Tag: Layne Riggs

Riggs motors away to take first Truck Series win at Milwaukee

For the second-straight day, a second-generation rising NASCAR racing star earned his first-career win. This time it was 22-year-old Layne Riggs claiming the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victory in Sunday’s Playoff-opening LIUNA! 175 at the …

For the second-straight day, a second-generation rising NASCAR racing star earned his first-career win. This time it was 22-year-old Layne Riggs claiming the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victory in Sunday’s Playoff-opening LIUNA! 175 at the historic Milwaukee Mile.

Riggs, son of former NASCAR competitor Scott Riggs, took the lead from Ty Majeski with 53 laps remaining and pulled away to a solid 1.547s victory over the Wisconsin native and a super-motivated group of Playoff drivers, making the rookie driver’s effort all the more impressive.

 

Riggs’ victory in the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford comes a day after 23-year-old Harrison Burton – son of former NASCAR star Jeff Burton — earned his first-career win in the NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

“I don’t even know how to describe it,’’ said an emotional Riggs, making only his 23rd start in the series, saying he knew in practice his truck was going to be in contention. “It’s awesome.

“We’ve had a terrible year. It’s been an awful year, but I’ve learned so much though in my rookie season. After the start I thought there’s no way we’re going to get a win; we’ll do the best we can and just learn for next year. But I knew in practice this thing [today] was awesome.’’

Riggs was so happy and demonstrative that he dislocated his shoulder pumping his arms high in celebration – his team rushed over to help. And it certainly appeared Riggs was okay by the time he hugged his father trackside.

“Dislocated my shoulder I was celebrating so hard, but it was worth it,’’ Riggs said smiling.

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Eight of the 10 Playoff drivers finished just behind Riggs, including Majeski, the defending race winner and polesitter who led 45 of the 175 laps in the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford. McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Christian Eckes was third – leading a race-high 71 laps in his No. 19 Chevrolet. REV Racing’s Nick Sanchez and TRICON Garage’s Taylor Gray rounded out the top five.

McAnally-Hilgemann’s Tyler Ankrum, TRICON Garage’s Corey Heim, McAnally-Hilgemann’s Daniel Dye and reigning series champion, ThorSport Racing’s Ben Rhodes rounded out the top nine finishers – all Playoff drivers. Three-time series champion Matt Crafton was 10th.

“I was leading on the bottom and it shot up the race track and just couldn’t recover; I was way too tight’’ said Eckes, who paced the field for much of the afternoon and collected a series best ninth stage win.

He now holds a 16-point advantage over Majeski atop the Playoff standings. Heim is third, only 19 points back.

“Proud of everybody but a pretty big missed opportunity,’’ Eckes said.

The other two Playoff drivers, Grant Enfinger, driver of the No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevy, finished 13th and Rajah Caruth, driver of the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevy, rallied to an 18th place finish after starting from the rear of the grid.

With two more races remaining in this opening round and eight of the 10 drivers advancing, Rhodes is two points behind Enfinger for that all-important eighth Playoff position and Caruth is only four points back.

Round two of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season championship takes place Sept. 19 in a special Thursday night edition (8 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), from Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway where Heim is the defending race winner.

RESULTS

Riggs gets full-time Trucks drive with Front Row

Layne Riggs will be a full-time NASCAR national series driver in 2024, having signed with Front Row Motorsports to compete in the Craftsman Truck Series. Riggs is the newest driver of the No. 38 Ford F-150, vacated by Zane Smith with his move into …

Layne Riggs will be a full-time NASCAR national series driver in 2024, having signed with Front Row Motorsports to compete in the Craftsman Truck Series.

Riggs is the newest driver of the No. 38 Ford F-150, vacated by Zane Smith with his move into the NASCAR Cup Series. The son of former NASCAR driver Scott Riggs, the 21-year-old Layne Riggs has made six starts in the series over the last two years. A third-place finish on the Indianapolis short track in August has thus far been his best result.

“I’m really thankful for this opportunity to compete full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with one of the best teams in the sport,” Riggs said. “I’ve dedicated my life for an opportunity like this, and I’m incredibly appreciative of Bob [Jenkins] and everyone at Front Row for providing me the opportunity to take my next step in my racing career.”

It is a multi-year deal for Riggs.

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Front Row Motorsports won the Truck Series championship in 2022 with Smith. The organization has eight victories with Smith and Todd Gilliland, who drove the truck in 2020 and 2021.

Riggs has been cutting his teeth in grassroots racing, being crowned the 2022 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series national champion. His résumé also includes multiple seasons competing in Limited Sportsman events at Orange County (N.C.) Speedway, where he earned the track championship, as well as the CARS Tour. In the CARS Tour, Riggs has six victories.

