The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is gearing up to head to North Wilkesboro Speedway, with 35 trucks ready to do battle at the historic 0.625-mile racetrack in the hills of Wilkes County.
One of those drivers was supposed to be AJ Waller, who was due to drive the No. 2 for Reaume Brothers Racing, alongside teammates Derek White in the No. 22 and full-timer Frankie Muniz in the No. 33.
However, that will no longer be happening.
Alan and Marian Waller, as well as their daughter Carrie Stone — Waller’s grandparents and aunt — were tragically killed in a car accident on Mother’s Day (May 11). Waller will step out of the seat this weekend. White will move over to drive the No. 2, while Tyler Tomassi will take over the No. 22 as Waller’s de facto replacement at North Wilkesboro.
“Tyler Tomassi will pilot the No. 22 Badass Workbench F-150 this weekend,” RBR said in a team release. “It is with a heavy heart that he steps into the seat in relief of AJ Waller, whose grandparents and aunt were tragically killed in a crash on Mother’s Day in Alabama.”
”I want to extend my thoughts to AJ’s entire family after such an incredible loss,” Tomassi added. “While I’m excited to get behind the wheel I know I will be racing for more than RBR and myself this weekend.”
Condolences go out to the entire Waller family as they deal with a tragic and unthinkable situation.
The 21-year-old has been through more than any 21-year-old should have to go through. A racer since the age of 4, Waller faced his first major bout of adversity at the age of 15 when he was diagnosed with cancer. Not just any form of cancer, either — doctors diagnosed him with Stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
After months of chemotherapy, he returned to the racetrack in 2022 full-time.
“I didn’t let it stop me,” Waller told Citrus County Chronicle. “I tried to do everything normal, that I would normally do. But I couldn’t get really dirty because of the treatments and my immune system was really bad because of it.
”For the most part I tried to do everything as normal as possible, didn’t let it slow me down.”
Three years later, in 2025. Waller got to test an ARCA Menards Series car at Daytona International Speedway in January, driving the No. 73 for KLAS Motorsports — a car normally driven by KLAS co-owner Andy Jankowiak.
”I told my crew chief and I told my dad, that was the coolest thing I’ve ever done,” Waller told CCC. “It was the coolest opportunity ever to be able to drive at Daytona.”
Eventually, it was announced that Waller would get his chance in a truck with RBR, driving the No. 22 at Martinsville Speedway.
”I’ve fought for this moment both on and off the track, and I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity with Reaume Brothers Racing,” Waller said. “Martinsville is a track full of history, and I’m ready to make the most of this incredible opportunity.”
Waller qualified 28th, the best of RBR’s three trucks. However, another health issue befell Waller, and he couldn’t finish the race. During stage two, Waller began to feel overheated and pulled his truck behind the wall and went to the infield care center.
Team owner Josh Reaume, not wanting the truck to record a DNF, hopped in the truck himself and finished the race.
As much as it stinks to not be able to finish your debut race, Waller should be commended for recognizing that his health comes first. He could have pushed through like some do, but his health would likely only continue to deteriorate and would be much worse for wear after the race. Good on him for recognizing he couldn’t carry on.
Waller later told Toby Christie after the race that he only had a helmet blower and not a cool suit, which he felt might have contributed to getting too hot.
At the time, Waller had only been confirmed for Martinsville, but had hinted at maybe trying to run North Wilkesboro to Christie. That hope became reality when Waller showed up on the entry list this week for the Window World 250.
Unfortunately, Waller will not get to compete after voluntarily stepping out of the truck to head for Alabama to mourn the loss of three of his family members — and rightfully so. As we’ve seen so many times in the past, some things are just bigger than racing, and this is absolutely a case where choosing not to race is not only encouraged, but supported and almost feels like should be mandated.
In the team release, RBR says it will “pay tribute” to Waller’s three fallen family members. Hopefully, it means they will ride on the name rail of Tomassi’s No. 22 and/or a remembrance decal will be placed on Tomassi’s truck.
