Riggs winds up winning as Bliss runs out of gas

MADISON, Ill. -- Scott Riggs led just one lap during Saturday's Charter Pipeline 250, but it was the most important one.

Mike Bliss, who was running comfortably in front, ran out of fuel with less than one lap to go, handing the win to Riggs, who was nearly four seconds behind at that point.

Bliss shook his car back and forth on the backstretch in a futile effort to find more gas in the tank as Riggs dodged him and drove away. Bliss wound up 12th.

"I was pretty surprised, those guys usually get pretty good gas mileage," Riggs said. "They kept telling me to conserve gas, conserve gas. He had the car to beat."

A stunned Bliss was disbelieving afterwards. He said the crew had figured there was enough fuel in the tank to make 10 extra laps.

"I guess we didn't get it full," Bliss said. "I just can't believe it."

David Green wound up second, three seconds behind Riggs. The rest of the top five included Jason Keller, Brian Vickers and Bobby Hamilton Jr.

Stacy Compton had been running with Riggs until a few laps from the end, when his engine began to misfire. He wound up sixth.

Points leader Todd Bodine battled all day after starting 40th. He finished 11th but gave up the points lead to Green.