Jeff Riggs, the crew chief for the #47 Riggs Racing Modified that Andy Seuss drove to seven victories over the past three seasons with on the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, passed away Tuesday night.
The next day, a shocked Seuss remembered a man who was much more than just a talented crew chief, but also a close friend.
“We had such a great time working together and I had so much respect for Jeff and his family,” said Seuss. “The Riggs Racing team has done so much in the sport and they gave me my big break in racing. It was very neat the first time that I ever talked to Jeff. He walked over to me at Greenville-Pickens Speedway (SC) after I won at Nashville. He invited me to come by their trailer and talk to them. They had just come off winning two championships with Junior Miller and were interested in having me run a second car for them. To just be considered was such an honor. Then, Junior left the team after the season and I got the chance to drive for the Riggs family.
“We won races together, but the best part wasn't how we did on the
track but how much our team was one big family. When I went down
south, I stayed at his house. He took me in and that was very special.”
Seuss and the Riggs Racing team won the pole award in their final race of 2010 at Lowe's Motor Speedway and were in contention for the WSMT championship until getting caught in a mid-race wreck. Their plans for 2011 were unclear pending sponsorship, but no matter what happened, the friendship between Jeff Riggs and Andy Seuss would live on.
“We were working on something where we could stay together for next year. We talked on the phone the day before he passed away about some of those opportunities. But no matter what, we were going to stay friends. He had a standing offer to come up North and stay with my family and I whenever he wanted to.”
As true friends, Seuss and Riggs sometimes kidded around with each other and that was something that was on Seuss' mind after hearing about Riggs passing away.
“Jeff used to joke to me that racecar drivers were worth a dime per dozen, and then he'd wink at me to show he was kidding. Well, I know that he was worth his weight in gold. He's going to really be missed.”
