Front Row Motorsports turned in a standout performance at the Richmond race, as Layne Riggs battled through a challenging field to secure a strong third-place result in the NASCAR Truck Series regular season finale. This Front Row Motorsports Richmond Race Report highlights the team‘s playoff momentum and the critical moments that shaped their night as the playoff battle intensifies.
Strong Start and Strategic Racing Fuel Riggs’ Run
Layne Riggs began the night showing promising speed despite limited confidence from practice, climbing to second in Stage One before finishing tenth in Stage Two. Riggs maneuvered through unpredictable strategies and tire gambles that made the outcome uncertain, but kept the No. 38 ford/”>Ford F-150 near the front as the field cycled through restarts and incidents.
During the race, Riggs observed ups and downs, including an unexpected shuffle when another contender spun and managed to line up ahead of him after the caution. Riggs maintained focus and composure, crediting the Front Row Motorsports crew for delivering a resilient truck that helped him finish second in regular season points standings—matching the team‘s target going into the night.
“It was a strong night for us. I didn’t think we were that great in practice, so to turn around and have a strong performance like that and even at some glimpses in the race feel like I was the best on the racetrack,”
said Riggs.
“We had just a good overall day and, in my opinion, that’s what champions are made of. The strategy was so crazy there that it’s really fun as a driver getting put in situations if you’re on old tires or new tires and going forward and falling back. It’s kind of crazy. The 98 spun out and somehow lined up in front of us still, which amazes me, but hat’s off to everybody at Front Row Motorsports. This Love’s Travel Stops Ford F-150 was a good truck, but not a winning truck, so we’ve got to do a little bit of work. It was a good, solid night. We finished second in regular season points. That was really our goal coming into today was to do that and get as many playoff points as we could, so we accomplished that and I’m really happy about that.”
—Layne Riggs, Driver
Chandler Smith Pushes Forward Despite Setbacks
Chandler Smith also delivered a notable drive for Front Row Motorsports, finishing ninth despite not matching earlier-season performances. He placed fifth in Stage One and eighth in Stage Two but acknowledged difficulties in finding the team’s early-season pace since Charlotte.
Smith explained that the team has been searching for its competitive edge over recent races and is focused on regaining momentum as the postseason approaches.
“I’m definitely proud of the effort of everybody on this No. 38 team,”
said Smith.
“It’s certainly not the day we wanted. Honestly, we’ve missed it since probably about Charlotte, just kind of slowly went downhill a little bit and haven’t been able to find our way back to where we were at the start of the year. We’re just trying to get our momentum back on our side going into the playoffs, going into Darlington and start off on the right foot.”
—Chandler Smith, Driver
Front Row Motorsports Sets Sights on Playoff Success
With both Layne Riggs and Chandler Smith finishing strongly at Richmond, Front Row Motorsports heads into the playoff rounds with renewed purpose. Coming off a dramatic and emotional regular season closer, the team’s focus now shifts to refining their strategy and aiming for continued improvement on tracks like Darlington.
As the NASCAR Truck Series playoffs begin, the efforts of drivers Riggs and Smith, along with the support of the entire team, keep Front Row Motorsports firmly in the conversation as they strive for championship contention and further highlight their presence in one of the sport’s most competitive stretches.
