NORTH WILKEBORO, N.C. – To say Layne Riggs has had a season from hell is an understatement.
Whether it’s been crashes, disqualifications, or flat-out poor runs, Riggs and the 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions of Front Row Motorsports have not found any mojo this season.
However, perhaps a third-place finish at North Wilkesboro Speedway will be the turning point of the No. 38 team’s season.
The 24 Hours of North Wilkesboro (also known as the Wright Brand 250) began Saturday (May 18) before being halted and postponed after 81 laps for what felt like a hurricane over the track, as turn 1 and pit exit were submerged underwater.
At the time, Riggs was running 19th after failing to score any points in stage one.
“It was so tough to make a good guess on what adjustments to make,” Riggs said after the race. “You pit so early on in the race and you’ve just got to predict what the track’s going to change like.”
However, Riggs’ short-track prowess allowed him to fight his way toward the front when the race went back green on Sunday morning (May 19). By the end of stage two, he scored some points with a fifth-place run.
While race winner Corey Heim seemed untouchable in the final stage, Riggs held his own in second for the majority of the closing laps. Despite pressure from the likes of Grant Enfinger, Brenden Queen, Sammy Smith and Christian Eckes, Riggs only gave up one position to Enfinger and fended off the rest to finish third.
The finish matches his career-best from Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park last season. It’s also his season-best finish. His only other top-10 finish this season came at Bristol Motor Speedway, another short track.
For the second-generation NASCAR driver, it’s a moment of relief, knowing that a result like that is more indicative of what the team can do.
“We should deserve to finish up here every single weekend,” Riggs said. “Just glad that we could finally do it.”
Riggs and Queen, who finished fourth, led the charge amongst short track and zMAX CARS Tour drivers. Even on a repaved North Wilkesboro, the cream rose to the top.
“It really shows how all your short track background works out,” Riggs said. “I think a couple laps on the track here [with the CARS Tour] on Tuesday (May 14) and Wednesday (May 15) definitely helped us out for this race.”
Riggs also said the fresh repave allowed the drivers to move around the track more than…
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