When Corey Heim was announced as the new driver of 23XI Racing’s third car for the 2027 NASCAR Cup season, current occupant Riley Herbst was almost immediately linked to Legacy Motor Club.

It made perfect sense, after all. Not only would he stay in the Toyota family, but he’s a generally safe driver who gets his car home in one piece and brings crucial funding from Terrible’s and Monster Energy. Moreover, he’s got a rapport with team co-owner Jimmie Johnson.

Thus, Legacy MC happily announced him as the driver of the #84 Toyota Camry on Thursday. The number itself was Johnson’s that he had been using during his part-time Cup tenure, but he’ll revert to his iconic #48 for his final race at the 2027 Daytona 500.

#84 was also the number on Johnson’s Unlimited Truck when he ran the Mint 400 in March, his first off-road race since 1997. Said truck was prepared by Terrible Herbst Motorsports, while Johnson shared driving duties with Herbst’s father Troy.

“The connection our families share through off-road racing made this feel like a natural fit from the start,” Johnson explained. “I am excited to give him a home where he can continue to develop and show what he can do in the Cup Series.”

Like Johnson, Herbst started his career in short course and desert racing before switching to stock cars. He hasn’t enjoyed the same success as the seven-time Cup champ, but he does have a pair of Trophy Truck Spec wins at the Baja 1000 in 2023 and 2024. Since the 1000 takes place in late November after the NASCAR season is over, Herbst often joins his family team for the race. Johnson only ran the 1000 once in 1995, which ended with a crash.

Troy Herbst and Johnson overlapped in the Mickey Thompson series and SODA in the 1990s, the former mainly racing Super 1600s while the latter was in trucks. The Herbst family is a dynasty in the off-road world, with Riley being a third-generation racer but the only one to pursue a NASCAR career.

“Troy, he’s been so kind, offering me a chance to race a truck the last couple of years, and it came together in March,” Johnson told NASCAR.com. “As we worked through that incredible opportunity, this started to heat up in this opportunity.

“There’s a certain discipline that you learn on the dirt and driving those vehicles that I really feel like gives you a huge advantage in a Cup car, and I was able to exploit that. And then you take the work ethic and commitment this young man has, his dedication and focus to being the best driver he can be.”

Herbst is currently 29th in points with ten races to go in his sophomore Cup season.

Featured image credit: via Jimmie Johnson / via Riley Herbst