Riley Herbst will join 23XI Racing as the team expands to a three-car operation in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. Herbst will pilot the No. 35 Toyota Camry with Monster Energy sponsorship and Davin Restivo as crew chief.

This marks Herbst's first full-time Cup Series season, building on his eight previous Cup starts while competing in the Xfinity Series. His Xfinity Series career spans five full seasons with three wins in 175 starts.

23XI team president Steve Lauletta expressed confidence in the expansion, citing the organization's solid foundation with current drivers Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick. These veteran drivers will serve as valuable resources for Herbst's transition to Cup Series racing.

The team is currently working to secure a charter for Herbst's entry through litigation with NASCAR over the 2025 charter agreement. While 23XI intends to purchase one of Stewart-Haas Racing's charters, the sale remains pending. The team has confirmed it can race as an open team in 2025, following NASCAR's removal of anticompetitive release requirements in the open agreement.

Herbst expressed enthusiasm about joining 23XI, stating, "Racing full-time in the Cup Series has been my goal since I started in NASCAR, and I'm excited to start my Cup career with such an accomplished and driven team."

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