Former Team Owner Succumbs to Cancer
Riggs Won First Two NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Crowns
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – David Riggs, the patriarch of Riggs Racing, one of the most successful teams in the history of the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, passed away last night after a long battle with cancer.
Riggs got his start in modified racing in 1962 fielding cars in events for over four decades.
He was also an inaugural team owner when the tour began operation in 2005 and along with his son Jeff, won the 2005 and 2006 championships with driver Junior Miller.
In 2008 David Riggs put a young Andy Seuss behind the wheel full-time and proceeded to win seven races with the Hampstead, New Hampshire native.
Riggs quit racing full-time after 2010, when Jeff died unexpectedly in the offseason. Seuss continued using some of Riggs’cars after teaming up with his current owner Eddie Harvey in 2011.
Riggs also fielded cars in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour for drivers such as Jamie Tomaino, Tony Jankowiak, and Tim Arre, and won the prestigious modified race at Martinsville Speedway with Johnny Bryant in 1985.
“David Riggs and his entire family helped get the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour moving forward and their dedication to the series is appreciated,” said Brad Moran, managing director of NASCAR Touring Series. “On behalf of everyone at NASCAR we send our condolences to his wife Margaret and the entire Riggs family.”
Arrangements are incomplete at this time.
Sources: Tim Southers, NASCAR PR