Riley Herbst (#35 23XI Racing Toyota Camry) will miss the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. Image: 23XI Racing
Herbst suffered a big hit after contact with Michael McDowell’s #71 Spire Motorsports Camaro tipped the #35 23XI Racing Toyota Camry into a spin.
Herbst was then hit by Trackhouse Racing’s Connor Zilisch in the #88 Camaro.
On Saturday, Herbst qualified fifth. However, he has elected to sit out Sunday’s race.
Harrison Burton will take the reins of the #35 Camry. Ordinarily, Corey Heim would have been tapped as a reserve, though he is already racing the #67 23XI Racing Camry.
“After a strong effort in qualifying yesterday, Riley Herbst woke up with lingering effects from last weekend’s incident and, along with the team, decided it was in his best interest to step out of the car for tonight’s race at Daytona International Speedway,” 23XI Racing said in a statement.
“He will be replaced in the #35 Toyota for tonight’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway by Harrison Burton.”
Burton made his last start in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2024 with Wood Brothers Racing. He won his last start at Daytona, which earned him a Playoffs berth that year.
Burton was replaced for 2025 by Josh Berry. He returned to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series that year with AM Racing before joining Sam Hunt Racing in 2026.
The Coke Zero Sugat 400 at Daytona International Speedway gets underway at 9:47am AEST on Sunday.