Positive outlook keeps Riggs in BGN points race

His transformation to a star NASCAR Busch Series driver was nearly immediate.

After just seven races in the BGN ranks in 2002, rookie Scott Riggs steered the No. 10 to Victory Lane at Nashville in April. Riggs then proved the Nashville win was no fluke by winning at Fontana two weeks later.

	Scott Riggs has visited Victory Lane twice in 2002. Credit: Autostock

"The best thing about coming on board at ppc Racing is that they are a winning team," said Riggs, who finished fifth in the Craftsman Truck Series standings last year.

"Basically, the only one that left off of their team from 2001 was their driver Jeff Green (who moved on to Winston Cup). So, we came out of the box early and had a lot of confidence and had a lot of success."

Lately, however, Riggs and his team have been battling racing gremlins.

"We have definitely have had an up-and-down season," Riggs said. "We began the season very strong and then got in a slump a little bit. We have still had great race cars, we just have had a lot of bad luck. We have had flat tires at three different tracks and the alternator broke at St. Louis."

Actually, in the past eight races, Riggs has only one top-10 effort -- a sixth-place performance at Michigan earlier this month.

Despite his recent struggles, Riggs remains fifth in the points chase and he has kept a positive attitude about things.

SCOTT RIGGS • Driver Page • Season Stats

"It has been frustrating at times," Riggs said. "But, as long as we can go to the next race, knowing what happened and why it happened, we can have a clear conscious and realize that good finishes are bound to start coming our way again."

Riggs will try to bounce back Saturday when the Busch Series invades legendary Darlington Raceway for Saturday's South Carolina 200.

"I just need to stay focused and concentrate on what I need to do," Riggs said. "We had a great run going there in the spring and I creamed the wall. I am anxious to go back because now I have a better understanding of how the car should feel under me at Darlington and I really think we can get a top-five finish."

In the March race at Darlington, Riggs qualified fourth and crossed the finish line 20th.

"This year, I definitely have had to learn a lot about how these Busch cars drive," said Riggs, who will return with ppc Racing in the BGN circuit in 2003. "On top of that, I have raced at a lot of tracks like Bristol, Charlotte and Chicago that I had never been to before.

"What I have learned so far is that I need to drive hard soon as we get the car off the trailer because every lap we make is critical to the success we have that given weekend."

With 10 races to go in the present Busch season, Riggs has some goals he would still like to achieve.

"I would definitely like to win some more races," he said. "And, I think if we can finish season in the top three in the points and win the rookie of the year award that would be a successful year for us."