Jeff Burton Names NASCAR's Most-Improved Driver and It's Someone Without a Ride in 2025

Jeff Burton is one of the most respected voices in NASCAR circles. The NBC analyst is called "The Mayor" for a reason. His voice matters. Or so you'd think.

While covering the NASCAR Xfinity Series practice and qualifying sessions on Saturday at the Charlotte Roval, the broadcast booth had a conversation on the different playoff drivers. When Riley Herbst's name came up and they detailed what he needed to do during the race to advance to the next round, the announcer offered high praise for the Stewart-Haas Racing pilot.

"And the same goes for this young driver, Riley Herbst," Burton said. "I think the most improved driver in NASCAR's top three series over the last couple years. A lot of coaching for him today as well."

Is Burton right?

In Herbst's first two full-time Xfinity seasons — 2020 at Joe Gibbs Racing and 2021 at SHR — he recorded a total of 30 top 10s and nine top 5s. Since 2022, he's steadily improved in those same categories (49 top 10s/24 top 5s) and, more importantly, added a pair of wins, once in 2023 at Las Vegas and earlier this year at the prestigious Brickyard in Indianapolis.

Interestingly, despite those numbers and Burton's recognition, the 25-year-old doesn't have an official ride lined up for 2025. The rebranded Haas Factory team has already announced next year's Xfinity roster of Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed.

Herbst has been linked to a potential third 23XI Racing car but acknowledged on playoff media day at the end of September nothing had been confirmed.

"Not confident, by any means," Herbst admitted . "Distraction-wise, I think it weighs on all of us a little bit. I'd be lying if I said it didn't. Hopefully, things kind of sort themselves out in the meantime for the future, but I can't worry about that now.

"I have to worry about the No. 98 team and trying to get the best results we can at Kansas to put ourselves higher above the cutline. But yeah, it's been a little bit of a distraction, but I'm not too confident in what's going to happen next year."

The 23XI Racing lawsuit against NASCAR and whether or not the team owns its charters in 2025 is one of the reasons for the holdup. And that situation is in the very beginning of the legal process, which could take months, if not longer.

Where Herbst lands to start next season is still officially unknown at this point. But you'd have to think it's as rumored and a third ride at 23XI or, at a minimum, a top Xfinity team in order for him to continue that improvement Burton referenced on the broadcast.

Related: Jeff Burton Wanted to Quiet Parker Kligerman After Hearing Details on His Personal Life