Everyone watched in horror as Joey Logano’s No. 22 Ford flipped onto its roof at Talladega. But amid the 15-car pileup, Riley Herbst had slammed head-on into the wall in his No. 35 Toyota. While safety crews rushed to Logano’s aid, Herbst’s team was left anxiously waiting for help to reach their driver.

Now, leaked 23XI radio has raised questions about NASCAR’s response as Herbst publicly downplays his left arm injury.

“Yeah, I’m okay, thank you. It was a Big One, but just thank you to 23XI Toyota for their support. It’s been an up-and-down year to say the least, so I thought we had a shot at it there at the end. We got shuffled out a little bit but came back and ultimately just got caught up in that wreck at Talladega. My dad always said if you’re gonna be dumb, you better be tough. So cheers,” Riley Herbst said on USA Sports postrace show.

Herbst may have been joking about the crash afterward, but the radio exchanges from the moments following the wreck painted a much more worrying picture. His team repeatedly tried to reach him after his Toyota suffered two heavy impacts, but the lack of a response quickly raised concerns.

“Are you alright? Talk to me. Talk to me please. You alright, Riley?” came the anxious call over the radio.

The team had warned Herbst that he was about to hit again, urging him to hold the brakes and try to avoid another impact. After the collision, they continued calling out to him, even asking him to press the radio button if he needed to catch his breath so they could confirm he was responsive. Herbst did not answer over the radio, intensifying the concern inside the 23XI camp.

The team’s anxiety escalated as they discussed the need for medical assistance. “We’re going to probably need medical,” one of the team members said.

According to radio audio that surfaced after the race, frustration soon followed as Herbst still had not responded and safety workers appeared focused on Joey Logano’s overturned car.

“They’re not coming to us. They’re going to the one upside down. Yellow at your official,” a team member said over the radio, highlighting the concern inside the 23XI Racing camp.

The crew subsequently sought help from a nearby track official to get medical personnel to the No. 35 Toyota, fearing Herbst may have been injured after the violent second impact.

The available audio supports the concern and frustration, though it does not establish NASCAR’s intentions or prove that officials deliberately prioritized Logano over Herbst.

How the crash unfolded

The crash began on Lap 183 when Logano’s No. 22 Ford got loose after contact from Carson Hocevar while the outside lane stacked up behind Ross Chastain. Logano struck the outside wall and then flipped onto his roof after further contact with Chase Briscoe. As cars scattered across the tri-oval, Herbst was caught in the chain reaction. His Toyota hit the outside wall before bouncing back across the track and slamming into the inside SAFER barrier almost head-on.

The second impact was particularly alarming. Herbst’s car appeared to continue moving at considerable speed after the initial collision, prompting speculation from broadcaster Dale Jarrett that the car may have lost its brakes and possibly suffered a stuck throttle. Neither issue has been confirmed as the cause.

Herbst eventually climbed out with help from safety workers, and he was later seen leaving the infield medical center with his left wrist and forearm wrapped. He also had a soft cast on his left hand.

The incident nevertheless raised a legitimate question about how safety crews assess multiple drivers after a major crash, particularly when one car is visibly overturned, and another has suffered a severe impact against a barrier.

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