All three of NASCAR’s top three series arrived in Nashville last weekend, the tragedy of the weeks prior still weighing heavy on everyone in attendance’s mind. However, the show must go on….and it did in Nashville (despite some weather delays). Nashville, a concrete track known for producing surprise results at times did not disappoint.

From a former Craftsman Truck Series champion having a strong presence on Sunday, to a road course specialist showing he has continued to improve, to everyone in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series fighting for scraps left from domination of top-tier teams…here are this week’s Best of the Rest.

Next article, the ARCA Menards Series, Craftsman Trucks, and Cup teams head to Michigan. The NOAP Series gets their first off-weekend after a long 16 straight race beginning to the season.

ALLEGIANCE 200

Winner: Layne Riggs

#34 Layne Riggs

The upward progression this season for Layne Riggs and his Front Row Motorsports team continued in Nashville. Considered a favorite on these types of tracks, Riggs did a masterful job of wheeling his #34 Ford to the front on a handful of occasions.

With qualifying cancelled due to the weather, the #34 of Riggs earned the pole, but that did not necessarily guarantee a win. While Riggs did easily lead the first 98 of 150 laps, he later would have to race his way back to the front in the waning laps. With a daring last lap shot at the win, Riggs officially led the last lap and secured his third win of the season.

Riggs’ season has been a story of a roller coaster results. While the beginning of the season saw the FRM #34 team struggle to gain footing, Riggs has not finished worse than third in the last three races.

#9 Grant Enfinger

When 2026 started, nobody saw the season going the way it has thus far for Enfinger and the #9 CR7 Motorsports team. Considered a threat weekly the last few seasons, 2026 has seen the CR7 team struggle to show speed most weeks. That switch may have finally been flipped in Nashville, with a grind style of racing Enfinger and team are famous for.

Lining up on the grid 16th due to cancelled time trials, Enfinger and crew finally had a solid day. While the #9 Chevrolet did not sniff the top spot, Enfinger wheeled the CR7 entry to a 7th-place finish…something that should be considered a victory in such a rough season.

Enfinger and owner Codie Rohrbaugh have carved out a niche as a team doing the most with little. An annual championship contender, a decrease in funding this season has throttled back the success of the team a bit. Through 11 races run this season, Enfinger’s last top ten runs came at Darlington and Rockingham early on in 2026.

Photo Credit: Jayski and Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED RESORTS 250

Winner: Justin Allgaier

#19 Brent Crews

What else is there to say about Crews’ performance in Nashville? Not often in a debut season, does a driver have the early success Crews has had. While yes, he is heavily aided by the backing of Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota, he still has to go out an prove himself capable of such a position at the young age of 18.

Nashville was a standout performance for the rookie, where he led the third-highest amount of laps (45) in the event. and came home with a second place finish, after rolling off 33rd in JGR’s #19 Toyota.

Crews’ 2026 has been an interesting study, not approved to run on all tracks until he turned 18. He began competing on a weekly basis in Bristol, and has already collected six top ten finishes in 8 races.

#26 Dean Thompson

Strong recognition this week also goes to Dean Thompson and his Sam Hunt Racing #26 Toyota team. Entering his sophomore season with SHR and the NOAP Series, expectations are naturally a bit higher. In a season dominated by JR Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Hendrick Motorsports’ Corey Day, Thompson has quietly flown under the radar many weeks.

Nashville was another one of those weeks, which saw a top ten dominated by JR Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing. However, Thompson and his SHR #26 team had a quiet but solid day….starting 13th and finishing 14th.

Like many, Thompson’s 2026 season started off rough, with many finishes outside of the top 20. That does not however negate the solid runs Thompson has had, including a 6th (Talladega), and 7th (Martinsville).

Photo Credit: Jayski and Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

CRACKER BARREL 400

Winner: Denny Hamlin

#97 Shane Van Gisbergen

Trackhouse’s SVG had what could unbelievably be called a breakout performance on the concrete in Nashville. We know the exceptional talent SVG has on street and road courses, but the many oval tracks that are on NASCAR’s schedule presented a challenge, forcing the Trackhouse driver to learn something new.

Nashville answered those questions in a mighty way for the #97 Chevrolet driver, with Van Gisbergen running prominently at the front of the field throughout the race. With time trials again cancelled on the Cup side, the #97 Chevrolet rolled off 10th, ran with the leaders even leading 12 laps, and finishing a strong 5th.

Through 14 races run in the Cup Series this season, the New Zealand native has quietly gained experience on ovals, culminating in an 11th in Charlotte last week, and a top five run in Nashville. If the recent momentum and performance continues, SVG could be a force to be reckoned with as a championship threat in the coming years.

#38 Zane Smith

Nashville has always had a special bond with Front Row Motorsports’ Zane Smith. Some of the young FRM driver’s best performances have come on the concrete banks of Nashville, and last Sunday was no different. Like teammate Todd Gilliland and the #34 crew, Smith and his #38 team have been showing speed in recent weeks.

History repeated itself again, with Smith starting the #38 Ford 11th, racing his way to the front and leading 18 laps, and collecting a 9th-place finish by race’s end. Nashville was a new bar set for the FRM driver, having not finished worse then 22nd in the last five races. Of those five races recently, Smith also has one top five and two top ten finishes.

Nashville and Smith have a rich history as mentioned above. From it being the site of his first career Cup Series runner-up finish in 2024, to not finishing worse then 13th in his Cup career at the track. Smith also has three top ten finishes in three career Truck starts at the track.

Photo Credit: Jayski and Front Row Motorsports