Hopefully RBR can give Waller another shot in one of its trucks this season, so he has a proper chance to complete a full race, as he’s 0-for-2 due to situations completely out of his control. This young man has the heart of a warrior and he will no doubt want to return to the racetrack and race his heart out for an entire Truck Series event in honor of his grandparents and aunt.
In the meantime, continued thoughts and prayers go out to Waller and his entire family as they navigate through a difficult time.
The racing absolutely can wait.
Truckin’ Tidbits
- Conner Jones is returning to the Truck Series circuit, this time driving for Niece Motorsports in the No. 44 in select races, beginning at North Wilkesboro. Jones has not competed in a Truck Series race since last season, where he caught criticism from all angles at the end of the season for intentionally wrecking Matt Mills at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Jones was subsequently suspended and (presumably?) released from ThorSport Racing. Coincidentally, Jones now joins the same race team Mills drives for. That’s … a choice from Niece. Talk about “awkward.”
- Speaking of the No. 44 truck, has anyone heard from Christian Rose recently? Rose was due to be the full-time driver of the truck before sponsorship fell through at the 11th hour. Jones becomes the fourth driver to sit behind the wheel of the No. 44, after Bayley Currey, Ross Chastain and Matt Gould. Despite the team saying it’d love to get Rose behind the wheel once sponsorship is found, both parties have gone radio silent on any potential updates. With Jones joining the team, is Rose still even with Niece?
- If you’re looking for a dark horse/non-Corey Heim pick to win North Wilkesboro, I’d keep an eye on Patrick Emerling, who makes his first Truck Series start since 2017. He’s driving the No. 75 Henderson Motorsports Chevrolet, which can bring some sneaky fast trucks to the race track. Combine that with Emerling’s background as a Whelen Modified Tour driver on a short track like Wilkesboro, and the No. 75 could potentially pull off a huge upset.
- Layne Riggs was disqualified from his second-place finish at Kansas Speedway after failing post-race inspection. It’s the fourth time FRM has been disqualified from a Truck Series race — once per season beginning in 2022. What gives? Why is FRM the only team facing disqualification once per year? For a one-truck team that only expanded to two trucks this season, quality control and in-race maintenance of equipment needs heightened. That, or somebody needs to be fired for the continual post-race DQs.
- Speaking of Riggs, he will sport the colors of his alma mater UNC Charlotte in the next two races at North Wilkesboro and Charlotte Motor Speedway. Riggs joins a list of NASCAR and ARCA Menards Series drivers (such as William Byron, Brandon Brown, and Bryce Haugeberg, to name a few) to be sponsored by the college from which they graduated.
- Spencer Boyd will sport new colors at North Wilkesboro, as RightMark Roofing will sponsor his No. 76 for the Window World 250.
- Overplay will sponsor ThorSport Racing in two races, both at Charlotte. The company will sponsor Ty Majeski at the oval on May 23, then will sponsor Ben Rhodes at the ROVAL on Oct. 3.
- At Kansas, Muniz stayed out on pit strategy and led a lap. He asked on the radio if he was the first actor to lead a lap in NASCAR — the answer to which is no. Stuntman and actor Stan Barrett has led four laps in the Cup Series, while Chad McCumbee has led 70 laps in the Truck Series. Okay, while he’s technically not an actor, McCumbee did play Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the television film 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story.
Anthony Damcott joined Frontstretch in March 2022. Currently, he is an editor and co-authors Fire on Fridays (Fridays); he is also the primary Truck Series reporter/writer and serves as an at-track reporter. He has also assisted with short track content and social media, among other duties he takes/has taken on for the site. In 2025, he became an official member of the National Motorsports Press Association. A proud West Virginia Wesleyan College alum from Akron, Ohio, Anthony is now a grad student. He is a theatre actor and fight coordinator in his free time.
You can keep up with Anthony by following @AnthonyDamcott on X.