Written by Sean McKean
For the second time in a row, Layne Riggs upset the playoff drivers in Bristol, taking his second career victory in dominant fashion
As it unfolded
Entering this race, two-time champion Ben Rhodes sat two points below the cut line. But, he started at the rear of the field for unapproved adjustments. Furthermore, his teammate and title favourite – Ty Majeski – had a subpar qualifying session in 28th.
After a tough day in that evening’s ARCA race, Connor Zilisch led Corey Heim away from pole. He led the opening 41 laps.
But, as Zilisch caught lapped traffic, Heim in second and Rajah Caruth in third got to his bumper, too. Heim managed to get by for the lead on Lap 42 with Caruth following suit three laps later. Caruth then snuck by for the lead himself on Lap 52.
The stage ended with Caruth in front taking his first ever stage win, followed by Heim and Christian Eckes – who made up four spots in three laps by utilising lapped traffic.
Stage 1 Results:
For the other playoff contenders: Taylor Gray finished 17th, Ty Majeski 20th, Tyler Ankrum 21st, Ben Rhodes 22nd and Grant Enfinger 24th.
All drivers pitted under caution, bar Timmy Hill.
Hill, on old tyres, led the field to the green flag, but Heim quickly dispatched of the journeyman. Like Zilisch, he led for roughly 40 laps until another truck got to this bumper, with Eckes and Caruth pressuring the TRICON driver.
However, Heim broke free of lapped traffic to win the second stage, as the caution came out to end the stage. The caution came out for a spin by Connor Zilisch, who had been running in fifth, after getting tagged by Nick Sanchez behind.
Notably, playoff contender Ben Rhodes fell one lap down on pace in this stage, citing a truck that “just came off the hauler wrong.”
Stage 2 Results:
For the other six playoff drivers: Daniel Dye finished 11th, Taylor Gray 12th, Ty Majeski 13th, Grant Enfinger 16th, Tyler Ankrum 24th and Ben Rhodes 30th.
The only playoff driver to take to the pits was Sanchez under caution, coming out 16th.
Heim led the field to begin the final stage on Lap 121, but recent first-time winner Layne Riggs took the lead for himself.
With 44 laps remaining, the caution came back out. Coming off Turn 4, Daniel Dye had a rear tyre go flat, resulting in him spinning into the path of Kaden Honeycutt. Dye drove away with minimal damage, but Honeycutt had night-ending damage.
The race restarted with 29 laps to go, and Riggs kept the lead.
Only ten laps later, the caution came back out – this time, for a spin from Jack Wood aided by Rhodes.
Riggs led the way with 13 laps remaining, and he held on to take his second consecutive win as a non-playoff driver. Corey Heim followed in second, also locking himself into the next round, and Rajah Caruth in third.
Provisional Results:
#38 Layne Riggs (Front Row Motorsports)
#11 Corey Heim (TRICON Garage) [Playoffs; locked into next round]
#71 Rajah Caruth (Spire Motorsports) [Playoffs]
#19 Christian Eckes (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing) [Playoffs; locked into next round]
#2 Nick Sanchez (Rev Racing) [Playoffs; locked into next round]
#88 Matt Crafton (Thorsport Racing)
#77 Chase Purdy (Spire Motorsports)
#98 Ty Majeski (Thorsport Racing) [Playoffs]
#52 Stewart Friesen (Halmar Friesen Racing)
#18 Tyler Ankrum (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing) [Playoffs]
#1 William Sawalich (TRICON Garage)
#17 Taylor Gray (TRICON Garage) [Playoffs]
#32 Bret Holmes (Bret Holmes Racing)
#5 Dean Thompson (TRICON Garage)
#44 Bayley Currey (Niece Motorsports)
#75 Stefan Parsons (Henderson Motorsports)
#9 Grant Enfinger (CR7 Motorsports) [Playoffs]
#81 Corey Day (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing)
#7 Connor Zilisch (Spire Motorsports)
#41 Connor Mosack (Niece Motorsports)
#13 Jake Garcia (Thorsport Racing)
#56 Timmy Hill (Hill Motorsports)
#15 Tanner Gray (TRICON Garage)
#33 Lawless Alan (Reaume Brothers Racing) +1 lap
#42 Matt Mills (Niece Motorsports) +1 lap
#91 Jack Wood (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing) +1 lap
#99 Ben Rhodes (Thorsport Racing) +2 laps [Playoffs]
#02 Justin Mondeik (Young’s Motorsports) +2 laps
#76 Spencer Boyd (Freedom Racing Enterprises) +2 laps
#25 Ty Dillon (Rackley WAR) +2 laps
#21 Mason Maggio (Floridian Motorsports) +4 laps
#43 Daniel Dye (McAnally-Hilgemann Racing) +6 laps [Playoffs]
#22 Keith McGee (Reaume Brothers Racing) +6 laps
#46 Tyler Tomassi (Young’s Motorsports) +8 laps
#45 Kaden Honeycutt (Thorsport Racing) [DNF]
#66 Connor Jones (Thorsport Racing) [DNF]
Caruth did a good job digging himself out of the hole. However, Rhodes further deepened his and a bad day for Dye has him below the cut.
Provisional Playoff Standings:
#19 Christian Eckes: [locked in]
#11 Corey Heim: [locked in]
#2 Nick Sanchez: [locked in]
#98 Ty Majeski: +58
#71 Rajah Caruth: +35
#18 Tyler Ankrum: +25
#17 Taylor Gray: +23
#9 Grant Enfinger: +7
Playoff Cut Line
#43 Daniel Dye: -7
#99 Ben Rhodes: -12
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