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Layne Riggs Conquers the Concrete Jungle

Sunday, March 01, 2026

Historic Truck Series Street Race Delivers Drama in St. Petersburg

OnlyBulls Green Flag 150
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series — February 28, 2026

History was made on the streets of St. Petersburg.
For the first time ever, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series took on a temporary street circuit — concrete walls, tight braking zones, zero runoff, and absolutely no margin for error.

When the smoke cleared after 150 grueling laps, it was Layne Riggs standing tall, capturing the OnlyBulls Green Flag 150 and earning one of the most significant victories of his young career.

Street racing isn’t about speed.
It’s about survival.
And Riggs mastered both.

The Track: No Room for Mistakes
The 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit carved through downtown St. Petersburg forced drivers to adapt instantly.

This wasn’t EchoPark drafting.
This wasn’t a traditional road course.

​This was:

  • Heavy braking into tight hairpins
  • Bumpy pavement transitions
  • Concrete walls inches from the racing groove
  • Restarts that felt like survival missions

Precision ruled the day.

Stage Results
🔥 Stage 1 (Laps 1–45)
1. Ben Rhodes
2. Connor Mosack
3. Gio Ruggiero
4. Chandler Smith
5. Kaden Honeycutt
6. Landen Lewis
7. Andrés Pérez de Lara
8. Daniel Hemric
9. Colin Braun
10. James Hinchcliffe

Ben Rhodes controlled the early pace, leading the opening stage with calculated aggression. Clean corner exits and disciplined braking kept him in command.

🚀 Stage 2 (Laps 46–90)
1. Layne Riggs
2. Chandler Smith
3. Landen Lewis
4. Ty Majeski
5. Ben Rhodes
6. Gio Ruggiero
7. Andrés Pérez de Lara
8. Daniel Hemric
9. Colin Braun
10. James Hinchcliffe

Riggs took control in Stage 2, managing tire wear and navigating lapped traffic flawlessly. It was the moment the field realized he wasn’t just competitive — he was the driver to beat.

Final Stage: Street Fight to the Finish

The final 60 laps were intense.

Multiple cautions tightened the field and turned every restart into a chess match. Trucks bumped. Drivers locked brakes. Positions swapped in tight quarters.

Ty Majeski mounted a late charge.

Ben Rhodes stayed within striking distance.

Chandler Smith continued stacking points.

But Riggs never blinked.

On the final restart, he nailed the entry into Turn 1, protected the inside line through the tight infield section, and built just enough gap to avoid a dive-bomb attempt in the closing laps.

Under pressure.
Under braking.
Under control.

🏁 Top 10 Finishers
1. Layne Riggs
2. Ty Majeski
3. Ben Rhodes
4. Chandler Smith
5. Kaden Honeycutt
6. Landen Lewis
7. Andrés Pérez de Lara
8. Daniel Hemric
9. Colin Braun
10. James Hinchcliffe

Major Storylines from St. Petersburg

🏆 Riggs Announces Himself
This wasn’t a fuel-mileage gamble.
This wasn’t luck.
Riggs earned it on one of the most technically demanding tracks the Truck Series has ever seen.
Winning the first street race in series history gives this victory lasting weight.

🔥 Rhodes Dominates Early, Settles for Third
Rhodes led the opening stage and remained a factor throughout. But late-race positioning cost him a shot at the win.
Still — a podium on a street course is massive for championship consistency.

📈 Chandler Smith Builds Cushion
Fourth place may not grab headlines, but in The Chase format, it matters.
Smith continues stacking stage points and strong finishes — exactly how championships are built.

💪 Majeski’s Resilience
After a mid-race mistake cost him track position, Majeski fought back to finish second. That kind of recovery matters over a long season.

The Chase Format Impact
​With the return of The Chase format:

  • Wins earn more points
  • Top 16 in points qualify
  • Stage points are critical
  • DNFs are brutal

Street courses amplify risk.
Drivers who stayed clean this weekend gained serious early-season leverage.

What This Means Moving Forward
St. Petersburg exposed versatility.
​The 2026 season is already showing that:

  • Superspeedway skill won’t guarantee road-course success
  • Road-course strength doesn’t translate everywhere
  • Adaptability wins championships

Now the Truck Series prepares for the next shift — from tight concrete streets to the abrasive, high-banked challenge of Darlington.

Completely different test.
Completely different skill set.

Final Thoughts
​The inaugural Truck Series street race delivered exactly what fans hoped for:

  • Aggression
  • Strategy
  • Precision
  • Drama

Layne Riggs didn’t just win.
He proved he can thrive anywhere.
​And that makes him dangerous moving forward.

​​​Don't forget to check out The S3 Podcast LIVE on our Youtube Channel every Wednesday at 6PM EST as hosts Jeff Demers and Marnie Tisdale break down NASCAR's "News and Notes" heading into every race weekend. You can also listen to our show recordings by going to The S3 Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

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Hi, I'm Jeff Demers

Sports Director for Sports Media X/Coach Jeff Demers

"For the past ten years, I've been deeply immersed in the world of Valley sports. I wear many hats, serving not only as a Sports Director but also as a journalist, photographer, podcaster, and the creator of the "Sports Media X" program, dedicated to building sports media brands. Beyond my sports endeavors, I'm a fervent entrepreneur and a business coach, specializing in marketing and sales for small businesses."

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