Layne Riggs wants to be a NASCAR driver — there are no ifs, ands or buts about it.
But achieving the lifelong dream has proved to be a slow process for the 21-year-old, who’s anxious to break into any of NASCAR’s three national touring series. Over the last two years, Riggs has made four starts in the Truck Series, with his best finish of seventh at Indianapolis Raceway Park last season.
“If the opportunity awaits, we’ll run some more,” Riggs said. “That could be Truck Series, Xfinity Series — heck, if we even had a Cup opportunity, crazy enough, I’d take it.”
The day has finally come for the North Carolina native, as he gears up to make his fifth appearance in the Truck Series during the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway on Friday night.
Riggs will be driving the No. 02 Chevrolet for Young’s Motorsports.
“I’m excited to see how we perform and I hope to come out with a solid finish that can get me more experience behind the wheel,” Riggs said.
Though his sights may be locked on NASCAR, the youthful talent has been busy coming into his own in the late model stock car world.
After running 60-some races last year and becoming the youngest NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series champion in series history, Riggs feels he’s earned the respect of his competitors — both on the race track and in the garage.
“Everybody does call me ‘champ’ now. That’s pretty cool. Even Dale Jr. calls me champ,” Riggs said with a grin. “You know, I’m not just the punk kid that races with them, or the young kid they get to beat around.”
What’s more impressive about his championship season is that it was primarily Riggs, his father and a handful of volunteers who helped bring the operation 16 victories and 30 top-five finishes in 43 starts.
The crew has included everyone from college friends to cousins and other family members.
However, keeping his team together was the reason Riggs stepped back from full-time late model racing this season.
“We really, really got burned out as a volunteer, small-town team. So, this year, I kind of let my guys have a break,” Riggs said. “The point this season is just to go out, have good runs, go to big money races, bring home big money and trophies, and have fun while doing it.”
With his dad, former Cup Series driver Scott Riggs, as crew chief, the younger Riggs has earned two top-five finishes on the CARS Tour this year. While trying at times, Riggs has found the right balance between not pushing the team too hard and still staying sharp as a driver.
“The biggest thing is just trying to keep my name out there and stay hot on the race track, so I can be hot in everybody’s minds and hot in someone who could put me in the right opportunity’s mind,” Riggs said.
With 2020 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series champion Josh Berry being recently appointed to a full-time Cup Series ride with Stewart-Haas Racing — earning it on merit, and not funding — it appears Riggs may be on the right track.