In the recent Richmond NCTS race, Layne Riggs showcased a remarkable display of driving skill, securing a third-place finish after coming in second in the first stage and tenth in the second. Riggs highlighted the unpredictable strategy during the race, which kept drivers challenged and tested their adaptability on the track. Despite not having the fastest truck, Riggs praised his team and the overall effort that helped him earn crucial playoff points.
“It was a strong night for us. I didn’t think we were that great in practice, so to turn around and have a strong performance like that and even at some glimpses in the race feel like I was the best on the racetrack,”
Riggs said.
“We had just a good overall day and, in my opinion, that’s what champions are made of. The strategy was so crazy there that it’s really fun as a driver getting put in situations if you’re on old tires or new tires and going forward and falling back. It’s kind of crazy. The 98 spun out and somehow lined up in front of us still, which amazes me, but hat’s off to everybody at Front Row Motorsports. This Love’s Travel Stops Ford F-150 was a good truck, but not a winning truck, so we’ve got to do a little bit of work. It was a good, solid night. We finished second in regular season points. That was really our goal coming into today was to do that and get as many playoff points as we could, so we accomplished that and I’m really happy about that.”
—Layne Riggs, Driver
Chandler Smith Faces Difficult Night at Richmond
Chandler Smith encountered challenges during the same race, ultimately finishing ninth after placing fifth in the first stage and eighth in the second. Smith expressed frustration with his team‘s performance and noted a decline since the Charlotte race. He emphasized the importance of regaining momentum ahead of the playoffs and the upcoming race at Darlington.
“I’m definitely proud of the effort of everybody on this No. 38 team,”
Smith shared.
“It’s certainly not the day we wanted. Honestly, we’ve missed it since probably about Charlotte, just kind of slowly went downhill a little bit and haven’t been able to find our way back to where we were at the start of the year. We’re just trying to get our momentum back on our side going into the playoffs, going into Darlington and start off on the right foot.”
—Chandler Smith, Driver
Implications and Outlook for the Playoffs
The performances of Layne Riggs and Chandler Smith at Richmond highlight contrasting trajectories as the NCTS playoffs approach. Riggs’s consistency and strong finish have helped his Front Row Motorsports team secure a valuable position heading into the postseason. Meanwhile, Smith and his team face pressure to regroup and improve results quickly to remain competitive in the playoff hunt. The upcoming race at Darlington will be critical for Smith to regain confidence and demonstrate progress.
