Despite multiple setbacks throughout the Love’s RV Stop 225, Layne Riggs (No. 34) scored a fifth-place finish to remain just six points below the final Championship 4 transfer spot heading into Martinsville Speedway. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)
TALLADEGA, Ala. — After a more than eventful race for Layne Riggs, he rallied to score a fifth-place finish in the Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Following an early scare during the first stage, Riggs fought back to recover a strong finish to keep himself out of “must-win territory” for next weekend’s elimination race at Martinsville Speedway.
“I’m just glad to end the day in one piece,” Riggs said. “I know Chandler (Smith) gave me a bad push getting into the corner there, and we both wrecked. Just so glad that wasn’t a day ender.”
The streak of incidents began on Lap 10, when Riggs received a big push from his Front Row Motorsports teammate Smith in Turn 1, hitting the wall and triggering a multi-truck accident.
Layne Riggs (No. 34) battling for position during the Love’s RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, October 17, 2025. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)
After rebounding from the incident, while running inside the top five, Riggs had to lift in the bottom lane due to a flat left front tire, causing the field to check up, which sent Bret Holmes into the inside wall on the back straightaway. The tire going down forced Riggs to pit while pit road was closed, sending him to the back of the field once again.
As a result of the incidents, Riggs’ truck had steering problems, forcing him back down pit road with under 20 laps to go to allow his No. 34 team to check the toe.
Despite the setbacks, he was able to use the remaining laps of the race to hang in the bottom lane and fly back through the field to earn a top five finish.
“Started shotgun on the field and went to the back a few times,” said Riggs.”There at the end, just trying to be patient and hold that bottom, hoping the top would break up and it did. Really bummed we didn’t get any stage points. We’re not quite in the position we want to be in, but it’s a lot better than it could have been.”
Layne Riggs finished in the fifth position at Talladega Superspeedway in the Love’s RV Stop 225 on Friday, October 17, 2025. (Photo: Sydney Redden | The Podium Finish)
The recovery was important for Riggs. Entering next weekend’s Round of 8 elimination race at Martinsville Speedway, he sits just six points below the cutline for the final transfer spot into the Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway, which Kaden Honeycutt currently holds.
Short tracks have been a significant bright spot for Riggs and his No. 34 team this season, with a worst finish of just 11th place, and two of their three wins coming on short tracks, including back-to-back wins at Indianapolis Raceway Park and Bristol Motor Speedway.
Heading to the most straightforward race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Round of 8, after races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL and Talladega Superspeedway, Riggs knows his team needs a big day next Friday night to punch his ticket into the Championship 4.
“Thankfully, Martinsville is pretty cut and dry,” Riggs said. “If you’re fast, you’re going to run up front and get stage points if you qualify well and run up front. We’ve got to go with big speed.”
