Layne Riggs Can Clinch Top Seed at Richmond
NXTbets Pro | Published On: August 13, 2026
Riggs Chase picture
Richmond Raceway’s Black’s Tire 250 carries added weight in the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chase picture, with two races left to settle the 10-driver field. Layne Riggs arrives with the clearest path to the No. 1 seed. He leads Kaden Honeycutt by 100 points after five wins and can lock up the top spot at Richmond. That gives Riggs a chance to control his path before the Chase bracket is finalized. The points gap puts him in command, but the field still has plenty at stake behind him. Every stage and every finish matter now, and Richmond offers one more shot for drivers to change their position before the field is set. Riggs also carries a strong qualifying outlook. He will go out last in a 39-truck qualifying field, a position that can shape the early edge for the weekend and adds another layer to his bid for the No. 1 seed.
Richmond Chase field
Three drivers have already secured their Chase spots, with Chandler Smith, Christian Eckes and Gio Ruggiero all clinched. The rest of the field remains crowded and tight. Ty Majeski, Ben Rhodes, Grant Enfinger, Daniel Hemric and Stewart Friesen currently hold the remaining Chase positions. Hemric has a little breathing room, sitting 49 points ahead of 14th-place Brenden Queen. The fight for the final spot is tighter. Tyler Ankrum trails Friesen by eight points in the battle for 10th, so one strong run at Richmond could shift the cutoff line again. Richmond has also shown an ability to reshape the Chase conversation in recent years. Enfinger won there in 2020, Smith won in 2022 and Majeski won in 2024, a run that shows how quickly a contender can leave with a major boost. That history gives this race added significance for the drivers still trying to secure their place or improve their seed before the field is locked in.
Truck Series lineup
The Richmond weekend brings several other storylines to the Truck Series garage. Elliott Sadler is scheduled for his first Truck Series start in 15 years, a notable return to the series at a track that has plenty of history of its own. Shane van Gisbergen is entered and will drive the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, adding another high-profile name to the entry list. Sixteen-year-old Tristan McKee is making his Truck Series debut, giving the race another fresh angle as the series continues to mix veteran experience with new talent. On-track activity starts with Truck Series practice scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 2:05 p.m. ET on FS2. The qualifying order also has a clear storyline of its own. Justin Carroll will go out first, and Riggs will go out last in the 39-truck field. That puts the points leader in a strong spotlight before the race even starts, with the grid order set to play a role in how the rest of the weekend unfolds.
