Note: The Penske Entertainment editorial staff is looking back at the 10 biggest moments of 2024 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31.
Riley Herbst prevailed in a wild final two laps to win the first NASCAR Xfinity Series race on the fabled 2.5-mile oval since 2019, edging Cole Custer and Aric Almirola to open race competition on Brickyard Weekend.
Herbst, who started second in the No. 98 Monster Energy Ford, held off Stewart-Haas Racing teammate and pole sitter Custer by .167 of a second for his second career Xfinity Series victory in the Pennzoil 250 presented by Advance Auto Parts. Almirola was third in the No. 20 He Gets Us Toyota of Joe Gibbs Racing, .224 of a second behind the winner after a sizzling three-way fight for the lead on the last two laps of the 100-lap race.
The 1-2 finish for Stewart-Haas Racing – co-owned by two-time Brickyard 400 winner Tony Stewart and Gene Haas – was bittersweet as the team disbanded after this season.
Herbst lost the lead to Custer on a restart on Lap 90, and it appeared Custer might cruise to victory. He built a lead of 1.384 seconds by Lap 95. But Herbst began to chip away, trimming that lead to .649 of a second on Lap 97 and .270 of a second on Lap 98.
Almirola also was gaining ground on the two leaders and took the lead on the front straightaway at the end of Lap 99 on a breathtaking move with the white flag in the air. Herbst and Custer were racing side-by-side for the lead low on the straightaway, and Almirola moved within inches of the wall to clear the dueling pair and slice down across the noses of their Fords for the top spot.
On the final lap, Herbst chased Almirola and dove under him for the lead in the short chute between Turns 3 and 4 and held on to the checkered flag. It was the last of 12 lead changes in the race.
Herbst and Custer combined to lead 77 of the 100 laps, with Custer out front for a race-high 47 and Herbst 30.
