Credit: Autostock

Riggs' strong run ended by late engine problem

As Scott Riggs looked to be closing in on a top-five finish in Sunday night's Coca-Cola 600, a late race engine problem forced the Valvoline team to run its final 50 laps at Lowe's Motor Speedway on seven cylinders.

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"We chased the setup all night," said Riggs, who started the event 28th. "The team kept making good changes to the Valvoline Chevrolet and we worked our way up front and into some good track position. Things were going our way and we knew we had a shot at a top-five finish. We were cruising around up there making our move, but with about 50 laps to go we lost a cylinder. That put a stop to a strong run."

Riggs was running fifth with 57 laps remaining in the 400-lap, 600-mile event when he radioed his crew that the Valvoline Chevrolet was down a cylinder. Riggs was able to stay on the racetrack and finish the event in 19th place.

"The way the race played out I honestly think we could've been sitting in first place," offered Riggs, who moved from 23rd to 21st in the driver point standings. "The way our pit strategy was working out I really think we had a shot at the victory. The Valvoline Chevrolet was awesome tonight."

"It was still a good night for us," he continued. "We started off struggling a bit and by the end of the night we had a car that could've contended for a win. Everyone did a great job. We'll just come back next week and get them again."

The next stop for the Nextel Cup Series will Sunday, June 5 at Dover International Speedway.