Layne Riggs ignited fierce controversy after a dramatic last-lap clash with Corey Heim during the North Wilkesboro Truck race on May 17, 2025, upending what seemed a certain victory for Heim and setting off heated post-race exchanges between the two drivers. The incident unfolded at North Wilkesboro Speedway, where Heim, the 22-year-old frontrunner and season’s only repeat winner, appeared destined to maintain his dominant record before Riggs’ aggressive maneuver changed the outcome in the final moments.
Corey Heim started the race on pole and quickly established control, leading a remarkable 162 out of 255 laps in the Window World 250. Throughout much of the contest, Heim maintained a comfortable lead, apparently extending the momentum he had built all season. Layne Riggs, however, steadily closed the gap as the laps ticked down, targeting vulnerability in Heim’s position, spurred on by both competitive fire and the heightened stakes of the championship race.
The pivotal moment came as both drivers raced hard through Turns 1 and 2, echoing an earlier, tense restart altercation between them. Previously, Heim had offered a sarcastic word of thanks to Riggs for an aggressive move, but few expected the tension would escalate so sharply. On the final lap, with victory within reach, Riggs’ No. 34 Ford made contact with Heim’s No. 11 Toyota, sending Heim spinning before Turn 3 and drastically dropping him to a 17th-place finish, despite having led the most laps and running at the front for nearly the entire race.
In the immediate aftermath, emotions ran high as Heim confronted Riggs on pit road, warning him bluntly:
The fiery exchange was quickly picked up by media and fans, rapidly circulating online and intensifying scrutiny on Riggs’ driving style. Heim, with 14 Truck Series wins to his name, did not skirt his frustrations, underlining the seriousness with which he views such confrontations on the track.
Amid the controversy, Layne Riggs completed the race in second place, while his Front Row Motorsports teammate Chandler Smith seized the win, making Smith the season’s second repeat winner. The points battle remains tight, with Heim maintaining the lead in the standings with 450 points, three wins, and six top-five finishes after ten races. Riggs, buoyed by his North Wilkesboro performance, climbed to eighth position in the standings, with three top-fives and four top-tens, signaling he remains in the thick of the playoff hunt.
Adding further fuel to the issue, Heim had expressed concern ahead of the race over what he described as Riggs’ “scum racing” tactics, citing a previous incident where Riggs nearly wrecked Carson Hocevar. These ongoing friction points have marked Riggs as a divisive figure this season, and his contentious approach drew both criticism and support from within the paddock and among fans.
The fallout from North Wilkesboro is likely to influence future races, as Layne Riggs finds himself under closer scrutiny for his aggressive maneuvers while Corey Heim, despite a disappointing finish, remains a championship favorite. As tensions run high and both drivers defend their reputations, the stage is set for further conflicts and dramatic showdowns as the Truck Series pushes deeper into its 2025 campaign.
