Layne Riggs, driving for Front Row Motorsports, secured his first win of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season by claiming the OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 at the St. Petersburg street circuit in Florida on Saturday. This victory marked a dramatic turnaround after an unsteady start to the year and showcased Riggs’ evolving skill set on road courses.
Facing stiff competition from former champions Ty Majeski and Ben Rhodes in the closing stages, Riggs prevailed to earn the sixth win of his Truck Series career. Coming into the weekend after disappointing finishes of 31st at Daytona and 27th at Atlanta, Riggs needed a strong result, which he delivered with a commanding and well-managed performance on the narrow, technical course.
Growth Beyond Short Tracks Validated on Road Circuit
Primarily known for his success on short tracks, Riggs regarded this milestone as proof of his hard work in broadening his racing abilities. He credited fellow racer Joey Hand for significant support in preparing for this event.
“First thing I’m going to say, thank you to Joey Hand. I know he’s watching at home. My road course guy. He’s the man,”
Riggs said after the win. “He helped me so much. We’ve been working on this race track in the simulator at Ford Racing since December. I really, really wanted to get my first win on a road course.”
Demonstrating pride in his origins while emphasizing growth, Riggs added:
“The short-track guy from Bahama, North Carolina, won at St. Pete. Can you believe it? I’ve really been trying to perfect my craft. I said this year I just want to win a road course to show I’m not just that short-track guy.”
Strategic Racing Under Fuel Pressure in Final Laps
As the race wore on, Riggs faced mounting concerns about fuel levels, requiring careful management of speed and driving lines to conserve enough fuel to reach the finish. The peculiar fuel pickup design of the trucks complicated this, especially when turning left on the circuit.
“It sputtered with about eight to go,”
Riggs explained.
“The pickup on these trucks is on the left side, so every time I turned left the fuel would slosh away. The whole time I was just trying to keep it running and manage the gap.”
Despite heavy pressure from Majeski and Rhodes closing in, both contenders raced cleanly, avoiding risky moves against Riggs in the final moments.
“Thank you to Ben Rhodes and Ty Majeski. I know they ran me pretty clean,”
Riggs remarked.
“That last corner, Ty probably could have cleaned me out if he wanted to. We were so close there, but what an awesome feeling.”
Implications for Riggs and the Truck Series Season
This victory has given Riggs and the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports team a significant boost in the Truck Series standings after early-season struggles. It highlights Riggs’ transformation from a short-track specialist into a versatile contender capable of winning on diverse track types. The result sends a clear message to the rest of the field that Riggs’ ambitions and capabilities have expanded, making him a more formidable challenger as the 2026 campaign progresses.
