CORONADO, Calif. — Despite running low on fuel, Layne Riggs held off Tyler Reif in a slam-bang affair to win the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Naval Base Coronado on the Qualcomm Circuit.
Driving the No. 34 Front Row Racing Ford, Riggs got passed Reif in the final corner of the 3.4-mile track when Reif missed the chicane.
Riggs beat Daniel Hemric to the checkered flag by 1.332 seconds to earn his fourth win of the season and the fifth of his career.
“Layne van Riggsbergen came to play today, man,” Riggs said in reference to NASCAR Cup Series driver Shane van Gisbergen who dominates on road courses. “We’re undefeated in street course races — much respect, Shane. I hope I can be as good as you one day, man. I’m going to take all my glory here in the Truck Series.
“I don’t even know what happened at the end — sparks flying, people wrecking, staying in the throttle. I was running out of fuel the entire last lap. It was like St. Pete all over again (an earlier Riggs victory this season, also a street race).”
Reif, who was making only his seventh start in the series, finished 19th after being assessed a 30-second penalty for missing the chicane.
Kaz Grala finished third in a Toyota, while Landen Lewis was fourth in a Niece Motorsports Chevrolet and Ty Majeski came home fifth for ThorSport Racing.
The race featured 16 lead changes among six drivers, with Riggs leading a race-high 21 laps. There were seven cautions for 13 laps.
