NCTS Race Recap: TSport 200

The rain washed away qualifying for the TSport 200 at the Indianapolis Raceway Park. The lineup was decided per the rulebook. Corey Heim got the nod to start from the pole. Ty Majeski joined him on the front row. Gio Ruggiero and Chandler Smith started from the second row. Layne Riggs started the race in eleventh. The stage lengths were 60 laps for the first two stages, with the final stage at 80 laps.

Riggs on a Rail

Heim got a huge launch at the drop of the green flag. He jumped out to a big lead after Majeski spun his tires. Riggs quickly passed his way into the top five. Heim caught the back of the field and cut through the lapped cars easily. Majeski fell to fourth with Riggs joining the top three. Riggs passed Heim for the lead with forty laps to go in the stage.

With 30 to go in the stage, Riggs had built his lead to almost a second and a half. He drove around the lapped trucks quicker than anyone else. Majeski, after falling several spots, caught back up to the tailgate of Heim. After getting around Heim, Majeski was two seconds behind the leader.

Corey Day, who started outside the top fifteen, was fast early as he drove into the top ten. He was continuously one of the quickest drivers around the track.

Layne Riggs pulled away from the field to win stage one! He had built his lead to over three seconds over Majeski.

Riggs was the first off of pit road. Majeski followed him out. Rajah Caruth gained four spots, while Heim lost four positions. While Chastain was driving out, his left front tire came off. He had to pit again to get another tire put back on.

Riggs Holding Serve

Majeski and Riggs restarted the race on the front row. Riggs got a great launch and was able to take his lead back. Heim quickly gained three spots on the restart. Riggs built his lead to over a second. He and Majeski traded off being the fastest truck on the track.

Chastain passed his way into the free pass position. He battled Matt Mills and Brent Crews for the lucky dog.

The first caution came out when Josh Reaume hit the wall. He was the lone truck in the incident. That caution came with twenty laps left in the second stage. Several trucks used the opportunity to pit for tires and fuel.

Riggs and Smith brought the field back to green. Riggs used the outside line to get back to the lead. Majeski tried to pass for second, but Smith was able to hold him off. Stewart Friesen, who also pitted during the caution, used his new tires to pass his way to second.

Friesen was faster at the end of the stage, but Riggs was able to hold him off to win stage two! Friesen, Smith, Ben Rhodes, and Grant Enfinger rounded out the top five.

Riggs to the House

After the top six trucks stayed out during the caution, Friesen and Enfinger restarted on the front row. They both got equal jumps, but Friesen was able to take the lead out of turn two. Riggs, who restarted in seventh, began driving back to the lead. Heim tried to hold off the hard-charging Riggs and was able to for several laps.

Riggs drove to the inside of Heim and used a great run off of turn two to make the pass. After he made the pass on Heim, Riggs immediately drove by Rhodes to get into second. He quickly cut the lead in half.

With 55 to go, Riggs made the pass for the lead. Friesen, on much older tires, was unable to hold off the much quicker truck. Riggs began pulling away while ticking off the fastest laps.

Corey Day caught the tailgate of Heim. He drove very patiently, waiting to make his pass. Day finally made the pass on Heim to get into the third position. He quickly closed the gap to Friesen, who was in second. Friesen was unable to hold off Day. With 12 to go, Day completed the pass on the outside of turns one and two. Day began turning the fastest laps on track.

However, he could not close the gap. Layne Riggs took the white flag, and then the checkered flag to win the TSport 200! He led 160 out of the 200 laps. Corey Day finished in second, which is his career best. Stewart Friesen finished the race in third. Heim and Enfinger rounded out the top five.

Marvin’s Minute:

I have to take a second to congratulate Corey Heim. He did not have a typical Heim Time day, but he was able to lock up the regular season championship. He has had an incredible season so far and will be a strong contender to win the Championship in Phoenix.

With that being said, Layne Riggs showed his speed as he dominated at IRP. To sweep the stages and get maximum points will mean so much when the Playoffs begin. Riggs will be a favorite to win the championship. He also had an amazing burnout at the end. The series continues its schedule at Watkins Glen on August 8.