Layne Riggs secured a remarkable victory at Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday night, recovering from a first-lap spin to clinch his place in the next round of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs. The Layne Riggs Bristol Truck Series win highlighted a dramatic evening that reshaped the playoff picture.
Riggs Stages Comeback to Capture the Flag
Driving the No. 34 Ford for Front Row Motorsports, Riggs recovered swiftly from his early setback and timed his move to the front perfectly at the start of the final stage. Taking advantage of the outside lane on the restart, he pulled ahead and crossed the finish line 0.759 seconds ahead of his closest challenger. Corey Heim of Tricon Garage appeared to be the main threat late in the race but struggled for track position after restarting on the inside behind Cole Butcher’s No. 62 Halmar-Friesen Racing Toyota, which was running on worn tires.
Race Leaders and Notable Finishes
Following Riggs across the line were Ben Rhodes, Heim, Ty Majeski, and Daniel Hemric, rounding out the top five. The remainder of the top 10 featured Tanner Gray, Connor Mosack, Andrés Pérez de Lara, Corey LaJoie, and Matt Crafton, all delivering strong performances amid the chaos of playoff racing.
Playoff Troubles and Race Incidents
Chandler Smith, Riggs’s teammate at Front Row Motorsports and fellow playoff contender, faced technical setbacks for the second consecutive playoff race. Persistent electrical issues forced Smith into multiple unscheduled pit stops, leaving him to finish in 30th place, 14 laps behind. This difficult result followed an earlier incident at Darlington, where Smith suffered a tire failure and struck the wall hard during the playoff opener.
The night was also marked by an incident early in Stage 2, as playoff drivers Kaden Honeycutt and Tyler Ankrum collided when Honeycutt made contact with the rear of Ankrum’s No. 18 McAnally-Hilgemann Chevrolet, sending it spinning. Ultimately, Honeycutt ended the night in 12th, while Ankrum finished 20th.
Mechanical Setbacks and Stage 1 Winner
Stage 1 winner Jake Garcia, piloting the No. 13 ThorSport Racing Ford, was a contender early on but saw his fortunes fade after being forced to pit during the second stage due to power steering problems. Garcia finished in 33rd place, 31 laps down, a disappointing result after a promising start.
What’s Next for the Truck Series Playoffs
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series continues its postseason journey next Saturday, September 20, with the Round of 10 cutoff event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. With several key drivers, including Riggs, Ben Rhodes, Corey Heim, Ty Majeski, and Daniel Hemric, having posted strong results at Bristol, fans and teams alike will closely watch to see who advances as the championship battle intensifies.
