Layne Riggs achieved a groundbreaking victory by securing his first-ever NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win on a street course, triumphing in the inaugural OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 held in downtown St. Petersburg. Riggs’ determination and racecraft helped him fend off Ty Majeski and Ben Rhodes, making his Layne Riggs NASCAR street course win a remarkable moment in racing history on Saturday.
Riggs Battles From Deep in the Field for Victory
Starting from 28th out of 36 starters, Layne Riggs wasted no time charging through the competitive field in his No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford. By the close of the opening stage, Riggs was already in seventh position. In the second 20-lap segment, he surged ahead to claim the stage win, setting himself up for the crucial final run. With just eight laps remaining, Riggs admitted that his fuel light was illuminated, raising concerns about whether he’d make it to the finish. Nevertheless, he managed his pace and fuel consumption masterfully, ultimately leading a race-high 41 laps out of 80.
The race on St. Petersburg’s 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit showcased high speeds and relentless action, culminating in Riggs crossing the line less than a second ahead of Majeski for the sixth victory of his Truck Series career. As the checkered flag waved, Riggs celebrated with burnouts on the streets before the cheering crowd, marking not only his first win of the season but also his initial road course triumph.
Drivers Reflect on a Competitive Debut Street Course
The atmosphere in St. Petersburg was electric. Under sunny skies, fans packed the waterfront venue for the series’ first attempt at a street course event. Drivers commented on the excitement and challenges of racing in such an environment, which featured three notable passing zones and demanded discipline and precision.
“It was a lot of fun racing here at St. Pete, I think everybody heard street course and thought they weren’t going to be able to pass and there wouldn’t be great side-by-side racing, but this was one of the race-iest tracks we’ve ever gone to at least in the truck series in my time,”
Layne Riggs said.
“It was a lot of fun.”
— Layne Riggs, Driver
Riggs embraced his new status as a road racer, highlighting how meaningful it was to compete and triumph against renowned competitors.
“I call myself a road racer now,”
he added with a smile, noting this was only his fifth career road course race of any kind in his life.
“It’s amazing to race so many well-known guys, going past some and knowing these guys are road course ringers and we were faster today.”
— Layne Riggs, Driver
Ty Majeski, the series champion, gained ground in the closing laps as Riggs dealt with lapped traffic, but a late misstep at Turn 13 cost him a final shot at the win. Nevertheless, Majeski praised the course and the competitive nature of the event.
“It was probably the most fun I’ve had in a race car in a long time,”
said the 2024 series champion Majeski.
“A lot of fun. It’s a racey race track with three good passing zones and rewards discipline.”
— Ty Majeski, Driver
“Just finding that balance between being aggressive and making mistakes and staying disciplined,”
Majeski said of his day, which included two laps out front and that runner-up finish after starting 22nd. — Ty Majeski, Driver
Ben Rhodes, after leading early and finishing third, emphasized the physical and strategic demands late in the race.
“That’s all we had in the tank for our F150 here, literally I was running out of gas those last two laps,”
said Rhodes, who now has a pair of top-five finishes through the opening three races of the 2026 season. — Ben Rhodes, Driver
“Really proud of Ford Racing for bringing us a fast truck. Our truck’s in one-piece and a lot of these trucks aren’t. Very excited though. Brand new truck and a good showing for it.”
— Ben Rhodes, Driver
Notable Performances and Diverse Field
The OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 featured an eclectic mix of competitors, including accomplished drivers from other racing disciplines. Former IndyCar stars Dario Franchitti and James Hinchcliffe, joined by IMSA regular Colin Braun, added depth to the field. Braun, piloting Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 RAM Truck, led that trio with a ninth-place finish, while Hinchcliffe placed tenth for Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. Franchitti, a three-time Indy 500 winner, ended 27th after a late pit stop dropped him a lap down.
Ford teams dominated the day, clinching the top four positions. Riggs’ Front Row Motorsports teammate Chandler Smith finished fourth after leading seven laps, and TRICON Garage’s Kaden Honeycutt completed the top five driving a Toyota. Landen Lewis and Andres Perez De Lara delivered strong results for Niece Motorsports, taking sixth and seventh respectively. Daniel Hemric joined Braun and Hinchcliffe in rounding out the top ten for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing.
Riggs, reflecting on his journey and the achievement, appreciated the support and teamwork that propelled him to victory.
“I think the overall headliner is that a Bahamian, North Carolina boy won on a road course against some of the best in the world,”
a grinning Riggs said.
“It’s a testament to everyone at Front Row Motorsports and a shout out to [sports car driver] Joey Hand who did a lot of work with me.”
— Layne Riggs, Driver
Fan Atmosphere and Future Outlook
The success of the event did not go unnoticed, with the packed grandstands highlighting the popularity of the new street course format. Riggs acknowledged the enthusiastic crowd and the quality of the racing witnessed in St. Petersburg.
“It is an amazing place to come and I don’t know why we couldn’t come back next year … I couldn’t believe how packed the grandstands were and I thought it was one of the best road course races the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has ever seen,”
Riggs said of running the double-header weekend along with the IndyCar Series, which races Sunday.
“Thank you to all the fans for coming out.”
— Layne Riggs, Driver
The championship standings saw Chandler Smith climb into the series lead, now holding a 34-point advantage over Ben Rhodes, a former two-time champion. As teams look ahead, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will resume competition on March 20 for the Buckle Up South Carolina at Darlington Raceway, where 2025 series champion Corey Heim is the defending winner.
Layne Riggs NASCAR street course win in St. Petersburg has not only made history for himself but has also set an exciting precedent for street racing in the series, with drivers, teams, and fans eager for what comes next.
