Layne Riggs | Chandler Smith
Richmond Raceway NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race Advance
eero 250

Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
Event: Race 18 of 25
Series: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Location: Richmond Raceway (0.75-miles)
#of Laps: 250
Time/TV/Radio: 7:30 PM ET on FS1/SiriusXM channel 90

Layne Riggs Notes

The Richmond Raceway will host the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series regular-season finale this Friday night before the Playoffs begin in two weeks at the Darlington Raceway. For Layne Riggs and the No. 34, Richmond offers the opportunity to head into the Playoffs with strong momentum. In two previous Truck Series starts, Riggs has one top-five finish, finishing fifth at the track in his 2024 rookie season.

Love’s RV STOP returns to Riggs’ Ford F-150 this weekend. Fans are encouraged to download the Love’s Connect App to unlock exclusive benefits and savings. This Summer, users can save 10¢ per gallon on gas and up to 25¢ per gallon on auto diesel, along with access to great mobile-only deals. Fans can download the app from Google Play and the Apple App Store.

“I’m looking forward to Richmond,” said Riggs. We brought a fast Ford F-150 last year and finished fifth, so we have a lot of data points to work off of and know where we can improve. With this being the regular-season finale, I want to leave Richmond with a solid result to carry us into the Playoffs.”

Road Crew

Driver: Layne Riggs

Crew Chief: Dylan Cappello

Truck Chief: Alex Lacognata

Engineer: Jonathan Coates

Mechanic: Clark Houston

Mechanic: Brandon Selph

Tire / Interior Specialist: Robert Benzenhafer

Spotter: Josh Williams

Transporter Driver: Joe Haresky

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Blake Hickman

Rear Tire Changer: Steven Chereek

Tire Carrier: Alvin Wilson

Jackman: Landon Honeycutt

Fueler: Patrick Gaddy

Chandler Smith Notes

Chandler Smith faces the Richmond Raceway this Friday night with his sights set on adding another trophy to his collection. From 2022 to 2024, he’s been unbeatable at the 0.75-mile track, earning victories across both the NASCAR Truck and Xfinity Series. Smith first conquered Richmond in 2022 with Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series, then followed it up with Xfinity Series wins in 2023 with Kaulig Racing and again in 2024 with Joe Gibbs Racing.

The No. 38 team will sport a returning brand on their Ford F-150 as the Pete Store makes their 2025 season debut. A three-time Peterbilt North American Dealer of the Year (2004, 2016, and 2018), The Pete Store is a respected dealer in the transportation industry with locations spanning the eastern United States. The Pete Store offers sales, services, leasing, parts, and financing of Peterbilt trucks.

“Our expectation is to win Richmond,” said Smith. “We’re bringing a new truck this weekend, so practice will be crucial in getting it dialed in for the race. If we can qualify upfront, I know we can stay up there and compete for the win. I want to end the Regular Season with a win and head into the Playoffs with momentum.”

Road Crew

Driver: Chandler Smith

Crew Chief: Jon Leonard

Truck Chief: Ron Schutte

Engineer: Caleb Williams

Mechanic: Levy Bixler

Tire / Interior Specialist: Kyle Clark

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard

Transport Driver: Mark Hadley

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Garrett Wager

Rear Tire Changer: Jacob Ray

Tire Carrier: Paul Steele

Jackman: Ryan Selig

Fueler: Chris Webb

ABOUT LOVE’S RV STOP

Love’s has been fueling customers’ journeys since 1964. Innovation and perseverance continue to lead the way for the family-owned and -operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City with nearly 40,000 team members in North America and Europe. The company’s core business is travel stops and convenience stores with 651 locations in 42 states. Love’s continues its commitment to offer products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, four-wheel customers, RVers, alternative fuel and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities Love’s serves and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace are hallmarks of the company’s award-winning culture.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

NASCAR says it has no plans to limit driver celebrations in the aftermath of Xfinity driver Connor Zilisch’s fall in Victory Lane and subsequent broken collarbone.

Mike Forde, NASCAR managing director of communications, addressed the incident on the series’ “Hauler Talk” podcast released Wednesday, saying that some Victory Lane precautions would be put into place but that no new policies were being implemented.

