The season might be over, but the drama isn’t stopping anytime soon. In many ways, the NASCAR community is one big dysfunctional family, and on occasions such as Thanksgiving, the underlying tensions between drivers can be magnified tenfold. Even though there is a seven-year age gap between the two, it seems like Riley Herbst and Connor Zilisch aren’t the best of friends. The two engaged in a bit of back-and-forth on social media, highlighting that there is no love lost between either of them.

Widely touted as some of the most exciting prospects in the motorsport world, could this be the start of a new rivalry between Riley Herbst and Connor Zilisch? While both drivers will be competing in different competitions in 2025, it’ll be interesting to see if there are further developments on social media.

Herbst mocks Zilisch’s age on social media

Riley Herbst and Connor Zilisch are on the verge of breakthrough seasons. Both drivers are looking forward to their 2025 campaign, with Herbst securing a seat with 23XI Racing while his 18-year-old rival will be competing full-time at JR Motorsports in NASCAR’s second tier. With the stakes higher than ever, both drivers know that the upcoming season could make or break their NASCAR career and the pressure will be piling for them to succeed on the racetrack. Perhaps, it’s the stress that might be getting the better of both of them, going by their social media exchanges.

A few days ago, Riley Herbst uploaded a tweet that read, “Thanksgiving food is not good” and went on to upload a picture of his ‘feast’, which included two tacos, a drink, and three different types of sauces. Looking at the picture that was uploaded, Connor Zilisch couldn’t help but say, “Ur weird”, a reaction that didn’t go down well with the Nevada native. In response, the new Cup Series driver went on to write, “Let me know when you’re 21 and can have a beer with me”, highlighting that Dale Jr.’s driver was too young to have an opinion about Herbst’s food.

The two drivers have competed against each other on the racetrack. During the 2024 season, Connor Zilisch made four appearances in the Xfinity Series, going head-to-head against Riley Herbst at Watkins Glen, Kansas Speedway, Homestead-Miami, and Phoenix Raceway. Out of these four fixtures, both drivers have won one each, while finishing higher than the other in the remaining two races. However, with Stewart-Haas Racing having ceased operations at the end of 2024, the 25-year-old has earned a move to 23XI, amidst the ongoing lawsuit.

As for Zilisch, he remains one of the most exciting prospects in the NASCAR world. At the tender age of 18, the North Carolina native won on his Xfinity Series debut at ‘The Glen’ as well as five ARCA Menards Series races in 2024. The youngster will be competing in the No. 88 Chevy for JR Motorsports in 2025 and could progress into the Cup Series in just a few years, depending on his performances for Dale Jr.’s team. Could this be the start of a new rivalry, the likes of which NASCAR hasn’t seen since Kyle Larson and Denny Hamlin? Time will tell.

Riley Herbst opens up about his goal for 2025

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Amidst the drama, uncertainty, and controversy surrounding 23XI Racing’s ongoing lawsuit, Riley Herbst has secured a new job. The racing driver has completed a move to Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin’s co-owned team, while his primary sponsor Monster Energy will be following suit. The 25-year-old will be driving the No. 35 Toyota, paying homage to the iconic NBA Hall of Famer’s time while playing for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the 1994 Arizona Fall League.

Highlighting that his goal has always been to compete at NASCAR’s highest level, Riley Herbst went on to say, “Racing full-time in the Cup Series has been my goal since I started in NASCAR and I’m excited to start my Cup career with such an accomplished and driven team. What 23XI has accomplished in a short time is impressive and I look forward to building on their success as the organization grows.”

In all likelihood, Herbst will compete in the ‘open’ category for 23XI, after the team lost its preliminary injunction to retain the charters. However, the 25-year-old will have no complaints, as the opportunity to compete with a team that made it to the Championship 4 in 2024 is a privilege in itself. The Nevada native will hope to learn a lot from Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace during the 2025 campaign and improve his craft. Do you think Riley Herbst is a good appointment for 23XI Racing? Let us know in the comments!