NASCAR driver Riley Herbst was pulled from the 23XI Racing lineup hours before Saturday's Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway after suffering lingering effects from a violent crash in New Hampshire.
Herbst, who drives the No. 35 car for the team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and Cup Series veteran Denny Hamlin, had logged the fifth fastest time in qualifying on Friday just five days after the accident. However, the team announced on Saturday afternoon that he would step out of the vehicle for health reasons.
In an official statement, 23XI Racing explained that Herbst experienced physical symptoms on Saturday morning despite his strong qualifying effort the previous day.
"After a strong effort in qualifying yesterday, Riley Herbst woke up with lingering effects from last weekend's incident, and along with the team, decided it was in his best interest to step out of the car for tonight's race at Daytona International Speedway," the team stated.
The withdrawal stems from a heavy collision during last week's race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Herbst was spun by rival driver Michael McDowell, causing his No. 35 car to spin out and strike the wall hard on its left side.
While Herbst's vehicle remained stationary on the track, oncoming driver Connor Zilisch slammed into the disabled car, causing a second violent impact.
NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, hosts its premier Cup Series events on high-speed ovals across North America. Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, is famous for intense pack racing at speeds exceeding 190 mph, where sudden wall impacts can inflict a severe physical toll on drivers.
Harrison Burton Steps In at Short Notice
Harrison Burton was called up at short notice to replace Herbst in the No. 35 car for Saturday's race.
23XI Racing already had reserve driver Corey Heim entered in the race driving the No. 67 part-time entry. Heim, a rising star who has won twice this season, is set to make the jump to full-time Cup Series racing in 2027 when he takes over Herbst's seat.
Burton brings recent success at Daytona Beach to the team. He won the summer race at Daytona International Speedway two years ago in a shock victory for Wood Brothers Racing that secured him a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
Burton, the son of NASCAR legend Jeff Burton, currently serves as the reserve and simulator driver for Toyota team Legacy Motor Club, while also competing full-time in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series for Sam Hunt Racing. On Friday night, he finished eighth in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Daytona.
Herbst, who has driven for Jordan's 23XI Racing squad for the last two years, is widely expected to remain within the Toyota manufacturer umbrella by joining Legacy Motor Club as the team's third entry next season.
Despite 23XI Racing upgrading by moving to Heim for 2027, co-owner Denny Hamlin insisted that Herbst deserves a long-term place in NASCAR's top tier after showing drastic improvement from his rookie season.
"Riley's doing what we hoped and expected," Hamlin said earlier this year. "He's running considerably better than what he was last year. Hopefully he has an opportunity come his way next year where he can go out there and still show that he can do it. I'm on the race track with him people, trust me when I say that he is considerably better than what he was last year and deserves to be racing on Sundays."
Crucial Role in Daytona 500 Triumph
Herbst's value to 23XI Racing was showcased at Daytona International Speedway earlier this season, when he played a vital role in helping teammate Tyler Reddick deliver a historic Daytona 500 victory for Michael Jordan's team in the opening race of the year.
After that race, Jordan singled out Herbst for immense praise, recognizing his move that protected Reddick's lead on the final lap before a huge wreck saw Herbst slide across the finish line in eighth place.
"I thought Riley did an unbelievable job pushing at the end," Jordan said. "That shows you what teamwork can really, really do. He doesn't get enough credit. He won't get enough credit. But we feel the love. We understand exactly what he did."
With Herbst sidelined for Saturday night's race, 23XI Racing will rely on Burton alongside Heim while Herbst focuses on recovering from the lingering effects of his New Hampshire crash.
