NASCAR Rumors: Young Driver Emerges as Favorite to Join Legacy Motor Club’s 3rd Charter in 2027

Jimmie Johnson’s racing team Legacy Motor Club is poised to expand next year, adding a third charter for the 2027 Cup Series season. With a new seat available, it appears the team’s search for its wheelman is all but wrapped up.

According to The Athletic‘s Jordan Bianchi, Legacy’s year-long search for a third chartered driver is “effectively over” with the team now focused on 23XI Racing’s Riley Herbst to get behind the wheel in 2027.

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Riley Herbst, age 27, became a full-time Cup Series driver last season with 23XI in the No. 35 car. He struggled in his rookie year, failing to record a single top-10 finish while posting one of the worst average starting positions (26.97) and average finishing positions (26.39) among full-time Cup drivers.

He’s performed much better in 2026. Through 12 races, Herbst’s average starting position (20.25) and average finishing position (22.67) have improved significantly. Herbst snagged his first top-10 finish (Daytona 500) since 2023, and he has finished inside the top 20 four times this year.

Herbst also brings other qualities that likely carry significant weight for Legacy. First, he’s proven to be an excellent teammate this season by pushing Tyler Reddick to a win at Daytona and through his work in sim.

Just as important for a relatively new team like Legacy, Herbst also brings funding. The Herbst family owns a massive chain of convenience stores, and the driver has a long-standing relationship with Monster Energy. Pair all of that with the improvements he’s made this year, and it’s easy to see why he is a top candidate to join Legacy Motor Club next season.

Domino Effect of Riley Herbst Joining Legacy