Layne Riggs showed speed right from the start. Cory Day made a strong move late. A veteran reached a milestone, but not all went as planned. The race had moments of calm and chaos, with one part of the field going five-wide into Turn 1. Tire choices, clean racing, and quick passes shaped how the night played out. It wasn’t just about winning—it was about how it happened across 200 laps at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Key Highlights
Layne Riggs won both stages and the race at IRP, leading 160 laps.
Stewart Friesen challenged for the lead on his 200th start but faded late.
Cory Day posted a career-best second-place finish in just his 11th start.
Ty Majeski struggled with tire spin and handling all night.
Only one caution for incident occurred during the race.
Layne Riggs Takes Control Early
From the moment the green flag waved at Indianapolis, Layne Riggs was in command. After quickly overtaking Chandler Smith and Cory Heim, Riggs positioned his No. 34 truck wherever it needed to be—low or high—and maintained a relentless pace. He showed both adaptability and aggression, choosing the right lines at the right time and managing his tires with precision.
Even early battles with veterans like Heim didn’t shake him. A standout moment came when Riggs swung high to retake the lead from Heim, refusing to be boxed in on the low side. That move defined the night’s theme: a young driver out-racing the field, lap after lap.
Stage Sweeps and Calm in the Chaos
Layne Riggs collected his fifth and sixth stage wins of the season by sweeping Stage 1 and Stage 2, padding his playoff point total. But the night wasn’t entirely smooth sailing behind him.
Aggressive short-track conditions led to frantic multi-wide battles deeper in the field. At one point, drivers went five-wide into Turn 1, a rare sight even for IRP. Yet through all the chaos, Riggs kept a comfortable lead and avoided trouble.
The race featured only one caution for incident—an unusually clean outcome given the hectic racing. That one moment came during Stage 2 and didn’t affect Riggs’ rhythm. In fact, he capitalized on every restart to extend his advantage further.
Stewart Friesen Fights, But Tire Strategy Fails
Veteran Stewart Friesen looked poised to challenge for the win on his 200th Truck Series start, which also happened to fall on his birthday. On a later restart, he even managed to pass Riggs briefly, showcasing a smart move on fresher tires. But his advantage was short-lived.
Riggs hunted him down with relentless lap times, closing gaps and making the pass stick once again. Despite Friesen’s best efforts, including a crossover move in the closing laps, Riggs simply had the better truck over the long run.
As the race wore on, Friesen faded behind younger challengers, unable to hold off the charge from rising talent Cory Day.
Cory Day Impresses Again
Making just his 11th career start in the Truck Series, 19-year-old Cory Day continued to build his reputation. After a career-best top-five finish at Nashville, Day returned to the track for the first time in over a month—and immediately picked up where he left off.
He methodically moved through the field and passed Friesen to secure second place late in the race. Though he was the fastest truck on track at times, lap traffic and limited laps left kept him from fully catching Riggs.
Still, his performance turned heads once again. As the season progresses, Day is quickly becoming a name to watch among the next wave of NASCAR talent.
A Clean Finish and a Confident Future
With five laps to go, while the battle for top 10 raged behind him—featuring hard chargers like Ross Chastain, Tyler Ankrum, and Raja Caruth—Riggs remained untouched up front. His only concern was a potential late caution, the kind that could flip a dominant race upside down. But it never came.
The field raced clean to the end, and Riggs took the white flag with a sizable lead. Cruising down the front stretch, he had enough time to wave at his crew before crossing the line for his second victory of the season.
The win wasn’t just about points or pride—it was a complete team effort. The pit crew kept things tidy, the truck setup was flawless, and Riggs executed like a seasoned veteran. It was a message to the rest of the field: this team has found something.
News in Brief: Full Race Highlights from the TSport 200
Layne Riggs dominated at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, winning both stages and leading 160 of 200 laps for a commanding victory. Cory Day impressed with a career-best second-place finish, while Stewart Friesen briefly challenged but faded late in his 200th start. The race was unusually clean, with only one caution, and featured intense battles deep in the field.
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