Michael Jordan’s team issues worrying statement on health of NASCAR star a week after violent crash as he misses Daytona race
23XI Racing announced hours before the Coke Zero Sugar 400 that Riley Herbst would not be racing at Daytona for health reasons.
Herbst races for the NASCAR team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and star driver Denny Hamlin.
But he suffered a violent crash in last week’s race in New Hampshire after being spun by Michael McDowell.
Herbst’s car spun and hit the wall hard on its left side, then his stationary vehicle was hit by the oncoming Connor Zilisch.
Herbst was back in the car at Daytona for practice and qualifying just five days later, clocking the fifth fastest time.
But on Saturday afternoon, the team announced that Herbst was still feeling ‘lingering effects’ from last week’s crash and would be removed from the car.
Riley Herbst was pulled from the lineup for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 hours before it started
Herbst was involved in a big crash with a heavy impact in his No.35 car last week
Michael Jordan is co-owner of 23XI Racing, the team Herbst drives for in the Cup Series
A statement from 23XI Racing read: ‘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.’
Harrison Burton took over from Herbst in the No.35 car at short notice, with 23XI Racing reserve driver Corey Heim already entered in the race in the No.67 part-time entry.
Heim will take Herbst’s seat in 2027, with the rising star, who has won twice this season, making the jump to full-time Cup Series racing.
Herbst, who has raced the last two years for Jordan’s team, is widely tipped to join fellow Toyota team Legacy Motor Club as the team’s third car.
Burton, son of NASCAR legend Jeff, is the current Legacy Motor Club reserve/simulator driver while also racing full-time for Sam Hunt Racing in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
He won the Daytona summer race two years ago in a shock result for Wood Brothers Racing that earned him a spot in the Cup Series playoffs. On Friday night, he finished eighth in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race.
Herbst played a crucial role in teammate Tyler Reddick delivering a historic Daytona 500 win to the delight of Michael Jordan at the same venue in the first race of the season.
After that race, he was singled out for huge praise by Jordan, who recognized 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.
Harrison Burton took Herbst’s seat in the No.35 car at short notice in Saturday’s race
Herbst played a key role in Michael Jordan’s team winning the Daytona 500
‘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.’
Despite the team upgrading by moving to Heim, co-owner Hamlin insisted Herbst deserves a spot in the Cup Series after showing drastic improvement from his rookie year.
‘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.’
