Information By: LEIGHTON SIBILLE / NIECE MOTORSPORTS – SALISBURY, NC
NIECE MOTORSPORTS
NCTS RACE ADVANCE: LUCAS OIL INDIANAPOLIS RACEWAY PARK
Race: TSport 200 (200 laps / 137.2 miles) | Race 15 of 23
Track: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
Date & Time: Friday, July 19th | 8:30 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | Motor Racing Network (MRN) | Sirius XM Ch. 90
No. 41 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Bayley Currey | Crew Chief: Cody Efaw
– Currey’s IRP Stats: Bayley Currey will make his first-career start at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday night.
– Niece Motorsports IRP Stats: Niece drivers have combined to make eight starts since IRP was added back to the series calendar in 2022. The team has one top-five finish on the short track, which was secured by Carson Hocevar, who finished fourth in last year’s race.
– On the Truck: Currey’s No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Niece Equipment. Located in Buda, Texas, Niece Equipment specializes in building water and fuel/lube trucks for commercial use on construction projects.
– Recapping Pocono: As rain washed away the Pocono qualifying session, Bayley Currey would start mid-pack in 20th position. On the first lap of the race, contact with the left rear tire forced the No. 41 Chevy to pit, resulting in a 32nd-place run in stage one. Currey rose to 22nd in stage two, and made up a handful of positions to finish in 17th, salvaging a top-20 finish despite early setbacks.
– Points Rundown: Currey’s top-20 result in Pocono bumped him up a spot in the driver points standings. Entering the 15th race of the season, he sits 18th overall and is 21 points behind rookie, Layne Riggs, in 17th.
– Quoting Currey: You’ve said that IRP is one of your most-anticipated tracks this year. Why is that?
“I think it’s one of the best racetracks in the world. I’d put it up there with Iowa and Homestead. I got to test a little bit in the simulator last year before SVG hopped in the truck for the race, and I loved it. I’m really excited to race here; some of the best racing is at IRP. I think Cup should go there, Xfinity, IndyCar, everything should be racing here with the trucks. It’s going to be so much fun.”
– Quoting Efaw: With four trucks entered for the team this week, what are you mainly looking for from all the guys?
“I think the biggest thing that will be a benefit to the team as a whole will be the different perspectives we’ll get this week. Our guys are a tight-knit group, so the teamwork is great with everyone working together. We try to keep an open mind and share as many ideas as we can to find that shared speed among all four teams. That’s what is going to help us the most.” About Niece Equipment: For over 30 years, Niece Equipment has provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Our reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. Each of our water and fuel/lube trucks are engineered with quality and durability in mind. Our capability ranges from 2,000 gallon water trucks to 12,000 gallon water towers. The fuel/lube trucks we offer range from 600 to 4,000 gallons.
No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Jon Leonard
– Mills’ IRP Stats: Matt Mills has made one prior Truck Series start at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, which came last year. Driving for Young’s Motorsports, Mills started the event in 17th and finished 23rd.
– Leonard’s IRP Stats: Jon Leonard has competed in both NCTS races at IRP since its re-addition in 2022. That year, Leonard called Stewart Friesen to a strong, fourth-place finish. Last season, while working with Jake Drew, his truck finished 17th.
– On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra.
– Recapping Pocono: Thanks to his top-10 finish at Nashville, Matt Mills would start the highest of the Niece Motorsports drivers in 13th after qualifying was canceled. Mills showed promise throughout the race as he gained confidence in his truck. Following a 13th-place run in stage one, Mills climbed to 10th in stage two to pick up a point. Before the red flags came out for rain, the No. 42 was slated to finish sixth, but ultimately dropped to eleventh. Still, a solid showing for the team.
– Points Rundown: The streak continues, as for the seventh consecutive race, Mills gained a spot in the points standings. Following his eleventh-place run at Pocono, Mills is now shown in 21st overall. His nearest competitor is Bret Holmes in 20th, who has a 14 point gap on him heading into IRP.
– Quoting Mills: What makes IRP such a fun track amongst all the drivers?
“IRP is great. Last year in my first time running at that track, I wasn’t really sure on what to expect, but it was a lot of fun learning how the track changed throughout the course of the race. We’re able to run on the bottom groove, in the middle, and all the way up to the fence. It was cool figuring out how to pass other guys and put them in uncomfortable positions. It just races like how a short track should feel like. Multiple lanes, having the option to change your line based off how the truck is handling, so I’m really looking forward to going back.”
– Quoting Leonard: Since Matt raced here in a truck last year, does that give you more of a direction on what to look for in terms of his feedback?
“I think that just gives him more confidence more than it does our team. There’s multiple facets and variables to what he ran last year, and we don’t have their notes, so I think this should give him some knowledge and confidence when he starts to head to some of these tracks for a second and third time. He’ll have a better understanding on the balance and know where he needs to run, which will help him trust himself more in the truck.”
About J.F. Electric: J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.
About Utilitra: Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners.
No. 44 Power Plus Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Conor Daly | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
– Daly Returns: As announced last week, NTT INDYCAR SERIES veteran Conor Daly returns to Niece Motorsports for three NCTS races this year. Daly, a local ‘hometown hero’ from Noblesville, IN, will make his first start of the season on Friday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. In three prior Truck Series starts with the team, Daly’s best finish is 18th, recorded twice (Las Vegas, 2020 & Mid-Ohio, 2023).
