Riley Herbst is planning to get behind the wheel at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, just one week after a terrifying crash at Talladega messed up his wrist. He’s been cleared, yeah, but here’s the kicker: can the 23XI Racing driver actually make it through all 500 grueling laps? That’s the million-dollar question hanging over everyone this weekend.
Cleared To Start, But Can He Finish?
It’s official, 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin confirmed Herbst has been cleared to compete in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Xfinity 500. That’s good news on one front, but the team isn’t taking any chances. Harrison Burton is going to be on standby, ready to jump in if Herbst can’t hang on. Hamlin was talking to reporters at Martinsville on Saturday and said Herbst *intends* to run the entire race in the No. 35 Toyota.
But let’s be real, the biggest question here isn’t getting into the car. It’s how his injured left wrist is going to hold up over a super demanding afternoon. Hamlin himself described it as a “pain tolerance thing.” Think about it: Martinsville is 500 laps of tight corners, slamming on the brakes, constant traffic, and non-stop steering inputs. That is a *world* away from Talladega’s high-speed, wide-open racing. Coming back to a track like Martinsville with a messed-up wrist? That’s just brutal.
Harrison Burton: The Man Waiting In The Wings
Even though Herbst is expected to start, 23XI Racing has a solid backup plan. Harrison Burton being on standby isn’t new; he’s filled in for Herbst before, stepping in at Daytona after Herbst got dinged up in a crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
This latest injury for Herbst came from one of the gnarlier accidents at Talladega last weekend. We’re talking Joey Logano’s car overturning in the same multicar wreck. Herbst’s Toyota took a beating, too, slamming into the inside SAFER barrier with extensive damage. He was checked out and released from the infield care center, but everyone saw him afterwards with his left wrist and forearm heavily wrapped. NASCAR even hauled the No. 35 Toyota off to its Research and Development Center for a deep dive after the crash. And now, less than seven days later, Herbst is suiting up. The team’s plan is pretty clear: let Herbst go for the full distance, but have Burton ready if that pain just gets too overwhelming.
So, will that backup plan be needed? We’re going to find out on Sunday. It’s going to be a tense race for Herbst and the 23XI crew, that’s for sure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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