Zilisch had recorded his series-leading sixth victory Saturday at Watkins Glen International when he climbed onto the roof of his No. 88 Chevrolet to celebrate. He slipped after apparently getting his left foot caught in the driver’s side window netting and tumbled awkwardly onto the asphalt.

The 19-year-old was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken collarbone.

“Very grateful to be able to walk away from that, and I guess I didn’t walk away, but I’m very grateful to be walking today and to just be all right,” Zilisch said during the USA broadcast of the NASCAR Cup race Sunday.

Forde said NASCAR wouldn’t tell drivers not to climb on the door in Victory Lane.

“We have not put in any policies or best practices or anything like that,” Forde said.

At the same time, NASCAR will take some new precautions to avoid the specific circumstances that led to Zilisch’s fall.

“I think that was part of the problem that the window net was flapping on the outside,” Forde said. “I think Connor even said that may have been a problem, and one of our safety guys actually mentioned the same thing. So we may do just sort of a check to make sure that if that’s inside the car, it’s one less thing you can slip on.”

Zilisch underwent surgery Tuesday, and it is unclear whether he will recover in time for the Xfinity Series’ next race at Daytona International Speedway on Aug. 22. Zilisch missed a race earlier this season because of a back injury from a crash at Talladega Superspeedway, for which he received a waiver.

Forde did not say whether Zilisch would receive a waiver for the playoffs if he misses the Daytona race.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

The Formula One Las Vegas GP was extended through at least 2027 on Tuesday after the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board approved a $20 million race sponsorship agreement.

The LVCVA Board of Directors voted unanimously to spend $10 million per year to sponsor the 2026 and 2027 races.

The initial contract between the LVCVA and F1 was for $6.5 million per year for the 2023, 2024 and 2025 races. That contract expires following this year’s race weekend, Nov. 20-22.

“We’re thrilled with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s action today, officially approving our continued partnership with the destination,” Emily Prazer, president & CEO of Las Vegas GP, said in a statement. “The strong relationships we’ve built with the tourism and business communities have made it possible for us to present one of the most exciting and anticipated races on the Formula 1 calendar. We look forward to working together for many years to come.”

NEW INCLUSIONS FOR THE NEWLY UPDATED HEINEKEN GRANDSTANDS

The FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN LAS VEGAS GP 2025, set for November 20-22, has unveiled details for its newly updated Heineken Grandstands, located in the Koval Zone by Heineken. Offering even more fan access, guests can get in on the action with all-inclusive beer, assigned bleacher seating, live music performances, driver appearances, access to the new F1 ACADEMY™ Paddock and surrounding activations, and much more.

“The Heineken Grandstands are where the action meets the party,” said Alli England, Vice President of Premium Sales and Service. “Whether you are a seasoned Formula 1® fan or just getting acquainted with the sport, this ticket will bring guests an array of entertainment options, including cheering on a favorite team as they turn into the Koval Straightaway, seeing special performances, or getting to know the incredible women of F1 ACADEMY.”

With single-day and three-day tickets available, this zone now features assigned bleacher seating with prime views of drivers battling through Turn 4 and down the Koval Straightaway.

Guests will have access to interactive fan activations in both the Koval and East Harmon Zones, including live entertainment and on-stage driver interviews at the Heineken Silver Stage. Fans will also have opportunities to explore the F1 ACADEMY Paddock, engage with surrounding fan activations, and enjoy a full tailgate experience featuring fan-favorite games like cornhole and beer pong. Food and beverage options will be available for purchase, with complimentary all-inclusive beer open to attendees 21 and over.

Fans can secure the year’s lowest prices at www.f1lasvegasgp.com:

• Three-Day: $918.76 including taxes and fees
• Thursday only: $150 including taxes and fees
• Friday only: $250 including taxes and fees
• Saturday only: $650 including taxes and fees

T-PAIN, MGK AND ZEDD TO HEADLINE T-MOBILE ZONE AT SPHERE STAGE

T-Pain, mgk and Zedd are set to light up T-Mobile Stage during the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN LAS VEGAS GP on November 20-22. Electrifying performances from standout artists such as SOFI TUKKER, Jess Glynne, Cimafunk, Balu Brigada, Cassian and more will bring the energy to this electric weekend-long party.

