Riggs “Didn’t Fence” Heim on Final Lap Incident

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer/Photographer

North Wilkesboro Speedway saw another post-race disagreement, only this time swings weren’t thrown over a racing incident.

On the last lap of Saturday’s Window World 250, Corey Heim had another masterclass drive in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series by leading a career-high 162 laps. However, for the second time in three races, the race went into overtime after going 21 straight races without one. This set up a two-lap dash to the finish as Heim fought fiercely to fend off the Front Row Motorsports duo of Layne Riggs and Chandler Smith.

Coming to the white flag, Heim had the advantage, but Riggs pulled out the slide job trick like he did to Carson Hocevar at Kansas last week. Only this time, it backfired and got into the driver’s side door of Heim, sending him around in front of the field. Grant Enfinger just avoided the spinning truck, but Rajah Caruth wasn’t as fortunate as he ran into the left rear side of Heim’s truck.

The accordion-effect of Heim spinning slowed down Riggs, allowing his teammate Smith to go low and take the lead en route to his second win of the season.

Riggs rounded out the 1-2 finish for FRM, but it didn’t matter to Heim as he brought his damaged No. 11 Mobil 1 Toyota Tundra home in 17th, the last truck on the lead lap.

😳🏁 COREY HEIM GOES AROUND. CHANDLER SMITH WINS AT NORTH WILKESBORO.#NASCARonFS1 | @NASCAR_Trucks pic.twitter.com/GZJRR7l3Ex

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 17, 2025

Heim didn’t mince any words as he went on a profanity tirade about Riggs’ move, but once he got out of his truck there was visible frustration.

All Heim felt was one simple remark on the ordeal:

“Just why,” Heim told FOX Sports’ pit reporter Josh Sims.

Heim followed up the comment by remembering what Riggs did to Hocevar in their race win battle that saw Hocevar victorious, and Riggs ultimately disqualified due to a bed cover violation on his No. 34 Ford F-150.

The disappointed TRICON Garage racer iterated that it didn’t work then and it definitely didn’t work now.

“He tried to do it last week for the win, and mission accomplished for him, I guess, this week – and it cost him one too,” said Heim. “We’ve given up so many of them this year, after dominating the race. The 38 (Smith) was the only other guy that was rightfully good. I felt like he deserved to win over anyone else, not the 34 (Riggs).

“I got really loose into (turn) three. Just struggled being loose on the short runs, and he had an opportunity, and he wrecked me. Just disappointed.”

"Just why?"- Corey Heim's message to Layne Riggs#NASCARonFS1 | @NASCAR_Trucks pic.twitter.com/vEBLlBd67I

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 17, 2025

Following Heim’s comments, he and the rest of the media patiently walked towards the path of Riggs.

Once Heim approached Riggs, they had a quick discussion with Heim walking away after words were said between them.

“You’re racing like a (expletive) idiot,” Heim told Riggs according to NBC Sports’ Dustin Long. “Calm down or else someone’s going to take care of you.”

Although Heim felt that he was wrecked, Riggs noted there was no ill-will on the move, and he disagreed with Heim.

From his vantage point, he took advantage of Heim’s slip up and went for the move.

“I feel like he got really loose into (turns) 3-4 and gave the bottom up. We were side-by-side on the frontstretch. I had a huge run, and I went bottom. I didn’t fence him, I slid him up the track and gave him one lane,” Riggs commented.

“We’re at North Wilkesboro on the last lap for a truck win. I felt like I didn’t do anything wrong here. I think if the roles were reversed, it was hard racing all day. I felt like everybody came out of there alive and we had a good finish, but I really only care about me and my team.”

"I didn't fence him, I slid him up the track … I really only care about me and my team."- Layne Riggs@JoshRSims | #NASCARonFS1 pic.twitter.com/HFZqoUj2Wt

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 17, 2025

From one North Carolina circuit to the next, the series will head to Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord for next Friday’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 (8:30 p.m. ET on FS1).