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RFR team profile - Mike Riggs

Crew Member Profile Mike Riggs Position: Shock Specialist No. 98 Nationwide Car From: Son of a Coast Guard Officer, Mike Riggs moved around a lot but graduated from High School near Groton Connecticut. NASCAR Experience: Mike Riggs had an ...

Edited: Jun 18, 2010, 12:50 AM

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Crew Member Profile

Mike Riggs
Position: Shock Specialist No. 98 Nationwide Car

From: Son of a Coast Guard Officer, Mike Riggs moved around a lot but graduated from High School near Groton Connecticut.

NASCAR Experience:

Mike Riggs had an interest in motorsports and made the decision after high school to go to Five Off Five On pit school in the Charlotte area. Riggs completed the eight week course in 2003 and competed in 20 races that year for the school.

In 2004 Riggs got the opportunity to go over the wall as a tire carrier for the then little known Carl Edwards on the No. 99 in the truck series. That year the team went on to win three races and none top-five finishes.

After a successful year with Edwards, Riggs found an opportunity with Penske racing in the Cup Series working as a tire carrier on the No. 12 team (Ryan Newman). During the season, Riggs learned how to build shocks. Riggs' most memorable moment from that year was winning the All Star Race. Later that year he was asked to leave the team after putting the tires on the wrong side of the car in the Fall Pocono race.

Undaunted by this error, Riggs found a job on the No. 60 Roush Racing Nationwide Series car and started at Indy. He also worked on the No. 7 (Robby Gordon) in the Cup Series and worked double duty through the end of the 2005 season.

With his new training as a shock specialist, Riggs would further his career in 2006 by becoming the Shock Specialist and Tire Carrier on No. 60 (Carl Edwards) for the full season. In 2007, he was a part of the Nationwide Championship Team with Edwards. He would hold that position until 2010 when he joined the No. 98 Roush Fenway Racing / Menards team.

Shock Specialist Responsibilities:

* Prepare shocks for practice, qualifying and the race as directed by the Menards No. 98 Crew Chief Matt Puccia

* Insure proper setup at all the times

* Review and record shock performance

Riggs on his responsibilities: "Building shocks requires attention to detail and is a critical part of our performance on the track. Changing shocks during the race isn't really feasible so I need to insure everything is done as specified and that the shocks perform as desired throughout the race."

Favorite thing about the No. 98 Menards Team:

Great group of guys to work with and feels like they are getting more and more competitive.

Personal Life:

Riggs is getting married in November. He has a rabbit a goldfish and a tarantula. Riggs enjoys Kayaking, mountain biking and the zip line at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte.

-source: rfr

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