Layne Riggs takes Phoenix Truck pole over Honeycutt
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 17, 2026
Riggs Wins Phoenix Pole
Layne Riggs grabbed the pole for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Zero Carbon Bioethanol 150 at Phoenix Raceway and did it with authority. The No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150 driver turned a lap of 27.039 seconds at 133.141 mph, then edged Kaden Honeycutt by 0.155 seconds in qualifying. The result marked Riggs’s fifth pole of the 2026 Truck Series season and the ninth pole of his Truck Series career. It also came after a rougher start to the weekend, when he ranked 20th in Friday practice before finding the speed he needed in qualifying. Thirty-six trucks filled the starting lineup, and Riggs put himself at the front of the field when the session counted most. He entered the race 17 points behind Honeycutt in the standings, so the pole added another layer to a close battle at the top of the series. Riggs turned a practice rebound into track position and left Phoenix with the best starting spot on the grid.
Practice Shifts Order
Honeycutt still showed strong pace at Phoenix even though he settled for second in qualifying. He posted the fastest lap in practice at 27.604 seconds, then backed that up with the runner-up starting spot behind Riggs. Ben Rhodes was second-fastest in practice and qualified fifth, while Ty Majeski was third-fastest in the session. Chandler Smith qualified third and Landen Lewis took fourth, giving the top five a familiar look for a Truck Series field that packed speed into the front rows. The rest of the top 10 featured Tristan McKee, Tanner Gray, William Sawalich and Connor Mosack. That group completed a strong qualifying list that reflected how tight the field stayed through the session. Frankie Muniz had trouble in practice when smoke came from the back of his truck, and he was listed without a qualifying time along with Ben Maier. The starting lineup still reached 36 trucks, which gave the race a full field and left little room for error. Riggs’s pole lap separated him from the rest, but the practice chart showed that several drivers entered the race with enough pace to challenge once the green flag dropped.
Smith Chases Honeycutt
Chandler Smith arrived at Phoenix with one of the strongest track records in the field and carried that into a third-place qualifying run. He entered the race third in the standings, 77 points behind Honeycutt, and his history at Phoenix stood out. Smith owns a 3.6 average finish at the track, won there in 2021 and finished third in three of his five Phoenix Raceway starts. He also led the Chase field with a 7.4 average finish over the last four playoff tracks, a stretch that showed how steady he has been through the postseason run. Smith put that résumé in context with his outlook for the race, saying the points would “sort themselves out” if he and his team execute well. That left the standings picture clear at the top, with Honeycutt holding the lead over Riggs and Smith still in striking distance. Riggs sat 17 points behind Honeycutt, so both front-runners arrived with something to gain from a strong result. Phoenix put speed, track history and points pressure on the same stage, and Smith’s qualifying spot added another threat to the front end of the race.
