Layne Riggs experienced a disappointing ending in the Phoenix NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series finale, where a late caution dashed his hopes for a win and owners’ championship for Front Row Motorsports. Entering the race with momentum and the focus keyword, Layne Riggs Phoenix NASCAR finish, Riggs saw his strong performance hindered by a sequence of late-race events that changed the outcome at Avondale‘s Phoenix Raceway on October 31.
Strong Start Offset by Early Setbacks
Coming into Friday’s showdown, Riggs had just missed a shot at the Championship 4 following a narrow tiebreaker loss to Kaden Honeycutt at Martinsville Speedway, but he was still aiming for his fourth season victory and an owners’ title for his team. Riggs nailed the pole position, signaling he had one of the fastest trucks on the track. However, a pre-race inspection violation resulted in the ejection of his crew chief and a pass-through penalty, pushing Riggs to the rear at the start.
Despite the setback, Riggs stayed calm and managed to remain on the lead lap. After stage one, he found himself back in the hunt near the front of the field, thanks to the pace and resilience shown by the No. 34 truck. Expressing gratitude to his team for their efforts under pressure, Riggs stated,
Thank you to Front Row Motorsports and their fight,
Riggs said.
I know we had a pretty rough day today and having to start in the rear.
Strategic Moves Propel Riggs into the Lead
Facing an uphill battle, Riggs steadily climbed through the field, running fifth with 40 laps to go. A caution at lap 112 allowed teams to reconsider their strategies, and the No. 34 team decided to pit for four fresh tires. That gamble paid off as Riggs surged to the lead with 24 laps remaining. The absence of both his crew chief and car chief led Riggs’ engineer, Jonathan Coates, to step up and call the shots for the first time.
He did an amazing job. Jonathan Coates; really, really proud of that guy. He’s going to be a crew chief one day.
Late-Race Caution Alters Outcome in Final Laps
With just five laps to go and the advantage of newer tires, Riggs appeared in control of the race. However, his hopes were abruptly interrupted by a controversial caution when Connor Mosack, after suffering a tire rub, continued on track, only for the tire to fail and send him into the inside wall. The yellow flag that followed changed the entire complexion of the finish.
The incident prompted officials to call Mosack, his crew chief Blake Bainbridge, and spotter Derek Kneeland to the NASCAR hauler for post-race discussions. While reporting on the scene, Stephen Stumpf relayed,
Made it to the 81 hauler under red, a crew member told me “he’s not gonna talk.”— Stephen Stumpf (@stephen_stumpf) November 1, 2025
#NASCAR is calling Connor Mosack, crew chief (Blake Bainbridge), and spotter (Derek Kneeland) to the hauler post-race.— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) November 1, 2025
When the dust settled, the race restarted with Riggs and his competitors using different tire strategies. Ty Majeski and Kaden Honeycutt, focused on the same title chase as Riggs, went for just two tires and moved ahead, while Corey Heim, also on four tires, lined up near Riggs for the shootout.
The closing laps saw Heim surge to the front, taking the checkered flag and clinching the race win along with both the drivers’ and owners’ championships. Ty Majeski and Honeycutt finished second and third, while Riggs had to settle for fourth place in the race and in the owners’ standings, despite having led and been poised for the win until the caution changed the outcome. Reacting to the final twist, Riggs expressed his frustration:
I really didn’t want to see that last caution,
Riggs said.
Corey Heim’s Triple Triumph and Riggs’ Respect for a Champion
While the outcome was difficult for Riggs and his team, he showed sportsmanship by acknowledging Corey Heim’s remarkable season, which included a record 12 victories and the series championship. Reflecting on their battles throughout the year and the lessons learned, Riggs commented,
(Corey) taught me a whole lot,
Riggs said.
I’ve enjoyed it. We raced late models together for a long time. Obviously we had our scuffles here and there, but that’s all in good racing. In the end he won, and he’s a great representation of a champion. He’s done a lot of good things and won a lot of races. Hopefully it’s me next year.
Looking Ahead: Riggs Aims for Redemption in 2026
With the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series now over, Riggs is already anticipating another strong campaign with Front Row Motorsports and the No. 34 team. Determined to address the challenges that cost him this season’s titles, Riggs is setting his sights on preparing for a renewed title run in 2026. He emphasized his commitment with,
Happy to be back with this No. 34 truck,
Riggs said.
We’ve got to clean some things up if we’re going to try to execute to win a championship, but this year we definitely learned a lot and what not to do.
The dramatic Layne Riggs Phoenix NASCAR finish not only highlighted the intensity and unpredictability of racing at this level but also set the stage for what promises to be another fiercely contested season next year as Riggs and Front Row Motorsports look to turn hard-earned lessons into championship success.
Layne Riggs, who is fighting for the #NASCAR Truck Series owner's championship tonight for @Team_FRM will begin the night behind the eight ball following pre-race inspection issues. From #NASCAR: pic.twitter.com/tWfV3Q4yGk
— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) October 31, 2025
Made it to the 81 hauler under red, a crew member told me “he’s not gonna talk.”
— Stephen Stumpf (@stephen_stumpf) November 1, 2025
#NASCAR is calling Connor Mosack, crew chief (Blake Bainbridge), and spotter (Derek Kneeland) to the hauler post-race.
— Joseph Srigley (@joe_srigley) November 1, 2025
