The second-generation competitor from the Bahamas, North Carolina, is a veteran of the latest model races despite being only 20 years old. He fights for every victory with a minor operation, waiting for the right opportunity to follow his father. Scott Riggs followed in his footsteps. as one of the top three drivers in NASCAR.
The decision to bet on himself in pursuit of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series title paid off for Riggs, adding him to a long list of notable national titles and a stellar season that saw him record 16 wins on five tracks and one track win. at the South Boston Raceway in Virginia.
Chasing the national title was challenging for Riggs on several fronts. He admits that being able to reflect on and cherish what he achieved with his team in 2022 is both cathartic and affirmative.
“It was great to celebrate with my team and enjoy our glory,” said Riggs. “The moment we won all the games, it was hard to celebrate because we had to focus on the next day. You may not have enjoyed the time but we had a great team party to share stories and celebrate ours. do, especially since we’ll probably never do it again.”
Despite his familiar last name, Riggs is no different from the worker racers who dominate East Coast short track racing.
Most of the crew helping the Riggs family with their latest stock car program are volunteers who work tirelessly to keep the cars competitive with other top organizations including JR Motorsports and Sellers Racing Inc.
Things were tough for Riggs when he was a student at UNC Charlotte as he put every ounce of energy into defeating reigning Weekly Series Champion Peyton Sellers, but he got through. By constantly communicating with his team about his comfort needs, he managed to find the perfect balance in his car.
The maturity and composure Riggs needed to stay focused in his busy schedule came from perfecting his racing skills against a host of talented competitors, including current NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers Josh Berry, Bobby McCarthy, Dick McCarthy, Caskill and Jared Fryer.
Riggs believes that without these guys to lean on during his development period, he will never come close to crowning the weekly series.
“Last season was my last late model racing test,” said Riggs. “I learned a lot from all the veterans, but I had to apply all that knowledge. You won’t see this growth until you look back and see all the steps you’ve taken, but my own has gotten better in every way.”
In pursuit of the national title, Riggs finally got the chance to debut in the NASCAR National Series by signing a three-race contract with Halmar Friesen Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Riggs didn’t hesitate to show the wider NASCAR fanbase what talent he had. In the first race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Speedway Park, starting 23rd, Riggs patiently crawled across the field and challenged many of the top drivers in the truck series to finish seventh.
Riggs’ performances in the next two truck series were based on his IRP performance. Although he was not the best of his career, Riggs finished fourth at Richmond Speedway and second at Phoenix Speedway, where he overtook the final truck series shortly after his debut race winner Zane Smith led five laps behind.
Riggs is currently working to secure the necessary funding to enter the truck series full-time in 2023. Details are still being worked out, but Riggs is hoping to at least get approval to open Daytona International Speedway before seeing how the rest of the year pans out financially.
More aggressive performances in the truck series mean Riggs will continue the discipline that made him the racer he is today, but he still plans to race late model stock cars when he has time to spare.
“I might be on [latest stock] on the weekend when Josh Berry is off work,” Riggs said. “There won’t be a set schedule, so obviously I won’t compete in any championships, but you will definitely see me on some short track just to have fun.”
Riggs hopes his success and prominence in 2022 will be a positive sign for other blue-collar drivers looking to take the lead in NASCAR.
During his late stock car career, Riggs met many drivers he knew would excel in the top NASCAR series if given the right opportunity. Riggs himself was involved in this, hoping to see the same veterans follow the same path, and he believes that the current changes in the industry may one day allow them to do so.
Riggs is currently set to represent the South East short track industry as a Weekly Series Champion and Truck Series Champion. He expects serious training in his first year in the division, especially when it comes to figuring out aerodynamics and dealing with a diverse mix of truck series.
“In the late model world, you have veterans that you choose and they are always at the forefront and competing with each other,” said Riggs. “When you’re in the Truck Series, there are more of them. The best grassroots guys get into the Truck Series, so there will be a lot of competition. I feel like I’m at the top of my game, so I think I can do it.”
Riggs faces many hurdles as he enters this new phase of his career, but he’s prepared for the adversity that lies ahead and has shown that his national title is the first of many achievements for NASCAR.
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Post time: Dec-02-2022