On Saturday afternoon, February 28, 2026, Layne Riggs secured a breakthrough victory at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ first-ever street race in St. Petersburg. After early setbacks in the season, Riggs captured his sixth career Truck Series win and his first triumph of 2026 by outdueling former series champions Ty Majeski and Ben Rhodes on the challenging street circuit.
Details of an Intense Race in St. Petersburg
Riggs demonstrated strong road-course skill by holding off ThorSport Racing teammates Majeski and Rhodes, who finished second and third respectively. Chandler Smith and Kaden Honeycutt completed the top five. Smith, despite finishing fourth, maintained his early-season points lead after winning the opening race of the year at Daytona International Speedway and recording three consecutive top-10 finishes.
The race’s pivotal moment came in the final stage when Majeski, who had been leading, went off track into the tire barrier, relinquishing the lead to Riggs. Although Majeski battled back from sixth place to second, time ran out for a repeat pass. Riggs also took the second stage victory, while Rhodes claimed the first stage win, setting the tone for a competitive event.
Race Highlights and Key Performances
Several notable drivers made their mark on the streets of St. Petersburg. Landen Lewis, Andres Perez, Daniel Hemric, Colin Braun, and James Hinchcliffe rounded out top-ten finishes. Four-time NTT IndyCar Series champ Dario Franchitti ran in the top 10 for much of the race but ultimately finished 27th after an unexpected pit stop during the late stages cost him valuable laps.
Post-race, Tyler Reif was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation of a heat-related illness. Despite the incident, Reif completed the race and finished 16th behind the wheel of the No. 42 Chevrolet.
Looking Ahead for NASCAR’s Truck Series
Following this electrifying event, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will return to competition on March 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Darlington Raceway for its fourth race of the season. FOX Sports 1 will provide live coverage of the action, offering fans another opportunity to witness intense racing as drivers continue their quests for wins and championship points.
“I just wanted to win a road course this year to show I’m not just that short track guy,”
Riggs said in the FOX victory lane interview.
“Trouble for the leader!@TyMajeski veers off course and gets into the tire barrier.”
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks
“LAYNE RIGGS WINS ON THE STREETS OF ST. PETERSBURG!”
— FOX: NASCAR
LAYNE RIGGS WINS ON THE STREETS OF ST. PETERSBURG! pic.twitter.com/lJzMdAsobV
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 28, 2026
Trouble for the leader!@TyMajeski veers off course and gets into the tire barrier. pic.twitter.com/qvTrmKy2PK
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) February 28, 2026