“I really appreciate Layne’s dedication to his education while also competing at the highest levels,” team owner Bob Jenkins said. “That comes from great parenting and a sense of dedication from Layne. We’ve already seen a lot of potential in Layne and he’s a perfect fit for our program to develop him into a national series NASCAR winner.”

Dylan Cappello will move from lead engineer to crew chief of the No. 38 team and rookie Riggs. Chris Lawson, who had overseen the team for the last four seasons, is stepping into a consultant role with Front Row Motorsports.

Layne Riggs to join Front Row Motorsports for 2024 NASCAR Truck Series season

Layne Riggs will drive the No. 38 truck full-time for Front Row Motorsports during the 2024 NASCAR Truck Series season.

[autotag]Front Row Motorsports[/autotag] needed to replace Zane Smith after he left for Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series, and the organization picked a great replacement. On Thursday afternoon, Front Row Motorsports announced that [autotag]Layne Riggs[/autotag] will drive the No. 38 truck full-time in 2024. Riggs signed a multi-year contract with the organization.

The 21-year-old driver is the son of former NASCAR driver Scott Riggs. In 2023, Riggs ran three races for Kauliig Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and had a best finish of 10th place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Riggs also competed in three NASCAR Truck Series events and had a best finish of third place with Spire Motorsports at Lucas Oil Raceway.

This is a brilliant move for Front Row Motorsports, as Riggs is a rising talent in NASCAR. The organization needed to shoot for the starts with Smith leaving for the Cup Series and found a driver capable of running well in the series. Riggs is a prime candidate for a breakout season, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the No. 38 truck in victory lane next year.

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3 candidates for Kaulig Racing in NASCAR Xfinity Series for 2024

Kaulig Racing might need to replace its entire NASCAR Xfinity Series driver lineup so here are three good candidates for the seats in 2024!

[autotag]Kaulig Racing[/autotag] likely needs to overhaul its NASCAR Xfinity Series lineup due to Daniel Hemric’s promotion and Chandler Smith’s expected departure to Joe Gibbs Racing in 2024. As of now, A.J. Allmendinger is likely to join the Xfinity Series program but what about the other rides? Here are three realistic candidates for a possible seat.

[autotag]Derek Kraus[/autotag] should be the top option as Kaulig Racing loves what he brings to the program. Kraus has competed in seven races with the organization for three top-10 finishes and a 13.7 average finishing position. The 22-year-old driver has shown promise in his select starts and would be in a good position with Allmendinger possibly mentoring him throughout his first full-time season.

[autotag]Layne Riggs[/autotag] would also be a good choice for Kaulig Racing in 2024. Riggs has competed in two races with the organization during the 2023 Xfinity Series playoffs and has a best finish of 10th place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 21-year-old has impressed in his NASCAR starts since the beginning of the 2022 season and would be worthy of an opportunity.

Finally, [autotag]Jeffrey Earnhardt[/autotag] would be a quality option and likely represent the best full-time equipment in his career. Earnhardt previously earned a second-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in 2022 with Richard Childress Racing so he can compete if given the car. The 34-year-old driver could also bring sponsorship, which would help out the program.

Any driver out of the trio of Kraus, Riggs, and Earnhardt would be a good option for Kaulig Racing in 2024. Kraus likely serves as the most reasonable option as he has the most recent experience with the organization; however, Riggs and Earnhardt would be good too. Overall, Kaulig Racing should have options available and it will make for an interesting outcome.

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Layne Riggs to make Xfinity debut with Kaulig Racing at Texas

Layne Riggs will make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with Kaulig Racing at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend.

[autotag]Kaulig Racing[/autotag]’s trend of using talented young drivers in the No. 11 Xfinity car during the 2023 playoffs will continue on Saturday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway. [autotag]Layne Riggs[/autotag] will drive the No. 11 car for Kaulig Racing at Texas. It will be Riggs’ debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and he is scheduled to make two more starts at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway.

Riggs has only made six starts in NASCAR’s top-3 levels, which all come from the Truck Series. The 21-year-old driver has a best finish of third place at Lucas Oil Raceway in the No. 7 truck for Spire Motorsports. Riggs has been impressive in his select starts and it has drawn Kaulig Racing’s attention for this weekend’s event.

The North Carolina native is a second-generation racer and the son of former NASCAR driver Scott Riggs, who has four Xfinity Series victories. Riggs will look to have a solid debut and bring more attention to himself as the 2023 NASCAR season winds down.

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