For the second year in a row, a rising second-generation NASCAR racing star earned his first career victory. This time it was 22-year-old Layne Riggs who took the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victory on Sunday at the LIUNA! 175, the playoff opener, at the historic Milwaukee Mile.

Riggs, son of former NASCAR driver Scott Riggs, took the lead from Ty Majeski with 53 laps to go and pulled away with a solid 1.547-second lead over the Wisconsin native and a highly motivated group of playoff drivers, making the rookie driver’s performance all the more impressive.

.@LayneRiggs99 had something to say about it. #LiUNA175 https://t.co/RvyVgEskYk pic.twitter.com/x3abV6b5DM

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) 25 August 2024

Riggs’ victory in the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford comes a day after 23-year-old Harrison Burton – son of former NASCAR star Jeff Burton – earned his first career victory in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

“I don’t even know how to describe it,” said an emotional Riggs, who was making just his 23rd start in the series, saying he knew in practice that his truck would have a good chance. “It’s unbelievable.”

“We had a terrible year. It was a terrible year, but I learned so much in my rookie season. After the start, I thought there was no way we were going to win; we’re going to do our best and just learn for next year. But I knew in practice that this thing was great.”

Riggs was so happy and demonstrative that he dislocated his shoulder while throwing his arms up in celebration – his team rushed to help. And Riggs seemed to be fine as he hugged his father at the side of the track.

“I dislocated my shoulder and celebrated so hard, but it was worth it,” Riggs said with a smile.

Eight of the 10 playoff drivers finished just behind Riggs, including Majeski, the defending champion and polesitter, who led 45 of the 175 laps in ThorSport Racing’s No. 98 Ford. McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Christian Eckes finished third – leading 71 laps in his No. 19 Chevrolet, the highest lap count of the race. REV Racing’s Nick Sanchez and TRICON Garage’s Taylor Gray rounded out the top five.

McAnally-Hilgemann’s Tyler Ankrum, TRICON Garage’s Corey Heim, McAnally-Hilgemann’s Daniel Dye and reigning series champion Ben Rhodes of ThorSport Racing rounded out the top nine – all playoff drivers. Three-time series champion Matt Crafton finished tenth.

“I was in the lead at the bottom, then it shot up the race track and I couldn’t recover. I was way too close,” said Eckes, who led the field for most of the afternoon and achieved the best result of the series with his ninth stage win.

He is now leading the playoff standings with a 16-point lead over Majeski. Heim is third, just 19 points behind.

“I’m proud of everyone, but it’s a pretty big missed opportunity,” Eckes said.

The other two playoff drivers, Grant Enfinger, driver of the No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevy, finished 13th and Rajah Caruth, driver of the No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevy, fought his way to 18th after starting from the back of the field.

There are two races left in this opening round and eight of the ten drivers have advanced. Rhodes is two points behind Enfinger in the battle for the important eighth playoff spot and Caruth is only four points behind.

Round two of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season championship will take place Sept. 19 in a special Thursday night edition (8 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, where Heim is the reigning race winner.

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