The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Round of 8 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval saw chaos unfold almost instantly, setting the scene for high drama as the playoffs got underway. The Layne Riggs NASCAR playoff crash occurred in the opening laps, tangling several contenders—including Riggs and Grant Enfinger—and upending the standings in a race defined by costly errors and raw emotions.
The Charlotte Roval’s debut as a Truck Series venue promised intense action, and it delivered immediately when a multi-car collision at ‘Calamity Corner‘ involved Riggs, Enfinger, Corey Heim, and later Kaden Honeycutt. Riggs, who lined up second on the grid, was pushed into the side of pole leader Heim after the No. 9 truck of Enfinger hit him, sending both into the barriers before the field could settle. This abrupt start shattered Riggs’ chances despite his attempts to earn stage points later in the race, leaving him angry and frustrated.
Layne Riggs Voices Outrage Over Opening Lap Incident
Once he exited his damaged No. 34 Ford, Layne Riggs, representing Front Row Motorsports, expressed his frustrations without reservation. The incident marked the second time in the season that Enfinger had been involved in a road course collision with Riggs, the first occurring at Watkins Glen. Riggs spoke to reporters, making his stance crystal clear:
“Just got wrecked by the 9. I don’t really understand what his thought process is. People say you’re supposed to take advice from the veterans and learn from them of how to race, and they race worse out of anybody. That’s twice this year that we’ve gotten wrecked by the 9 truck – at Watkins Glen and here. Two road courses. Two separate incidents. Two blatantly wrong on his part,”
he told post race, via NASCAR’s official website.
Enfinger Accepts Responsibility for First-Lap Crash
In the aftermath of the Turn 1 collision, Grant Enfinger conceded responsibility for the melee. As he explained, his misjudgment of the corner while attempting to slot his CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet into position triggered the chain reaction. Enfinger’s account reflected his regret and acknowledged the impact on both Riggs and Heim.
“I was trying to get clear into the second row bottom there. I thought we were still driving into the corner and 100% cleaned out Layne and Corey. I apologize to those guys. Obviously, it wasn’t intentional. I looked like a fool doing that. I was still planning on driving in at least another car length or two and about the time I was turning down, Layne started checking up to hit the corner and I just smoked them.”
Riggs’ Standings Take a Hit as Race Slips Away
Following the crash, Layne Riggs managed to continue and collect some stage points, but his truck was well off the pace, and a late mechanical problem forced him to finish 21st. Enfinger, meanwhile, recovered to place seventh. For Riggs, the disappointing outcome stung even more considering he entered the Charlotte race sitting second in playoff points, 22 above the elimination line. After this dramatic swing, he left the event trailing by a single point, falling just outside the Championship 4 cutoff as the title hunt tightened.
Sparks Fly Again as Enfinger Collides with Honeycutt Late
The tumult didn’t end in the opening laps for Grant Enfinger. Near the end of the Ecosave 250, as the field jostled for final positions, Enfinger engaged in more contact—this time with Kaden Honeycutt at Turn 7 on the event’s concluding lap. Honeycutt, who had dominated early by winning both stages, found himself spun and relegated to 14th at the finish, his strong performance all but erased.
After the incident, Honeycutt expressed his struggle to stay composed about the situation:
“It is so hard to hold my tongue about this. I don’t understand why stuff like this happens. All year, we’ve ran good and just had no results. It is what it is, but thankfully we are only four under, so it could be a whole lot worse.”
Enfinger once again claimed the incident was an unfortunate racing situation rather than intent, describing it as a ‘racing deal.’ Nonetheless, the damage had been done, and tempers ran high downstream of both major crash events that altered the playoff picture.
Playoff Landscape Tighter Than Ever as Series Heads to Talladega
Corey Heim managed to escape the chaos and secure a record-breaking 10th win, which locked him into the Championship 4. The rest of the playoff competitors now find themselves in a battle separated by just five points. With Layne Riggs, Grant Enfinger, and Kaden Honeycutt all at risk—and with only a razor-thin margin separating those on either side of the elimination line—the pressure is mounting. The upcoming race at Talladega Superspeedway offers no room for error, promising further drama as drivers fight for their championship hopes in the closing rounds.
The incidents at Charlotte serve as a reminder of just how volatile and intense playoff racing in the NASCAR Truck Series can be, with careers and titles hanging in the balance at every corner and every clash.
The green flag flies at the ROVAL, but we have trouble early!
Multiple playoff drivers are involved. pic.twitter.com/88GmWzQYhk
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) October 3, 2025
