RIGGS GETS DRAMATIC LAST-LAP VICTORY IN CHARTER PIPELINE 250 AS FRONTRUNNER BLISS RUNS OUT OF FUEL AT WHITE FLAG
MADISON, Ill. (May 10) – Scott Riggs, who had thirsted for a victory for nearly a year, found himself in Victory Lane holding the Charter Pipeline 250 trophy Saturday – after Mike Bliss’ front-running car’s fuel tank went bone dry on the last lap.
Riggs, driving the Nestle NesQuik Ford for ppc Racing, was set to settle for a runnerup day when Bliss started wiggling side-to-side, frantically trying to get some fuel in the line of his Rockewell Automation Chevrolet as the white flag fell.
“My guys suddenly told me Mike was out of gas, and suddenly he was moving all over the track trying to get some in the fuel pickup, and we were also coming on a lapped car,” Riggs said. “I thought for a moment he might be able to shake himself to a victory, and then I thought it was going to be hairy getting through that opening. It wasn’t until I got around Turn 3 that I started to smile. We’ve lost races like this, and we’ve waited a long time for a win, so we’ll take this.”
Riggs, from Bahama, N.C., had won two races by June on his way to Rookie of the Year honors in the Busch Series last year. But he struggled through much of the second half of the season, and found himself with a new crew chief in 2003.
Bliss, in his first season driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, had dominated the day. He led 115 laps going to the white flag, but wound up 12th.
A stunned Bliss said the crew had figured there was enough fuel in the tank to make 10 extra laps. _"I guess we didn't get it full," Bliss said. I just can't believe it . . . we had the race won."
David Green, driving the Timber Wolf Pontiac for Brewco Racing, took over the second spot. Green took over the Busch Series points lead when Todd Bodine’s team had to replace engines. He started from the back of the field and finished 11th on the day.
Riggs’ teammate, Jason Keller, finished third in the Albertson’s Ford. It was Keller’s sixth Top 10 finish in seven Busch races at Gateway. Brian Vickers, who started 21st, ralled to take fourth in Hendrick Motorsports’ GMAC Chevrolet, while Bobby Hamilton Jr. finished fifth in the Team Marines Ford.
Riggs had been a runnerup in the Ram Tough 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Gateway two years ago, but last year struggled in his first Busch race on the 1.25-mile oval – and struggled much of the second half of this year.
His team has gradually regained confidence, and he has been on a torrid streak in May, finishing second at Richmond and scoring his third career Busch Series win at Gateway. The other wins came last season at California and Gateway’s sister track, Nashville Superspeedway.
“We struggled, and looked pretty bad early in the year. But this team kept fighting, we kept improving, and now I like where we are,” said Riggs, in a solid fourth in the points chase going into this weekend’s action at Nazareth, Pa.
Green said he can sympathize with Bliss. “You just take the fact you knew you could win and build on it for the next race. I know that’s what his team we’ll do, and what this team will do. We’re for real.”
The rest of the Top 10 included Stacy Compton, Johnny Sauter, Scott Wimmer, Stanton Barrett and Kenny Wallace, who started seventh and then finished 10th in the St. Louis Cardinals Chevrolet.
Kenny’s brother Mike finished 16th after starting the day 17th in the Geico Chevrolet.
Ashton Lewis Jr., who had won his first Bud Pole the day before, led most of the early going before getting tangled up with a six-car accident on Lap 107, and eventually finishing 33rd.
The next major event on the Gateway schedule is the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals June 27-29 – with all of the pro action during the late afternoon and evening hours.
Tickets for that event, and Gateway’s remaining 2003 major events, are on sale by calling (866) 35-SPEED or going online at www.gatewayraceway.com.
MADISON, Ill. (May 10) – Scott Riggs, who had thirsted for a victory for nearly a year, found himself in Victory Lane holding the Charter Pipeline 250 trophy Saturday – after Mike Bliss’ front-running car’s fuel tank went bone dry on the last lap.
Riggs, driving the Nestle NesQuik Ford for ppc Racing, was set to settle for a runnerup day when Bliss started wiggling side-to-side, frantically trying to get some fuel in the line of his Rockewell Automation Chevrolet as the white flag fell.
“My guys suddenly told me Mike was out of gas, and suddenly he was moving all over the track trying to get some in the fuel pickup, and we were also coming on a lapped car,” Riggs said. “I thought for a moment he might be able to shake himself to a victory, and then I thought it was going to be hairy getting through that opening. It wasn’t until I got around Turn 3 that I started to smile. We’ve lost races like this, and we’ve waited a long time for a win, so we’ll take this.”
Riggs, from Bahama, N.C., had won two races by June on his way to Rookie of the Year honors in the Busch Series last year. But he struggled through much of the second half of the season, and found himself with a new crew chief in 2003.
Bliss, in his first season driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, had dominated the day. He led 115 laps going to the white flag, but wound up 12th.
A stunned Bliss said the crew had figured there was enough fuel in the tank to make 10 extra laps. _"I guess we didn't get it full," Bliss said. I just can't believe it . . . we had the race won."
David Green, driving the Timber Wolf Pontiac for Brewco Racing, took over the second spot. Green took over the Busch Series points lead when Todd Bodine’s team had to replace engines. He started from the back of the field and finished 11th on the day.
Riggs’ teammate, Jason Keller, finished third in the Albertson’s Ford. It was Keller’s sixth Top 10 finish in seven Busch races at Gateway. Brian Vickers, who started 21st, ralled to take fourth in Hendrick Motorsports’ GMAC Chevrolet, while Bobby Hamilton Jr. finished fifth in the Team Marines Ford.
Riggs had been a runnerup in the Ram Tough 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Gateway two years ago, but last year struggled in his first Busch race on the 1.25-mile oval – and struggled much of the second half of this year.
His team has gradually regained confidence, and he has been on a torrid streak in May, finishing second at Richmond and scoring his third career Busch Series win at Gateway. The other wins came last season at California and Gateway’s sister track, Nashville Superspeedway.
“We struggled, and looked pretty bad early in the year. But this team kept fighting, we kept improving, and now I like where we are,” said Riggs, in a solid fourth in the points chase going into this weekend’s action at Nazareth, Pa.
Green said he can sympathize with Bliss. “You just take the fact you knew you could win and build on it for the next race. I know that’s what his team we’ll do, and what this team will do. We’re for real.”
The rest of the Top 10 included Stacy Compton, Johnny Sauter, Scott Wimmer, Stanton Barrett and Kenny Wallace, who started seventh and then finished 10th in the St. Louis Cardinals Chevrolet.
Kenny’s brother Mike finished 16th after starting the day 17th in the Geico Chevrolet.
Ashton Lewis Jr., who had won his first Bud Pole the day before, led most of the early going before getting tangled up with a six-car accident on Lap 107, and eventually finishing 33rd.
The next major event on the Gateway schedule is the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals June 27-29 – with all of the pro action during the late afternoon and evening hours.
Tickets for that event, and Gateway’s remaining 2003 major events, are on sale by calling (866) 35-SPEED or going online at www.gatewayraceway.com.