Fans will step into a festival-like atmosphere underneath the glow of Las Vegas’ stunning Sphere. T-Mobile Zone at Sphere ticket holders can witness the thrilling musical lineup, engage in race-day activations and enjoy premium views of some of the most challenging turns of the race, including Turn 5G and the chicane spanning turns 7 through 9.

“While the action on the Las Vegas Strip Circuit® is the main event, the T-Mobile Zone at Sphere elevates the experience with its incredible fan zone entertainment,” said Emily Prazer, President and CEO of Las Vegas GP, Inc. “Las Vegas is an entertainment hub within itself, so it was only fitting to bring together some of the music industry’s best to create an unmatched concert experience for race weekend. Paired with the jaw-dropping graphics of the Exosphere and incredible views of the track, T-Mobile Zone at Sphere has the best of all worlds.”

The headlining artists for T-Mobile Stage include:

• Saturday, November 22 – T-Pain: GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, producer, songwriter, entrepreneur and global cultural icon T-Pain has not only changed the course of pop, hip-hop and R&B but also reshaped the fabric of culture itself.  He’s sold over 50 million singles, accumulated billions of streams, racked up 10 iconic #1s on the Billboard Hot 100 and captivated the world with his charismatic live performances, earning a reputation as a global phenomenon.
• Friday, November 21 – mgk: mgk is a GRAMMY®-nominated, multi-platinum recording artist from Cleveland, Ohio, who transcended genre with his 2020 platinum Rock/Pop Punk album, Tickets to My Downfall, which not only topped the Billboard 200 but also landed 18 tracks on the Hot Rock Songs chart and spawned two platinum No. 1 alternative hits: “bloody valentine” and “my ex’s best friend.” He continued his chart-topping success with mainstream sellout in 2022, his second album to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, which earned a 2023 GRAMMY® Award nomination for “Best Rock Album,” and fans can anticipate his next album, lost americana, on August 8, 2025; his extensive accolades include multiple MTV VMA’s, Billboard Music Awards, and American Music Awards, in addition to being named to the Time 100 Next List.
• Thursday, November 20 – Zedd: Multi-platinum hit-maker and GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, Zedd, has reached mainstream success with his electronic dance music hits. His 2012 hit, “Clarity,” reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, and since then, he has collaborated with huge names such as Selena Gomez and Maren Morris, as well as co-written and produced Ariana Grande’s “Break Free.”

Guests with ticketed experiences in the T-Mobile Zone at Sphere will have access to these performances and exclusive fan activations, including T-Mobile Club Magenta, offering premium views and perks for T-Mobile customers thanks to Magenta Status, plus food and beverage available for purchase. Ticket options available in the T-Mobile Zone at Sphere include:

• T-Mobile Grandstands: Three-day ticket with assigned seats in the T-Mobile Zone at Sphere.
• T-Mobile General Admission: Three-day ticket with standing-room-only views and access to viewing platforms on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Additional entertainment, such as the Heineken® Silver Stage acts, the LIV on the Grid DJ lineup and other performance offerings will be announced in the coming months.

(GMM) The 2025 Italian GP at Monza is already sold out for race day – and organizers say the event is now on course to break last year’s attendance record.

ACI commissioner Tullio Del Sette confirmed the news less than a month before lights out on September 7. “The large expected turnout, which will most likely allow us to surpass last year’s attendance record, represents recognition for the entire Italian federation and confirms the central role of the Italian GP in the history of world motorsport,” he said.

In 2024, more than 335,000 fans attended across the weekend – a figure Monza now hopes to exceed. Tickets remain available for Friday and Saturday, featuring F1 practice and qualifying as well as Formula 2, Formula 3 and Porsche Supercup.

The sell-out comes despite Ferrari enduring another difficult season – McLaren holds a 299-point lead in the constructors’ championship. But Charles Leclerc’s 2024 victory at Monza and the first appearance of Lewis Hamilton in red at Monza are set to fuel the tifosi’s famous passion.

Related Article:  F1 News: Monza gets 6-year extension to host Italian GP

Shane van Gisbergen, top, celebrates in victory lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series race in Watkins Glen, N.Y., on Sunday. (AP photo)

Labeling statistics as “kind of an American thing,” Shane van Gisbergen avoids dwelling on his record-setting rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series.

