SCOTT RIGGS AND RAB RACING CASH IN WITH SERIES-BEST FINISH AT LAS VEGAS

Topics:  Scott Riggs, Sam’s Town 300

Jessica Caulder
RAB Racing
March 1, 2010

Las Vegas, NV (3-1-2010) – Scott Riggs hit the jackpot by bringing home a series-best finish of 14th for RAB Racing in Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The rock solid effort was the team’s second top-15 in three starts this season and catapulted the sophomore team three positions in the NASCAR Nationwide Series owner point standings. With just three races under their belt in the young season, the Ben Gable-led crew now holds down the 12th position in the standings, knocking on the door of the top-10 with merely a 39 point deficit.

The Bahama, NC native recorded his best qualifying effort in three starts behind the wheel of the No. 09 Ford Fusion in Saturday morning’s time trials assigning the 20th fastest time of the session. Riggs clocked in at 29.897 seconds (180.620 mph) posting RAB Racing’s best start at the 1.5-mile oval.

The 43-car field rolled off under threatening skies just past 4:00 p.m. ET before an estimated crowd of 45,000. Riggs maintained his position inside the top-20 for the opening 50 circuits. At lap 53 the leaders began making their way down pit road for scheduled green-flag pit stops. After leading his first lap of competition on lap 65, Riggs brought his yellow and black Ford Fusion down pit road for four Goodyear tires, a can of Sunoco fuel and a wedge adjustment to aid in the handling of his No. 09 machine.

Due to pit sequence the No. 09 Ford was scored in the 28th position, one lap down to race leader Kyle Busch when green-flag pit stops cycled through.

Still struggling with a tight-handling Ford, crew chief Ben Gable made a game-time decision to pit under caution on lap 88 for four tires and fuel including adding a spring rubber to the right rear.

Restarting 23rd on lap 93, Riggs slowly began making a climb up the leader board. Riggs was sitting in the 20th position at lap 119 when the fourth caution flag of the afternoon was displayed for rain. By virtue of being the first car one lap down to the race leader, Riggs received the “Lucky Dog” award and got back on the lead lap.

With 80 laps remaining in the 200 lap event, Riggs would work his way up through the field, flirting with a top-10 position before settling in for a 14th place finish behind race winner Kevin Harvick.

Riggs piloted the No. 09 Ford to RAB Racing’s career-best finish and advanced his position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver point standings to 10th. This is the highest point’s position the team has held since its inception into the series (September 2008).

The NASCAR Nationwide Series will take two weeks off before heading to Bristol Motor Speedway for the Scott’s Turf Builder 300 for the fourth event on the 2010 schedule.

For more information on RAB Racing please visit: www.teamrab.com
For more information on Scott Riggs please visit: www.scottriggs.com