Front Row Motorsports delivered a strong performance as Chandler Smith and Layne Riggs secured second and third place finishes, respectively, in the latest round of racing, continuing to demonstrate their capabilities this season. This Front Row Motorsports race report highlights the team’s efforts at the track, the challenges faced by the drivers, and their outlook moving forward.
Smith Shows Strength but Misses Championship Shot
Chandler Smith continued to demonstrate both speed and consistency in his truck, finishing second in the first stage, third in the second, and ultimately crossing the line in second place. He reflected on his bittersweet experience after coming so close to victory, emphasizing his team’s hard work and achievements despite narrowly missing out on a shot at the championship.
“I feel like it’s a little bittersweet, to be honest with you,”
said Smith.
“I had a fast truck that was capable of winning. I started hauling butt there at the end and running down the 11, but it wasn’t in the Lord’s Will today, honestly. I pulled everybody together before the race. We prayed together and I wanted to let them know that I’m proud of them no matter the outcome today. We’ve had so much fun this season and the way this deal came about so late, I felt like honestly, don’t get me wrong, we had the expectation of wanting to go win, but we’ve really accomplished a lot more than I think we all envisioned us to do, so it’s bittersweet. It’s bitter because I would obviously like to race for a championship, but it’s sweet because I know that we have trucks capable of winning every time we show up to the racetrack. It just wasn’t meant to be, it’s as simple as that. We finished 30th at Darlington, which was on me. We had a mechanical issue last week at Bristol and finished 30th again and then came here and finished second. We’ll move on and just try to win these last few races.”
– Chandler Smith, Driver
Smith highlighted recent setbacks, including a poor finish at Darlington due to personal error and a mechanical problem at Bristol, both resulting in 30th-place results. Despite these challenges, he appreciated the team’s progress and their readiness to compete for wins at every track visit, keeping his focus on ending the season positively.
Riggs Achieves Career-Best Result for Team
Layne Riggs delivered a strong drive in his first appearance at the track, working up from 18th in Stage One to finishing fourth in Stage Two, and ultimately securing third place at the checkered flag. Riggs acknowledged the challenges in adapting to the course and the importance of teamwork in achieving Front Row Motorsports’ double podium finish.
“I feel like this was a solid day. It wasn’t the truck’s fault, like the chassis and truck itself, we just kind of missed the setup,”
said Riggs.
“I’ve never been here before. I feel like the sim didn’t really 100 percent correlate, so that kind of screwed me up in practice and just kind of missed the front end. It didn’t really turn as good as it needed to all day, so we were a third-place truck and did what we were supposed to do and finished third. I tried to be a good teammate trying to help Chandler get in. I wish he could have gotten the win, but just glad both Front Row Motorsports trucks were fast at the end and in contention for it.”
– Layne Riggs, Driver
Despite limited experience at the location and some difficulties in practice, Riggs was pleased with the outcome, highlighting his efforts to support Smith in the closing laps and the collective strength of the team during the event.
What This Means for Front Row Motorsports and the Season Ahead
This double podium marks a statement of intent from Front Row Motorsports as they continue to pursue strong results in the current season. While Chandler Smith will not compete for the championship after earlier setbacks at Darlington and Bristol, his runner-up finish demonstrates the truck’s pace and the team’s determination to close out the remaining races with victories. Layne Riggs’ performance, especially as a newcomer at the track, suggests that the team may field multiple contenders in upcoming races.
Looking forward, Front Row Motorsports will focus on maintaining this momentum in the last rounds, hoping to convert competitive showings into wins and to further showcase their progress throughout the year. With drivers like Smith and Riggs at the wheel and strong teamwork present, the organization is poised to remain a force in the series’ closing phase.
