Layne Riggs is currently tearing up the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, in his third season driving the No. 34 Ford F-150 for Front Row Motorsports.
The Bahama, North Carolina-native has had a strong campaign, and right now, has a sizeable lead over Kaden Honeycutt in the series’ point standings with a series-leading four wins on his scorecard this year – St. Pete, Charlotte, Nashville, and San Diego.
Although the NASCAR Truck Series hasn’t even reached its post-season yet, and there’s absolutely no guarantee that Riggs will be hoisting the championship trophy following the season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November, the 24-year-old driver can’t help but look into the future.
When asked on Friday during an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 about his plans for next season and the future in general, Riggs was candid, saying that he hasn’t necessarily locked anything up for 2027 just yet, but has some ideas about what is on the table.
“I would like to know my plans, too,” Riggs joked with hosts Alan Cavanna and Jeff Gluck. “I’m not sure either. We don’t have any plans yet, we’re just trying to figure out how early silly season works out first to see if there’s an opportunity for me, but I’d like to make my first [NASCAR Cup Series] start at some point, this year would be great, but it’s not looking great for the timeline of having to get your first start before ‘The Chase’ starts in Cup.”
Riggs has spent the last three seasons in the Front Row Motorsports network, which includes multi-car operations in both the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Zane Smith and Todd Gilliland have already been confirmed for places on FRM’s NASCAR Cup Series roster in 2027, but the No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, currently driven by Noah Gragson, has yet to be spoken for.
It’s unknown whether Gragson is planning to return to Front Row Motorsports in 2027. In a recent hosting segment on the Dale Jr. Download, Gragson stated that he was “trying to get a job next year”, when referencing his run-in with Kevin Magnussen at Naval Base Coronado.
Could Riggs be in the catbird seat to take over the third seat at FRM? The son of former NASCAR Cup Series driver Scott Riggs says that, while he definitely wants to make his debut in the Cup Series sooner rather than later, he also wants to take a methodical approach, as he did in the NASCAR Truck Series.
“Whenever that opportunity arises, I would love to do it, but at the same time, I want to make sure I start with a splash, the same kind of way I did with the Truck Series,” Riggs stated. ”I didn’t start with mediocre equipment, I made sure that my first race was in a Truck that could win the race, and I waited for the right opportunity, and turned down some opportunities, to make sure that could happen, so hopefully I can put myself in the same spot in the near future, I’m just as anxious to find out as anybody else.”
But, simply put, is a full-time NASCAR Cup Series seat on the table for 2027?
“It is,” Riggs said. “I’m working hard every day to make sure that happens, but no news yet.”
Should Riggs be successful in landing a full-time seat at NASCAR’s top-level, he would join a stacked rookie class that includes Corey Heim (23XI Racing) and Jesse Love (Wood Brothers Racing), both of whom have secured a championship in either the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series or NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
In the meantime, the nine-time NASCAR Truck Series winner is going to be focused on winning the championship with his Front Row Motorsports team.
