Chandler Smith left North Wilkesboro Speedway with more than just a trophy — he left with gratitude for a teammate and a growing reputation as one of the most poised drivers in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Smith secured his second win of the 2025 season in thrilling fashion, leading only the final lap of the Window World 250, a race packed with short-track chaos, tire strategy twists, and a bit of late-race drama.
The 0.625-mile oval hosted one of the most unpredictable races of the year. Corey Heim had dominated the day, leading an incredible 162 of 255 laps, but found himself shuffled out of contention following an overtime incident involving Front Row Motorsports driver Layne Riggs. With only a few feet between victory and heartbreak, Smith found himself in the right place at exactly the right time.
What looked like a race sewn up by Heim quickly turned into a battleground of bruised egos and shifting alliances — and at the center of it all was a driver who started dead last and finished first.
Overtime Mayhem Shakes Up the Finish
The defining moment of the race came during the overtime restart on Lap 254. Heim, despite being on tires nearly 70 laps older than those of his closest rivals, surged into the lead and looked like he might escape with the win. Chandler Smith and Layne Riggs followed closely behind — both driving with urgency and fresher rubber.
As the white flag waved, Riggs dove low entering Turn 3, taking a sharp line inside Heim’s No. 11 Toyota. The bold move caused contact that sent Heim slightly sideways and up the track, allowing Smith to capitalize and slip past into the lead. Riggs followed through in second, but the race was already won.
Smith crossed the line 0.611 seconds ahead of his Front Row teammate — a dramatic finish that punctuated a race where nearly everything had gone wrong early for the eventual winner.
From the Rear to the Front: Chandler Smith’s Gritty Recovery
What made Smith’s win even more impressive was how far he had to climb. After being penalized to the rear of the field for unapproved adjustments before the green flag, Smith’s No. 38 Ford was buried deep in traffic at a track notorious for being difficult to pass on. Brake issues during the weekend had forced his team to act fast, and while the fix cost them track position, it may have saved their race.
Throughout the 250-lap battle, Smith managed his tires with care and steadily worked his way through the pack. When the opportunity came late in the race — aided by tire advantage and timely restarts — he was in striking distance when it mattered most.
Though he downplayed his performance compared to Heim’s long-run dominance, Smith acknowledged that sometimes survival and strategy are just as important as raw speed on short tracks. It was a gritty, smart performance, capped off by a moment of opportunity that he didn’t let slip away.
Brewing Tensions: Heim and Riggs Clash Over Contact
Not everyone left North Wilkesboro smiling. While Smith and his team celebrated in Victory Lane, Corey Heim and Layne Riggs found themselves at the center of controversy — a rivalry that had brewed all race long and reached its boiling point in the final two laps.
Earlier in the event, Riggs had already drawn Heim’s ire when he squeezed the No. 11 truck toward the outside wall on a restart following the Stage 1 break. That move cost Heim track position and eventually helped Grant Enfinger capture the Stage 2 win. Tensions only escalated from there.
After the race, Heim made it clear that he felt Riggs had gone too far in the final-lap move. He suggested that while Smith was a deserving winner, Riggs had crossed the line in his aggressive attempt to overtake. Heim saw it as a repeat of past tactics — referencing a previous incident involving Riggs trying to move Carson Hocevar out of the way.
Riggs, for his part, defended his driving. He maintained that Heim had simply lost grip entering Turn 3 and left the bottom open. From Riggs’ point of view, it was a fair attempt to make a winning move, and he argued he gave Heim just enough space without deliberately turning him. On a tight short track with high stakes, Riggs viewed his actions as part of the game — not malicious.
It’s a storyline worth watching as the series heads into the summer stretch. Both Heim and Riggs are likely to remain championship contenders, and with tempers already flaring, the next time these two battle for position, fans can expect fireworks.
News in Brief: Chandler Smith North Wilkesboro win
With this win, Chandler Smith now sits second in the championship standings, closing the gap to Heim, who retains the points lead by just 47. The victory brings Smith’s career total to seven in the Truck Series and strengthens his bid to make a deep playoff run.
Tyler Ankrum came home third after avoiding late-race chaos, with Daniel Hemric and Grant Enfinger rounding out the top five. Ty Majeski, Giovanni Ruggiero, Kaden Honeycutt, Kyle Busch, and Sammy Smith all finished inside the top 10. Busch, in particular, might have been a factor had he not been hampered by two pit road speeding penalties in just his second Truck Series start of the season.
Post-race inspection confirmed Smith’s win, putting to rest any concerns about legality or setup infractions — a clean end to a chaotic day.
The series now turns its attention to Charlotte Motor Speedway, where the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 awaits next Friday. With momentum on his side and growing confidence behind the wheel, Chandler Smith heads into the next race as a man to watch.
ALSO READ: Chandler Smith’s Disastrous Daytona Crash Forces Garage 66 Into a $100K Nightmare
