst drove like a Cup Collection veteran, it was Saturday. 

Racing on the most well-known monitor on the earth, in one of many largest races on the calendar, Herbst might have simply signed the largest contract of his life with out even having to place pen to paper. 

Have your self a day, child.