Layne Riggs reaches a milestone this weekend with his 50th NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start, carrying momentum that few expected a year ago. The Front Row Motorsports driver has turned a slow rookie beginning into a championship-caliber run, locking into the Round of 8 with a dominant Bristol win. Corey Heim remains the favorite, but Riggs’ steady rise and sharp form now place him squarely in the title conversation as the series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
Key Highlights
- Layne Riggs secured his Round of 8 berth with a 110-lap domination at Bristol.
- Riggs owns three wins in 2025, including Pocono, IRP, and Bristol, proving strength on multiple track types.
- A breakthrough at Gateway in 2024 helped him find the feel needed to compete for wins.
- Riggs says his No. 34 team has “raw speed” comparable to Corey Heim’s top-ranked Tricon Garage squad.
- Saturday’s New Hampshire event marks Riggs’ 50th Truck Series start as he continues his title fight.
Early Struggles and a Gateway Turning Point
Layne Riggs’ rookie year in 2024 began with high expectations but quickly tested his patience. He managed only one top ten in his first nine races, coupled with DNFs at Daytona and Texas. The pressure mounted as he joined a team with a winning history.
“I’m looking at the success that Todd (Gilliland) and Zane (Smith) had in the truck and having to go in the shop every week and look at the win banners. You hear the broadcast people talking about ‘well, this truck should run up front and win races.’ That’s always tough and a little bit of pressure when I’m just trying to kind of get my footing and figure it out.” – Layne Riggs
The turnaround arrived at Gateway. Riggs and crew chief Dylan Cappello made surprising adjustments that unlocked new speed and confidence.
“I kind of had this breakthrough moment during the race. We made some adjustments that were backwards from what I thought we needed. I just really pieced together. I was like, ‘wow, this is the feel I’m looking for.’ After that race, we pretty much started running top five every race and then got our wins and been a contender and threat ever since then.” – Layne Riggs
Building Momentum and Expanding Skill
Riggs’ late-season charge in 2024 produced top fives at IRP and Richmond before his first victory at The Milwaukee Mile. He carried that into the offseason despite organizational changes at Front Row Motorsports, including a shop move and the addition of a second truck.
“It was definitely tough for us because we made the big change, moving shops, added a second truck, building trucks, hiring three times the people we had. It was definitely a little bit of a shock to all of us, but we just kept doing our thing. Now I feel like we’ve gotten stronger from that.” – Layne Riggs
The 2025 season began with steady results, climbing to fifth in points before a signature win at Pocono, where he rejected the short-track-only label.
“I am not labeled a short-track racer anymore. I can do it all. I mean, I’ve proven to be fast on road courses, big tracks, short tracks, speedways. I think I’m kind of an all-around driver.” – Layne Riggs
Standing Up to Corey Heim
Regular-season champion Corey Heim remains the benchmark with eight wins, yet Riggs believes his team’s pace is nearly equal.
“I think just the stopwatch is the biggest tell for everything. We’re right there with performance and speed and feel like we have just as much mojo as they do. I feel like they can execute a little better just because they have more experience. Corey’s fourth or fifth year in the trucks now. They’re a little more consistent and put together races, but I feel like we have the raw speed.” – Layne Riggs
Riggs demonstrated that speed by leading 110 of 250 laps at Bristol, matching Heim’s postseason strength. Phoenix, the championship site, also fits his style.
“We’re really strong at Phoenix. Both times I’ve ran there, I’ve been good. I really like that race track and it all comes down to one race. Anything can happen.” – Layne Riggs
Looking Back, Moving Forward
As he approaches his 50th career start at New Hampshire, Riggs reflects on advice he wishes he could give his rookie self.
“Ride the course, it’s gonna come to you. Don’t question yourself and your abilities. There’s a lot of people telling you that with the struggles, like ‘you’re doing fine. You’re doing everything right.’ It’s just so hard when you look at the stat sheets and don’t really get to see the results pan out, even though you had the speed and the ability to do it. Just keep doing what you’re doing. Stay strong and just believe in yourself and just keep putting that hard work, and then the results will come.” – Layne Riggs
News in Brief: Layne Riggs Marks 50th Start With Momentum to Challenge Corey Heim
Layne Riggs celebrates his 50th Truck Series start at New Hampshire with three 2025 wins and a secure Round of 8 spot. After a rough rookie season, a Gateway breakthrough led to consistent top finishes and victories at Pocono, IRP, and Bristol. Riggs now challenges Corey Heim’s dominance, believing his team matches the favorite in speed and confidence. Watch Saturday’s noon ET race on FS1 and NRN Radio as Riggs aims to continue his title push and prove he can take the championship fight to the final race.
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