If action makes a large part of your life, imagine being injured. Not being able to participate in that one thing that makes you leave your bed in the morning is a feeling only a few can put into words. So, when a new driver on the bloc created ripples in the NASCAR landscape only to be injured while celebrating a win, it sent ripples across the NASCAR community. Layne Riggs went on to become the Rookie of the Year but had to go for surgery.

Thanks to the driver, FRM, the team that the driver debuted for this year called it “a debut season for the books” with 2 wins, 7 Top-5s, and 10 Top-10s. Who is the new driver and what’s next for him? Read on to know more.

Layne Riggs’ history with national championships, struggles, and shoulder troubles

In the Xfinity Series, he faced several challenges but managed to stay within the top 20 in each race. His ability to bounce back during these events highlighted his strengths as a driver and revealed his potential value to team owners. And, then FRM happened.

But then, in 2024, as Layne Riggs drove to victory at the Milwaukee Mile NASCAR Truck Series, he made headlines for another thing though – a freak shoulder injury. The story behind the injury might just startle NASCAR fans. You see, the Truck Series star had just entered the victory lane at the Milwaukee Mile. Going into the race, his chances at a win lookedAlt slim, yet he managed to do the impossible. In the jubilation and fist pumps that followed, Layne Riggs dislocated his shoulder. And as per Riggs, it wasn’t the first time. So, while the victory was sweet, the snag was real. Surgery was inevitable. However, as per FRM, Riggs is back from surgery.

“He told me NASCAR set him up w/ the same doctor who did Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott’s surgery. Sounds like the procedure is non-invasive and has a short recovery time so he’ll be ready for 2025 well before Daytona and his shoulder won’t be an issue for him anymore,” said Steven Taranto on X. He is CBS Sports Reporter and NASCAR multimedia storyteller, followed on X by the Jayski site — run by Jayski, and owned/served by ESPN.

The driver, who had previously resigned to Late Model Stocks, gained major national exposure with Halmar Friesen Racing in the Truck Series in 2022. He finished in the top ten in his debut at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and also led laps in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway.

One can say his opportunity came when Kevin Harvick, the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Champion, spotted Riggs in a CARS Tour race. “Kevin Harvick called me the morning after North Wilkesboro (CARS Tour) and told me that I ran pretty good,” Riggs said. “He said he wouldn’t be able to run the late model a lot to get it better for when he was going to build a full-time team. He wanted me to take it to Caraway [Speedway] the following weekend and see what I could do.” And, Riggs did park Harvick’s number 62 in Victory Lane. While he was eventually disqualified due to a technical issue, his performance became a turning point in his life.

Thereafter, he came back to IRP in the Truck Series with Spire Motorsports and got a three-race deal with Kaulig Racing for the Xfinity Series Program. “It was all about fighting for the next opportunity, even if it’s a part-time ride. You could get another one-off deal just because you did well in the last one. Every race could be your last,” Riggs said. He improved on his 2022 performance at IRP with a third-place finish driving for Spire.

FRM and Riggs: Marriage to Victory?

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There was hardly any doubt about Layne Riggs being a worthy competitor, with the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Title in 2022 and six zMAX CARS Tour victories in his resume. But, his 2024 performance at Phoenix and Milwaukee is as promising as it gets. While it’s safe to say that the end of the 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season didn’t go as Layne Riggs hoped, his experience at the November 8 finale at Phoenix Raceway was worth the last buck.

In fact, during a tussle for the lead against series champion Ty Majeski, Riggs spun out while trying to pass Nick Sanchez, making light contact with the wall. But, he fought back and finished 10th. Although Riggs believes he could have competed for the championship if his team had made the Playoffs, he’s thrilled with his achievement and excited to continue. So, what’s next for Layne Riggs? Is the association with FRM the match that lights the fire, turning his dreams into reality?

To understand this, it’s important to know that the one thing that held him back so far was finances. So, in a way Front Row Motorsports in the Truck Series was one of the most meaningful moments of Riggs’ life after years of struggles. “There was excitement, but more relief than anything else. There was all this stress, tension, and unknowns we’d had for so many years over whether or not we were going to make it. When I finally realized I had signed my first deal, it was a dream come true,” said Riggs.

“Hard work does pay off. Everything they say about ‘don’t give up’ is true. I was getting close to graduating college, and things weren’t culminating the way I wanted them to, so I was debating on stepping away from driving for a while. When you’re at the lowest of lows, something like this can just pop up out of nowhere,” Riggs added.

What are your thoughts – is FRM the best thing to happen to Layne Riggs? Will he be able to maintain the 2024 momentum?