Riley Herbst, competing full-time for 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series, will not be driving the No. 19 car at this weekend’s race at Daytona International Speedway. Herbst returned to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Xfinity Series team earlier this season and had made several starts, delivering strong finishes including third place at Texas Motor Speedway and fifth at Sonoma Raceway. However, after an engine failure at Watkins Glen International, he will be replaced for the upcoming event.
Details on the Driver Replacement for the Upcoming Wawa 250
The No. 19 Toyota, one of Joe Gibbs Racing’s key cars, is shared among several drivers including rookie William Sawalich, veteran Brandon Jones, and rookie Taylor Gray. So far this year, seven drivers have driven the No. 19, with Herbst ranking third in number of starts at four. Aric Almirola leads with nine starts and is scheduled to return this Friday for the Wawa 250 at Daytona.
Almirola, 41, from Fort Walton Beach, Florida, is a seasoned driver with two career wins at Daytona—one in the Cup Series in 2014 and another in the Xfinity Series in 2016. He is set to make his 10th start in the No. 19 car this season during the 100-lap race on the high-banked 2.5-mile oval.
Performance History and Upcoming Race Coverage
This season, Almirola has delivered four top-three finishes out of nine starts, including a victory at Phoenix Raceway in March. Despite not being scheduled for more races after this weekend, he’ll fulfill the driver role for this important event as the No. 19 car still needs drivers for five more races this year. The Wawa 250 will take place on Friday, August 22, with live coverage starting at 7:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network.
What This Replacement Means Moving Forward
The shift in drivers highlights Joe Gibbs Racing’s strategy to maximize performance across a busy season with several talented drivers sharing the No. 19 car. With Riley Herbst NASCAR Daytona replacement confirmed as Aric Almirola, the team aims to leverage Almirola’s experience and previous success at Daytona. This change may influence the outcome of the race and impact driver lineups in upcoming events.
