Chandler Smith Wins With Last Lap Pass at North Wilkesboro

Chandler Smith celebrating his second win of the 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season at North Wilkesboro Speedway. (Photo Credit: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — In a chaotic final lap at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Chandler Smith picked up the trophy in Saturday’s Window World 250 for his second victory of the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

When the white flag was waved, Smith found himself in third place, but after fireworks on the final lap between Corey Heim and his Front Row Motorsports teammate, Layne Riggs, he was able to steal the win.

On the final lap, Riggs dove down inside Heim in Turns 1 and 2 and attempted to slide in front of Heim, exiting onto the back stretch. During the process, Heim got loose and spun out from the top lane, ending his chances for his fourth victory of the season, allowing Smith to get a run and pass Riggs in Turn 3 to win the race.

“That last restart, I did everything but the right thing,” said Smith. “My teammate Layne Riggs executed perfectly, and we came out on the right end of the stick. Happy we could bring one home for Front Row Motorsports.”

Despite the win, it wasn’t an easy race for Smith and his No. 38 team. After qualifying was rained out, Smith was lined up in 14th from the metric, but had to start at the rear and had to carve his way through the field multiple times during the race.

“We fought and clawed today,” Smith said. “So, first to come from the back to midpack twice says a lot about how good this Ford F-150 was today. I didn’t think we were as good as the No. 11 (Heim), but props to those guys, they had a good day today.”

Chandler Smith (No.38) getting underneath Layne Riggs (No.34) after Corey Heim (No.11) got spun exiting Turn 2 on the final lap of the Window World 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. (Photo Credit: Phil Cavali | The Podium Finish)

Following the race, Heim walked over to Riggs and had some strong words about how he viewed the end of the race. This season has been one of heartbreak for Heim thus far, even with already scoring three victories, the chances of multiple others have been taken away from him.

“Just why, more than anything,” Heim said on Riggs’ move on the final lap. “(Riggs) to do it to the No. 7 (Carson Hocevar) last week (Kansas Speedway) for the win, and mission accomplished for him, I guess, this week. And it cost him one, too. We’ve given up so many of them this year after dominating the race.”

Overall, Heim dominated, leading 162 of the 250 laps and felt he was in a complete league of his own during the race. He also believed that even though Riggs was the one racing him for the win at the end, he didn’t deserve the opportunity at the victory, and if anyone did, it was Smith.

“I felt like (Smith) deserved to win over anyone else, not the No. 34 (Riggs), I got loose into (Turn) 3. Just struggled being loose on the short runs, and he had an opportunity, and he wrecked me. Just disappointed.”

On the other side of the incident was Riggs, who came home in the second position. He felt the move he made in Turns 1 and 2 was justified and that he was going for the win.

“They’re displeased with me (the No. 11 team),” said Riggs. “I had a huge run, and I went bottom. I didn’t fence him, I slid him up the track and gave him one lane there. We’re at North Wilkesboro on the last lap for a truck win, I feel like I didn’t do anything wrong there.”

Riggs doubled down on believing how he raced, Heim was clean, citing that everyone “came out alive” and that at the end of the day, the only thing that matters to him his where his No. 34 team finishes.

“I think that roles reversed, it was hard racing all day, I feel like everybody came out of there alive, and we had a good finish. I only care about me and my team.”

Rounding out the top five were Tyler Ankrum, Daniel Hemric, and Grant Enfinger. Following them in the running order were Ty Majeski, Gio Ruggiero, Kaden Honeycutt, Kyle Busch, and Sammy Smith, all scoring top 10 finishes.

The Truck Series takes on Charlotte Motor Speedway for the running of the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on Friday, May 23 with coverage on FS1 beginning at 8:30 pm EST, NASCAR Racing Network, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Stage 1 Top 10 Results

1. Gio Ruggiero
2. Corey Heim
3. Stewart Friesen
4. Jake Garcia
5. Chandler Smith
6. Layne Riggs
7. Tyler Ankrum
8. Daniel Hemric
9. Grant Enfinger
10. Kyle Busch

Stage 2 Top 10 Results

1. Grant Enfinger
2. Corey Heim
3. Chandler Smith
4. Tyler Ankrum
5. Layne Riggs
6. Kyle Busch
7. Rajah Caruth
8. Brent Crews
9. Ben Rhodes
10. Sammy Smith

Window World 250 Finishing Results