W
Ward Burton
Guest
NASCAR.COM
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Scott Riggs uses a rather unusual method to try to overcome inconsistency -- be inconsistent.
"In some sick way it was actually a good learning experience for us to run good and bad to know what was working," the NASCAR Busch series driver said.
After a slow start this season, it's certainly working.
Riggs is the only full-time Busch driver with two victories this year, and he's aiming for a third Friday night at Daytona International Speedway.
"We're just really starting to hit our stride," said Riggs, coming off a solid seventh-place finish last Saturday at The Milwaukee Mile. "We finally had some good luck on our side."
In his first nine races, Riggs had just two top 10 finishes.
But since May 2, he's been out of the top 10 only twice. He has victories in Madison, Ill., and Nashville, Tenn., and has finished second twice and third once.
Now, with exactly half of 34 races in the book, Riggs is second in the series standings, just 45 points behind David Green.
Riggs credits first-year crew chief Doug Randolph for his recent success.
"Doug's just come in and put everything in order, laid out a lot better plan, a lot better organization at the race track," Riggs said.
Randolph joined ppc Racing in December. He spent 12 years in the Winston Cup series -- the last three as a crew chief for drivers Dave Blaney and Jimmy Spencer.
Riggs said Randolph does a good job making him explain the feeling he gets from the car. Randolph praises the improved communication between driver and crew chief.
"Pretty early on, we had fast race cars, but we weren't getting the best out of them," he said. "It takes a while to learn when somebody says 'tight,' how tight it is or how big adjustments to make.
"That's just a learning process we all have to go through."
Both expect more success as they gain confidence in one another.
"The more that we run and are competitive, it builds more momentum," Riggs said. "What's been fun since May is being able to be competitive week in and week out."
Riggs knows plenty about being competitive. Last year, he won the Rookie of the Year award, finished 10th in points, won twice and had 13 top 10 finishes.
In 2001, racing in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck series, Riggs had five wins, 16 top 10 finishes, and wound up fifth in points.
But Riggs and Keith Barnwell, general manager of ppc Racing, knew the driver's past success might not be enough to help him seriously contend this season for the Busch championship.
Enter Randolph, and Barnwell is not at all surprised by the effect he's had on Riggs and the team.
"We just felt we had to plug in the right person," Barnwell said. "Organizational skills and direction from Doug has turned the whole team around."
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Scott Riggs uses a rather unusual method to try to overcome inconsistency -- be inconsistent.
"In some sick way it was actually a good learning experience for us to run good and bad to know what was working," the NASCAR Busch series driver said.
After a slow start this season, it's certainly working.
Riggs is the only full-time Busch driver with two victories this year, and he's aiming for a third Friday night at Daytona International Speedway.
"We're just really starting to hit our stride," said Riggs, coming off a solid seventh-place finish last Saturday at The Milwaukee Mile. "We finally had some good luck on our side."
In his first nine races, Riggs had just two top 10 finishes.
But since May 2, he's been out of the top 10 only twice. He has victories in Madison, Ill., and Nashville, Tenn., and has finished second twice and third once.
Now, with exactly half of 34 races in the book, Riggs is second in the series standings, just 45 points behind David Green.
Riggs credits first-year crew chief Doug Randolph for his recent success.
"Doug's just come in and put everything in order, laid out a lot better plan, a lot better organization at the race track," Riggs said.
Randolph joined ppc Racing in December. He spent 12 years in the Winston Cup series -- the last three as a crew chief for drivers Dave Blaney and Jimmy Spencer.
Riggs said Randolph does a good job making him explain the feeling he gets from the car. Randolph praises the improved communication between driver and crew chief.
"Pretty early on, we had fast race cars, but we weren't getting the best out of them," he said. "It takes a while to learn when somebody says 'tight,' how tight it is or how big adjustments to make.
"That's just a learning process we all have to go through."
Both expect more success as they gain confidence in one another.
"The more that we run and are competitive, it builds more momentum," Riggs said. "What's been fun since May is being able to be competitive week in and week out."
Riggs knows plenty about being competitive. Last year, he won the Rookie of the Year award, finished 10th in points, won twice and had 13 top 10 finishes.
In 2001, racing in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck series, Riggs had five wins, 16 top 10 finishes, and wound up fifth in points.
But Riggs and Keith Barnwell, general manager of ppc Racing, knew the driver's past success might not be enough to help him seriously contend this season for the Busch championship.
Enter Randolph, and Barnwell is not at all surprised by the effect he's had on Riggs and the team.
"We just felt we had to plug in the right person," Barnwell said. "Organizational skills and direction from Doug has turned the whole team around."