In a remarkable culmination of a standout racing weekend, Layne Riggs claimed his first-ever pole position and subsequently dominated the final 20 laps of the MillerTech Battery 200. This victory marked Riggs' first win of the season in the highly competitive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, kicking off a thrilling tripleheader weekend at Pocono Raceway. Driving the No. 34 Ford for Front Row Motorsports, Riggs crossed the finish line 3.64 seconds ahead of Tanner Gray, a driver for Tricon Garage, securing his third career series win.
Riggs showcased impressive speed throughout the day, consistently challenging the championship leader, Corey Heim. As the race approached a critical restart with only 19 laps remaining, Heim's No. 11 Toyota suffered a flat tire, forcing him to pit just as the green flag waved. This incident allowed Carson Hocevar, a seasoned driver from the NASCAR Cup Series, to take the lead temporarily. However, Hocevar was penalized for a restart violation, paving the way for Riggs to capitalize on the situation.
“That’s just a testament to this team, that thing was bad fast, especially that last run right there,” said Riggs, reflecting on the performance of his team. The 23-year-old, son of former NASCAR Cup Series star Scott Riggs, expressed mixed feelings about Heim's misfortune but emphasized his joy in seizing the opportunity. “I’m a happy man right now. This is not what I had circled. Last year, we wrecked in practice, didn’t qualify, and ran dead last all day. And today we were the best. It’s amazing,” he added.
Prior to the tire incident, Heim had been poised for another impressive performance, leading a race-best 48 of the 90 laps and achieving an all-time series record with his 12th stage win. Riggs, however, maintained competitive pressure and even secured a stage win himself, positioning him perfectly to take advantage of the unfolding drama. Kaden Honeycutt, who started on the front row alongside Riggs, finished a strong third in the No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet.
The top five was rounded out by Brandon Jones in the No. 1 Tricon Garage Toyota and Daniel Hemric in the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet. Other notable finishes included rookie Connor Mosack, Riggs’ teammate Chandler Smith, Stewart Friesen, reigning series champion Ty Majeski, and Rajah Caruth, all of whom completed the top 10. Meanwhile, Heim finished the race in 23rd place but still holds a significant lead in the championship standings, 124 points ahead of Smith.
With this victory, Layne Riggs secured the seventh playoff position based on race wins, as the series gears up for the final four regular-season races. These races will determine which 10 drivers will compete for the coveted Craftsman Truck Series Championship. Next on the schedule is the inaugural The LIUNA 150 at the historic Lime Rock Park road course in Lakeville, Connecticut, set to take place next Saturday at 1 p.m. ET, broadcasted on FOX and available on NASCAR Racing Network Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
In conclusion, the post-race inspection in the Craftsman Truck Series garage confirmed Layne Riggs as the official winner, solidifying his remarkable achievement at Pocono Raceway.
