Yahoo Autos Herbst gets part-time NASCAR Cup Series ride with Rick Ware Racing
Riley Herbst will run multiple NASCAR Cup Series races with Rick Ware Racing this season, beginning with the season-opening Daytona 500.
Monster Energy will be the primary sponsor for Herbst and the No. 15 Ford Mustang. Herbst made his Cup Series debut with Rick Ware Racing in last year’s Daytona 500 and finished 10th. He also ran with the organization at Talladega Superspeedway and finished 20th.
“Riley continues to impress as a driver,” said team owner Rick Ware. “He showcased what we could do together by securing a top 10 in his first Cup Series start in last year’s Daytona 500, so we look forward to using that as our benchmark when we return to do it again in a few weeks.
“Additionally, to partner with a global brand like Monster Energy is something I take very seriously for RWR as a company. Monster’s commitment to motorsports is something I respect and value, and I’m proud to have the opportunity to work together with Riley and the Monster brand throughout 2024.”
Herbst made four starts in the Cup Series last year. In addition to running with Ware, Herbst ran two races for Front Row Motorsports, finishing a career-best ninth in the fall race at Talladega Superspeedway.
“I’m excited to be back at the Daytona 500 with Monster Energy and Rick Ware Racing,” Herbst said. “Competing in last year’s race was a dream come true. We ran a smart race and came out of it with a top-10. I definitely learned a lot.
“Track time and experience are key, especially at a place like Daytona. Learning the nuances of the draft, when to ride and when to make a move, only happen when you’re in the seat. I’m really looking forward to applying everything I learned last year to this year’s race.”
Herbst will be a teammate to Justin Haley, who is the organization’s flagship driver in the No. 51 Ford Mustang. Rick Ware Racing will again field two full-time cars in 2024.
A third-generation driver, Herbst will split his season between the Cup Series and running full-time in the Xfinity Series for Stewart-Haas Racing. Herbst has one victory in 142 starts in the Xfinity Series and ended the 2023 season with five consecutive top-four finishes.
“I’ve grown a lot as a race car driver, especially this past year,” Herbst said. “I put in the work and try to maximize every opportunity, and I feel like last year that hard work and determination paid off. We were really strong at the end of the year. We never finished lower than fourth in our last five Xfinity Series races. I didn’t want the season to end. I’ve kind of been chomping at the bit to get this year started, so to be able to get back to Daytona and run the 500 is something I’m definitely looking forward to.”
Herbst is the second driver Rick Ware Racing has announced for the No. 15 Ford this season. Kaz Grala will have the wheel of the car for 25 races.
