Legacy Motor Club adds Riley Herbst to Cup Series roster for 2027
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Legacy Motor Club confirmed a piece of its driver lineup for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season, bringing in Riley Herbst to drive its third car next season.
The Jimmie Johnson-owned organization announced the move Thursday, keeping Herbst in the Toyota camp next year. Herbst makes the move to Legacy after two seasons in 23XI Racing's No. 35 Toyota Camry.
Herbst will drive the No. 84 next year with continued backing from Monster Energy, which has served as a primary sponsor for the 27-year-old for most of his racing career.
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The news comes less than 24 hours after Legacy confirmed John Hunter Nemechek will not return to the organization’s No. 42 Toyota next season.
Johnson, a seven-time Cup Series champion, had indicated in March that Legacy would have a third car on the grid in NASCAR's top division next year, using a team charter acquired from Rick Ware Racing. The organization currently fields the No. 42 for John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 43 entry for Erik Jones.
“I’ve known him for ages, raced against his dad and his uncles,” Johnson told NASCAR.com. “I just see a humble young man that is chasing his dream. And before we were ever in these conversations, watching his work ethic, watching him get laps, I see someone there that wants to be a champion. And the amount of desire and focus he has – there are so many reasons that he doesn't have to have them. But his parents are incredible, and I know he's getting his reps, and this car is so tricky to figure out. But here, especially in the last couple of months, the pace that he's had, the consistency, the race craft with this car, we're really excited to have him on board, and I know he'll bring a lot of youthful energy and excitement.”
Herbst is in his second full Cup Series season. The Las Vegas native has shown improvement after a 35th-place finish in last year's standings, improving his average finish and starting position while notching a career-best result of eighth twice in 2026: the season-opening Daytona 500 and Naval Base Coronado. He’s competed in 25 of 26 races this season, stepping out last weekend at Daytona after “lingering effects” from a crash the previous week at New Hampshire.
Herbst is also a three-time winner in what is now called the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.