After a three week break, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series returns to the track Friday night for the Black’s Tire 250 presented by BTS Rewards at Richmond Raceway. With just two races remaining before the Chase field is set, the pressure is rising for teams still fighting to secure a postseason spot. The race is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
Richmond’s 0.75-mile D-shaped oval is one of the most demanding short tracks on the Truck Series schedule. The track rewards drivers who can manage their tires, maintain a consistent long-run pace and find grip around the changing surface. Under the lights, the 250-lap race could become a battle of patience as much as outright speed.
Riggs Looks to Protect the Points Lead
Layne Riggs enters Richmond as the man to beat in the championship standings. The Front Row Motorsports driver has been one of the Truck Series’ most consistent winners in 2026 and currently holds a 100 point advantage over Kaden Honeycutt. With only two races remaining in the regular season, every stage point and finishing position becomes increasingly important.
Riggs has already established himself as one of the strongest drivers in the series this season, and another strong run Friday could put him in an even better position heading into the final regular season race.
Honeycutt, meanwhile, has plenty of motivation of his own. The TRICON Garage driver sits second in the standings and has been one of Riggs’ biggest challengers throughout the season. A victory at Richmond would not only close the points gap but also give Honeycutt valuable momentum heading into the Chase.
Heim Returns to Richmond
One driver who knows exactly what it takes to win at Richmond is Corey Heim.
Heim is the defending winner of the Truck Series race at Richmond, having taken the 2025 regular season finale at the track. He will return Friday in the No. 5 TRICON Garage Toyota, giving the defending series champion another opportunity to add to his already impressive short-track résumé.
Heim also enters the weekend with momentum from earlier this season. He won at Michigan in June, holding off Honeycutt in a dramatic finish for his first victory at the 2 mile track.
If TRICON can unload with another fast truck, Heim could quickly become one of the favorites to take the checkered flag.
A Loaded Field
The Black’s Tire 250 features a particularly interesting entry list, with 39 trucks entered for the event. Along with the regular Truck Series contenders, several drivers with significant Cup Series experience will compete Friday night.
Shane van Gisbergen will drive the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, while Christopher Bell returns to the Truck Series in the No. 62 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota. Bell’s presence adds another potential contender to an already competitive field.
The biggest storyline, however, may be the return of Virginia native Elliott Sadler. The 51-year-old will make his first Truck Series start since 2011, driving the No. 25 Kaulig Racing Ram. Racing in front of his home-state fans should make Sadler’s return one of the weekend’s most intriguing stories.
Short Track Racing at Its Finest
Richmond is the type of track where a driver’s ability to manage a truck over an entire run can make the difference between a top five finish and a disappointing night.
The race’s 250 lap distance means teams will have opportunities to make adjustments throughout the evening. Pit strategy will be important, but so will keeping the truck underneath the driver during long green flag runs. As tires wear, the preferred line can change, forcing drivers and crew chiefs to continually adapt.
Restarts could also play a major role. With the field bunched together, the closing laps could produce some of the most aggressive racing of the night.
The Playoff Picture
Perhaps more than anything else, Richmond is about positioning.
NASCAR notes that only two races remain before the Chase field is finalized, with five playoff positions still to be determined.
That makes Friday night’s race especially important for drivers hovering around the playoff cut line. A strong finish could provide breathing room, while a wreck or mechanical problem could dramatically change the postseason picture.
For drivers already safely positioned, Richmond offers an opportunity to build momentum and potentially lock up a higher seed. For those on the outside looking in, it may be one of the last opportunities to make a statement.
What to Watch
The biggest questions heading into Friday night are whether Riggs can maintain his championship advantage, whether Honeycutt can close the gap, and whether Heim can repeat his Richmond magic.
The presence of van Gisbergen, Bell and Sadler also gives the race plenty of potential wild cards. Meanwhile, established Truck Series stars such as Chandler Smith, Grant Enfinger, Tyler Ankrum, Tanner Gray and Giovanni Ruggiero will be looking to make their own mark on the night.
Richmond has a long history of producing unpredictable short-track races, and the stakes are even higher this time around. With the Truck Series playoff picture beginning to take shape, Friday night’s Black’s Tire 250 could prove to be one of the most important races of the 2026 regular season.
Race: Black’s Tire 250 presented by BTS Rewards
Track: Richmond Raceway 0.75 miles
Distance: 250 laps
Date: Friday, August 14, 2026
Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Prediction Corey Heim