CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Layne Riggs completed a fantastic season on the race track, earning 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Rookie of the Year.
And he did it all while completing his degree in mechanical engineering at UNC Charlotte.
Riggs, 22, graduated on Friday.
"It's pretty cool and something that I would have never imagined," he said.
For over four years, Riggs has had to balance academics and racing professionally, which became more grueling once he got to a national series.
"No parties and not a whole lot of fun on the weekends," Riggs said. "It's a lot of hard work and really just a lot of dedication."
So how did he do it?
"Monday through Thursday, you are focused on school work and you're 100% focused on getting all your assignments done," he said. "And then when it turns Friday, it's race mode, you have to flip the switch. You have to go into race mode from Friday to Sunday."
A standout student during the week, Riggs was a standout driver on the weekends, notching his first two career victories as well as seven, top-five finishes.
"Getting Rookie of the Year graduating," he said. "I mean, it's, it's all crazy how fast things happen."
Contact Nick Carboni at ncarboni@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.