Riley Herbst experienced a disappointing conclusion to Sunday's YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing 26th after being involved in the massive accident on Lap 183. The 23XI Racing driver qualified 14th and showed competitive speed before his afternoon ended prematurely.
Herbst remained among the drivers capable of advancing through the field during the opening stages, which featured aggressive strategy decisions and extensive fuel conservation. The No. 35 Toyota briefly moved into the lead on Lap 102, with Herbst holding the top position for two consecutive laps.
However, the changing drafting lanes made it difficult to maintain track position, and Herbst spent much of the afternoon battling throughout the field. His opportunity
to challenge for a stronger finish ended with five scheduled laps remaining when a 15-car accident erupted near the front of the field.
Herbst was among the competitors involved and could not return to the race. He finished 26th after completing 183 laps, earning 16 points from the event.
Herbst remains 30th in the overall NASCAR Cup Series standings with 486 points after missing the championship Chase. With only Martinsville and Homestead-Miami remaining, Herbst will attempt to recover from the disappointing finish and conclude his season with stronger performances.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Riley Herbst's race recap in the 2026 Chase race at Talladega
