In sports, it’s often the unexpected moments and not the competition itself that leave athletes sidelined. Take golfer Dustin Johnson, who withdrew from the 2017 Masters after a freak staircase fall. Or former MLB pitcher Joel Zumaya, who injured his wrist playing Guitar Hero all the way back in 2006. For athletes, injuries sometimes come at the most ironic times—off the field, pitch, or track.

For Layne Riggs, it wasn’t a high-speed crash that sidelined him, but a shoulder dislocation during a celebration. After nine dislocations, the 10th came while celebrating a win. The off-season brought an opportunity for surgery and recovery. Now, Riggs is opening up about his experience and why he’s confident about a stronger return in 2025.

Layne Riggs reflects on surgery and recovery from a bizarre injury

It all started with a tweet from NASCAR reporter Bob Pockrass, who shared a clip of Layne Riggs discussing his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery. The 22-year-old, who dislocated his shoulder while celebrating his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory, candidly described the relief of not having to worry about it anymore, thanks to the successful procedure.

Layne Riggs explained how the injury wasn’t exactly new. He’d suffered nine dislocations before the fateful celebration at The Milwaukee Mile. “Number 10 wasn’t hard to do. It was finally time to get it fixed,” Riggs admitted. Despite months of discomfort, the young driver is optimistic about his recovery, saying, “I feel a lot better than I did before the surgery.”

The shoulder mishap happened at The Milwaukee Mile after Riggs dominated the LiUNA! 175, leading the final 53 laps and holding off fierce competition from Ty Majeski and Christian Eckes. In pure excitement, Riggs climbed onto the roof of his No. 38 Ford F-150, celebrating his victory with the fans. But mid-celebration, he suddenly grabbed his shoulder in visible pain. His Front Row Motorsports crew had to assist him, even yanking his arm back into place right there on the roof.

Now on the mend, Riggs shared his progress: “I’ve been doing simulation stuff for a month and a half now, and everything feels good.” Though not yet at full recovery, Riggs is confident he’ll be ready for the upcoming season. “I’m glad I got it done. I still have to be careful, but it’s much more stable than before,” he added.

While Riggs may have endured a painful moment, the successful surgery ensures he can focus on his future in racing without worrying about his shoulder. For a young talent with a promising career ahead, this recovery marks an important step. And if the victory celebration is any indication, Riggs knows how to make a memorable comeback—both on and off the track.

When victory celebrations take a painful turn in NASCAR

Layne Riggs isn’t the only driver to experience an injury during a post-race celebration. Back in Richmond, Austin Dillon aggravated a pre-existing oblique injury while celebrating a NASCAR Cup Series win. Dillon, who had hurt his rib playing basketball earlier that week in Denny Hamlin’s league, worsened it when crew member Paul Swan enthusiastically smacked him during the celebration.

Then there’s Cole Custer’s unforgettable fall at Kentucky Speedway. After winning the Alsco 300 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Custer climbed onto his car to crack open two beers in Victory Lane. But just as things were getting fun, he lost his balance and tumbled off the driver’s door. Fortunately, Custer walked away unscathed, though it made for quite the awkward celebration moment.

Looking at the way victory celebrations have been going, NASCAR drivers might want to consider keeping celebrations a little more low-key or at least consult a trainer first. One thing is for sure: these incidents only add to the drama and excitement of NASCAR. Winning is never easy, but sometimes celebrating it can be just as risky.