Ten drivers took part in the Craftsman Truck Series race at the Milwaukee Mile on Sunday to secure their ticket to the round of eight in the playoffs.
Instead, Layne Riggs spoiled the party and took the win in the LiUNA! 175, his first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in his 23rd start. It is also the first win for Front Row Motorsports in the series since Circuit of The Americas (COTA) last season with Zane Smith.
Riggs led 53 laps to give Ford Performance its third consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory after the team failed to win a single race in its first 15 events of the year.
The Bahama, North Carolina native may have been celebrating a little too much, as he dislocated his shoulder while fist-pushing on the roof of his truck. The crew of the No. 38 had to help Riggs to the ground and put his shoulder back in place before they could continue celebrating. Despite the pain, Riggs exclaimed in his interview, “It was worth it.”
“I dislocated my shoulder and celebrated so much.” @LayneRiggs99 will now remember his first victory for several reasons. ? pic.twitter.com/ASKmxs8YRf
— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) 25 August 2024
Riggs and his father Scott were also the second father-son duo, along with Brad and Bob Keselowski, to win a Craftsman Truck Series race.
Ty Majeski finished second in his No. 98 Ford. After two straight wins to close the regular season, Majeski continued his momentum in the playoffs, finishing well above the cut line. Regular season champion Christian Eckes finished third in his No. 19 Chevrolet. Eckes led 71 laps, more than any other driver, and won the second stage.
Daytona winner Nick Sanchez finished fourth, with fellow playoff driver Taylor Gray rounding out the top five. Tyler Ankrum, Corey Heim, Daniel Dye, Ben Rhodes and Matt Crafton rounded out the top 10, while non-playoff drivers filled the top ten spots.
RELATED: LiUNA! 175 in Milwaukee Results
Majeski and Tanner Gray led the field to start the Truck Series playoffs. Despite a strong qualifying run, Gray did not get off to a good start and found himself outside the top five at the end of lap 10. On lap 13, Bayley ripped a left front tire on Currey’s No. 41 after contact with Taylor Gray, forcing Currey to make a pit stop and lose several laps.
Majeski led the first 42 laps of the race before regular season champion Christian Eckes worked his way past the No. 98 to take the lead. The first caution came out not long after. On Lap 49, Jayson Alexander, making his Truck Series debut, lost control in the middle of Turn 3 and touched the outside wall. The damage forced Alexander to bring his truck into the garage, giving him a last-place finish in his first start.
Most teams opted to make pit stops before the end of the first stage, but Ty Dillon and Jake Garcia opted to stay out. The stage ended under caution, giving Dillon his first Truck Series stage win and his first series stage win since the Cup Series event at the Charlotte Roval in 2020. The stage win is also the first for Rackley WAR in their fourth season in the Truck Series. Dillon and Garcia entered pit road after the stage concluded, relinquishing the lead to Majeski and Eckes.
The restart was delayed for a lap due to Dexter Bean stalling on the backstretch, but his truck was re-ignited and the race continued. Eckes quickly took the lead, and Layne Riggs passed Majeski for second. Riggs eventually had to give the spot back up to Majeski, but Eckes maintained a sizable lead over both drivers to take the stage two win, his sixth stage win in the last five races.
Eckes and Riggs led the field through the gears at the start of Stage 3, but Majeski passed them both within a lap. Further back, Matt Mills hit the wall, but he was able to keep his No. 42 Chevrolet running and the race remained green. Majeski couldn’t hold the lead for long, as Riggs passed him a few laps later to take the lead for the first time in the race.
Despite valiant efforts from Majeski and Eckes, Riggs led the final 53 laps of the race to secure his first Truck Series victory. The win is also Ford’s first in the series at the Milwaukee Mile since Terry Cook won for K-Automotive Motorsports in 2002.
Grant Enfinger leaves Milwaukee in the eighth and final spot in the second round of the Truck Series playoffs. Defending champion Ben Rhodes is two points behind Enfinger and Rajah Caruth is four points behind the driver of the No. 9.
The next Craftsman Truck Series race will be held on Thursday, September 19th at Bristol Motor Speedway and will be broadcast on FS1.
