Layne Riggs wins 2025 Pocono NASCAR Truck race after a dramatic series of incidents in the final laps at Pocono Raceway, securing a 3.6-second margin over runner-up Tanner Gray. Racing for Front Row Motorsports and guiding the No. 34 Ford, Riggs became the first Ford driver since Ryan Blaney in 2013 to take the checkered flag in a Truck event at this venue. His win on Friday marked his third career triumph but was his first of the 2025 season.
After climbing from his truck, Riggs praised the effort behind his victory, crediting both his team and the performance of his vehicle during the decisive closing run.
“That’s just a testament to this team,”
said Riggs.
“This thing was bad fast, especially that last run. I really hate that the #11 [Heim] fell out. Not sure what the #7 [Hocevar] was doing on the restart there, but I made sure to take advantage of it. Not really sure why we slowed down 30mph in the restart zone but hey, I’m a happy man right now … I’m on cloud nine. This is not one I had circled. Like I said, last year we wrecked in practice, didn’t qualify, and ran around dead last all day. Today, we were the best. That’s amazing.”
—Layne Riggs, Driver
Turn of Events Prevents Heim and Hocevar from Clinching the Win
Throughout much of the race, Corey Heim and Carson Hocevar appeared to be the drivers to beat. Riggs originally captured Stage 1 only after both Heim and Hocevar elected to short-pit, temporarily dropping them behind in track position. Heim surged back to win the second stage, and with fewer than 40 laps remaining, he remained firmly in control, suggesting a likely victory for his Toyota team.
A key moment arrived with 32 laps to go, as a major collision in the Tunnel Turn eliminated several contenders including Grant Enfinger, Ben Rhodes, Tyler Ankrum, Dawson Sutton, Conner Jones, and Clayton Green in a chaotic, multi-truck wreck. As the field regrouped under caution, Riggs found himself directly alongside Heim for the lead as the race approached a tense restart.
Shortly after the multi-truck crash, Jake Garcia also spun on a restart, yet remarkably, no others were caught up in the incident. At this stage, Heim still retained command, holding off Riggs. Suddenly, just before bringing the field back to green, Heim reported a problem—revealed to be a flat tire—which forced him to veer out of the lead and onto pit road, removing a key competitor from the front of the pack.
This development placed Hocevar on the front row for the next restart, but the official control truck position belonged to Riggs. In the subsequent moments, Hocevar surged ahead before Turn 1, gaining an unauthorized advantage. Officials quickly penalized Hocevar for jumping the restart, requiring him to serve a drive-through penalty and leaving Riggs out front for the remaining laps.
Finishing Order and Notable Performances
Behind Layne Riggs, Tanner Gray secured second place, followed by Kaden Honeycutt in third, Brandon Jones in fourth, and Daniel Hemric completing the top five positions. The rest of the top ten included Connor Mosack, Chandler Smith, Stewart Friesen, Ty Majeski, and Rajah Caruth, all of whom managed to avoid the late-race incidents to collect valuable finishes for their respective teams.
Carson Hocevar, despite his penalty and determined charge, finished 13th, while Corey Heim, after leading 48 of the 80 laps, ended a disappointing 24th due to his late tire issue. Actor and part-time racer Frankie Muniz notched a credible result, earning his third top-20 finish of the season and placing 19th at Pocono Raceway.
Implications for the Season and What Lies Ahead
The results at Pocono Raceway significantly alter the outlook for the 2025 NASCAR Truck Series, especially given Layne Riggs’ breakthrough win after a challenging 2024 performance at the same track. The misfortune for frontrunners like Corey Heim and Carson Hocevar—each impacted by mechanical issues and penalties—underscores the unpredictable nature of motorsport, where leading for much of the event does not always guarantee victory.
With Riggs now joining the list of Truck Series winners for the season, the championship landscape may see new developments as teams analyze strategies and seek to capitalize on changing fortunes. Front Row Motorsports and its No. 34 Ford crew will likely use this success as momentum into the final races, while rivals such as Tanner Gray, Daniel Hemric, and Kaden Honeycutt remain in close pursuit as the season intensifies.
