Herbst Poised for Xfinity Playoff Push: Confident in Speed and Team Heading into Kansas

Riley Herbst, the driver of the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing, is feeling optimistic about his chances in the upcoming NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs. With the season-opening race at Kansas Speedway just around the corner, Herbst is eager to showcase his team's speed and make a strong push for the championship.

Herbst Bullish on Chances, Eager to Capitalize on Team's Strengths

Excelling on Mile-and-a-Half Tracks

Herbst, who currently sits eighth in the standings with a three-point cushion over the Round of 8 cutline, believes his team has the necessary speed and capabilities to contend for the title. "We definitely have the speed to do it," he said confidently. "I've got the best team in the garage. We're going to go do the best we can every week, and try to execute and go win this championship."The driver's optimism stems from his team's strong performance on mile-and-a-half tracks this season, a characteristic that bodes well for the upcoming race at Kansas Speedway. "We've really excelled in the mile and a half tracks this year, so we're excited to go to a really fast mile and a half track," Herbst explained. "The Kansas track has similar characteristics to Las Vegas and Texas, and those are tracks where we have also performed well."

Adapting to the Roval's New Layout

Looking ahead, Herbst is also eager to tackle the recently reconfigured Charlotte Roval, which will be a crucial stop in the Xfinity Series playoffs. "The Roval is going to be interesting because it is not the same track as we ran last year," he said. "It's a new layout. It's going to be interesting to see how we all adapt to that new track and what goes on."Herbst's experience and adaptability will be put to the test as the series navigates the changes to the Roval, but the driver remains confident in his team's ability to rise to the occasion. "I think that we'll have an opportunity to go win this race at Kansas, and if that presents itself, we're going to go for it," he said. "However, if that opportunity doesn't present itself, I feel like we're just going to take what the car gives us and try to have three really solid races at Kansas, Talladega and Charlotte and try to move on to the next round."

Overcoming Uncertainty and Bonding with the Team

Herbst's focus on the upcoming playoffs is tempered by the uncertainty surrounding his future beyond the 2024 season. With the impending closure of Stewart-Haas Racing, the driver admits that he is "not confident" about his plans for 2025 and beyond. "It's been tough, because obviously Stewart-Haas Racing is closing down and going out of business," he said.However, Herbst has found a silver lining in the situation, as the team has come together even more closely during this challenging time. "It's also been good, because we've all bonded together really closely and it's kind of like the last dance for everybody," he explained. "It's been a good silver lining a little bit, but it has definitely been tough to overcome."Despite the uncertainty, Herbst remains determined to make the most of the current season and push for the championship. "We're not satisfied. Hopefully, we can go out here and do it. We're still hungry. We still want to win this championship. We also want to win more races this year," he said.

Improved Consistency Fueling Herbst's Rise

Herbst's journey in the Xfinity Series has been marked by steady improvement, with consistency playing a crucial role in his development as a driver. "We were really, really good with consistency," he acknowledged. "However, during the last few weeks of the late summer, we kind of fell off our mark a little bit. We were fourth in points going into the summer break, and now we are eighth. That's kind of frustrating for us, but we'll get back on track here and we'll go win this championship."The driver's commitment to maintaining a high level of performance throughout the season has been a key factor in his success. "We're confident and we've got the speed," Herbst said. "If we do our job and execute, I think everything will work out well."With the playoffs on the horizon, Herbst is eager to capitalize on his team's strengths and make a strong push for the championship. "We'll see where everything settles at the end of the year. We're eager to get to the track this weekend and go dominate," he concluded.