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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 11: Layne Riggs, driver of the #34 Love’s RV STOP Ford, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 11, 2025 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Layne Riggs had a positive weekend at Talladega. This is a testament to the fact that hard work can overcome adversity. One of the pre-race penalties was what put the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford in the non-qualifier position before the race. This forces Riggs to start last.
Playoff driver Layne Riggs was penalized just ahead of qualifying at Talladega. Find out more on The Daily Downforcehttps://t.co/gMwZ0zNsxZ pic.twitter.com/UVUqUOH6QS
— The Daily Downforce (@dailydownforce) October 17, 2025
“He overcame so many obstacles all day to get the fifth-place run,” an analyst said after the race, and that pretty much summed up Layne Riggs’ performance.
Layne Riggs’ tough day continues as he’s on pit road with a flat tire. He rallied back from an earlier incident, and he’ll need to do so once again.
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) October 17, 2025
Early trouble came when officials found an unapproved tweak during inspection. The team lost their qualifying spot, and the truck had to line up at the rear. From there, Riggs had to slice through the field while avoiding the chaos that Talladega is famous for.
Riggs also had one terrifying moment when another driver, Chandler, gave him a heavy push that nearly sent both of them wrecking.
“Chandler gave me a pretty bad push getting into the corner down here, we both wrecked, you know,” Riggs recalled. Luckily, the truck stayed in one piece. “I’m just glad it was in one piece,” he added with a sigh of relief.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoff Push
Riggs played the long game. Instead of forcing his way through dangerous gaps, he held the bottom line and waited for the top to fall apart, a smart move at a place like Talladega. He didn’t earn any stage points, and he admitted he was “really bummed” about that. But finishing strong mattered more than anything else.
The fifth-place finish was huge. Riggs is one of the eight drivers still chasing the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship, and this result kept him alive in the playoff race. Heading into the Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway, he’s just one point below the cutline, well within reach of the Championship 4.
“A lot better than it could have been,” Riggs said, relieved after the checkered flag. His words reflected both gratitude and determination after a long, tense race.
Riggs also made sure to give his team the credit they deserved. “Big thanks to everybody for our motorsports started shotgun on the field went back a few times at their end,” he said, recognizing how Front Row Motorsports helped him stay competitive despite the early penalty.
Resilience and Momentum
Talladega pushes every driver and team to the edge. It’s fast, wild, and full of surprises. But Layne Riggs stayed cool. He kept his focus when things got crazy. He made smart moves and kept his truck safe when others didn’t. That mix of patience and courage turned a rough start into a great finish.
Now the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series moves to Martinsville. Riggs has momentum and confidence on his side. He’s shown that no setback is too big, and no starting spot too far back, when skill and heart are behind the wheel.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
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