Herbst, No. 98 team end chaotic week with 18th-place finish at Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — A tumultuous week for Riley Herbst’s No. 98 Stewart-Haas Racing team ended with him finishing 18th, one lap down in the Alsco Uniforms 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
On the way to the track Wednesday, the rig-and-hauler carrying Herbst’s No. 98 NASCAR Xfinity Series Ford was involved in a crash in Flagstaff, Ariz.
SHR confirmed everyone onboard and everything in the hauler was OK. However, the rig was damaged in the crash so a new rig had to pick up the hauler.
The hauler made it in time for Friday Xfinity Series practice, but Herbst started in the rear – 36th – due to unapproved adjustments, as the team checked the car over and dialed it in.
When the race began, Herbst quickly gained 20 spots and jumped to 16th in Stage 1. Then, he jumped to 12th with a strong stop before Stage 2. He finished 13th in the stage and hung around there in the final stage, on the lead lap, until a pit road issue occurred.
On Lap 145, Herbst pitted under green and was nabbed for a safety violation. He did a pass through pit road on Lap 151 and ultimately finished 18th, one lap down.
Herbst still gained one spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series points. Between he and Ryan Sieg, Herbst has the upperhand in a tie for 10th in points.
Herbst enters next Saturday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway with his last three finishes there being 11th, 9th and 10th.
Herbst declined comment for this story.