“It normally hits me on the plane ride home or at 4 a.m. after a few beers,” van Gisbergen said Sunday after conquering the Watkins Glen International road course in New York for his fourth victory this year. “I try to reflect on it, but I also try and get to the next week pretty quick. I’ll try not to tweet at 4 a.m. this morning.”

If the laid-back Kiwi were into chest-pounding on social media, the list of heady accomplishments includes being the third driver with four consecutive Cup wins on road or street courses, joining 2020 champion Chase Elliott and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon.

It also includes being the first rookie with four victories — breaking a tie with seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson and three-time champion Tony Stewart — and the largest margin of victory (11.116 seconds) in Watkins Glen history and second largest this season behind his 16.567-second win at Mexico City that was the biggest gap from first to second since 2009.

The next achievement could be the loftiest yet for the driver from Auckland, New Zealand, who struggles massively on the ovals that comprise most of the season.

Can van Gisbergen be a legitimate championship contender in Year 1?

Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks, who put his reputation on the line and convinced sponsors to risk millions on an audacious plan to make the Cup playoffs with an inexperienced and unheralded rookie, suggests a deep run awaits the No. 88 Chevrolet.

“Shane just continues to go showcase why we’ve made a long-term commitment to him, why we brought him over here from New Zealand and built this team around him,” said Marks, who signed van Gisbergen to a multiyear extension last week. “Because in a sport like this where winning is so important and so hard to do, if you can catch some lightning in a bottle like we’ve got with SVG, you’ve got to really lean into it. That’s what we’ve done. It’s like seeing a plan come together.”

The plan now has a path to the doorstep of a Cup title.

The first round of 16 drivers is contested on three ovals, but van Gisbergen has a sizable 22-point cushion (victories are worth five points apiece for the playoffs) to overcome a 26.9 average finish on ovals.

Pared down to 12 drivers, the second round features a road course at Charlotte Motor Speedway. A win there would catapult a driver into the third round, where eight drivers will square off for four berths in the championship finale at Phoenix Raceway.

“He’s in a really good position,” Marks said. “I think we have a real opportunity to get to the Round of 8.”

Natalie Decker will make her much-anticipated return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series when she straps into the No. 92 Chevrolet for DGM Racing in the Wawa 250 at Daytona International Speedway.

The Wisconsin native will share the superspeedway stage with teammate Josh Bilicki, as both drivers will feature primary sponsorship from Wawa. This outing will be a milestone for Decker, who will reportedly become the first woman to compete in a NASCAR event after giving birth, a moment that adds historic significance to her comeback.

Natalie Decker Makes Historic Return to the Track

DGM Racing announced the news on social media, calling it “The Daytona Double.” Wawa logos will appear on both the No. 91 and No. 92 entries.

Also announcing the news on X, a veteran NASCAR journalist wrote, “NEWS: @NatalieRacing will return to NASCAR Xfinity Series competition at @DAYTONA, driving the No. 92 Chevrolet for @DGMRacingFL. Decker will join @JoshBilicki as teammates that weekend, with both drivers picking up sponsorship from @Wawa.

Before she gave birth to her baby in February this year, Decker last competed in the Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2024. Over the years, she has made limited starts in the Xfinity Series while also racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series.

Her return comes at a track where she’s already proven speed and racecraft. Decker has four career starts at Daytona, two in the Truck Series and two in the Xfinity Series.

Her best finishes in both series came at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. She finished fifth in the Truck Series 2020 season opener, the highest-ever finish for a female driver in that series. She also secured an 18th-place finish with DGM Racing last season.

Daytona’s drafting-style racing has often produced upsets, and Decker’s previous runs have shown she can navigate the chaotic pack racing that defines the superspeedway.

Bilicki, her DGM Racing partner for the weekend, will drive the No. 91 Chevrolet in the same race. The Wisconsin pairing also brings a hometown connection for Wawa’s sponsorship, with the convenience store chain also serving as the title sponsor of the race itself.

The Wawa 250, set for next Saturday, is a staple of the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule and often serves as one of the season’s most unpredictable showdowns. For Decker, it’s more than just a race. It’s the latest chapter in a career that has navigated injuries, part-time schedules, and now motherhood.