– Daly’s IRP Stats: It’s been over a decade since Daly last visited IRP, but his lone start at the track proved to be a memorable one. Competing in what was then known as the Star Mazda Championship (now the Indy Pro 2000 Series), Daly picked up the victory in his championship-winning season. The vehicles are about as far from similar as you can get (approximately over 2300 pounds in weight difference alone), but there aren’t many entered in the Truck Series field that can say they’re a past winner at this track.
– Rogers’ IRP Stats: Wally Rogers has made several starts at IRP in both the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and the Xfinity Series. In four NCTS starts atop the pit box, Rogers scored two top-10 finishes including a best showing of third in 2005 with Ron Hornaday. Hornaday would also be the driver to give Rogers his best NXS result at the track two years later, when he finished fifth. Last year, with Lawless Alan as his driver, Rogers’ team finished 23rd in the truck race.
– On the Truck: Daly’s No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Power Plus. The company is a nationwide provider of specialty electrical and power related services including generator service, maintenance & installation, temporary power, designed video surveillance and generator rental/disaster response services.
– New Entry: Friday’s TSport 200 at IRP will be the first sighting of Niece Motorsports’ No. 44 Chevrolet entry this year. The part-time truck will later be driven by Daly at Kansas Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.
– “Daly Double”: In addition to running the Truck Series race at IRP, Conor Daly will also compete in the Xfinity Series event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Sam Hunt Racing. Following the conclusion of NXS practice on Friday, Daly will make his way across town, where he’ll be at IRP for the rest of the day. It’s a good thing he knows the roads around here!
– Anything with Wheels: By the end of the weekend, Daly will have driven four different types of cars and tracks in the span of six days, showcasing how diverse his racing background is. Last Sunday, he was called upon to compete in the INDYCAR race at Iowa Speedway on late notice. On Thursday, he will test a GT3 car at Virginia International Raceway before he heads to Indianapolis to run in the Truck/Xfinity Series races.
– Quoting Daly: This will be your first truck start on a short track, so what will be the biggest hurdle for you to get used to before Friday night?
“Thankfully, it’s a track that I have driven on before and won on. It’s been a while, but this experience in a heavy stock car on a short track will certainly be something that I’ll be learning every lap, every stint, and every stage. I’m going to learn as much as I can to be able to use it towards the end of the race. I’ve also tried to talk to Ross Chastain. He’s very experienced, so I have a really good teammate to learn from. I just have to take advantage of that and be as quick as I can be at the end of the race.”
– Quoting Rogers: With the aggressive nature of the short tracks, what will be some of the most important factors to focus on this week?
“Really, we just need to make sure we have something for the end. I’m hoping my experience at IRP will help Conor since he has little to no experience at this track. If we can just keep ourselves in a decent spot and not make any mistakes or get involved with anything early on, that should help put us in a good position to get a good finish at the end of the race.”
About Power Plus: Power Plus is a nationwide provider of specialty electrical and power related services including Generator Service, Maintenance & Installation, Temporary Power, Designed Video Surveillance and Generator Rental/Disaster Response services. At Power Plus, we are “Always On”, operating 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and are ready to deliver the “Power, When You Need It, Where You Need It”.
No. 45 Designated Drivers Are Legendary Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Ross Chastain | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
– Chastain’s Last Hurrah: Friday’s event at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park will see Ross Chastain make his final CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start of the season with Niece Motorsports. Chastain’s four starts this year have produced one win (Darlington), three top-fives, and three top-10 finishes, including a fifth-place effort last weekend in Pocono.
– Chastain’s IRP Stats: In 2011, Chastain made his NASCAR national series debut in the Truck Series race at IRP. During his series debut, at 18 years old, he put his name on the map by earning a top-10 finish. In the years since, Chastain had never entered another race at this track. He will make his second start on Friday.
– Gould’s IRP Stats: Phil Gould has competed in both races at IRP since 2022, and his trucks have been fast. In the first year, Carson Hocevar led 34 laps before late-race issues relegated him to a 21st-place finish. Last year, though he didn’t lead any laps, Gould’s team finished fourth with Hocevar.
– On the Truck: Chastain’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute to promote the Designated Drivers are Legendary campaign. His truck will also feature associate sponsorship from the Illiana Watermelon Association.
– Cutting it Close: With a full-length, 50-minute practice on hand for the NASCAR Cup Series at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Chastain will be in a unique predicament on Friday. The two tracks aren’t entirely far away from each other, but with only five minutes in between the end of Cup practice to the start of Truck practice, he’ll have to hustle to make some laps. The team will have a driver on standby for the start of practice should Ross get delayed.
– Recapping Pocono: By virtue of the qualifying metric, Ross Chastain started the deepest in the field of the Niece Motorsports drivers in 27th position. He did not stay there for long, however, as he made quick work early on to pick up track position. A 16th-place finish in stage one propelled him to a seventh-place run in stage two, enabling Chastain to fight for the win in the closing laps of the race. With just a handful of laps to go, his truck began to stumble, but held on following both red flags to come home with a top-five finish.
– Owner Points Outlook: Though the No. 45 team might have lost one spot in the owner points standings following the race at Pocono, Chastain’s top-five finish widened the gap to the Playoffs cutline. Currently seeded 10th in owner points, the team has a 19-point cushion above eleventh with only two races in the regular season left to run (IRP & Richmond).
– Quoting Chastain: How challenging is it to jump from the big track in Indy over to the short track at IRP?
“It’ll be a challenge for sure, but that’s part of the reason why I’m so excited to run at both tracks. I have fond memories of IRP; it’s where my career began, and I think the racing here is great. The two tracks are so different, so nothing will carry over, and I’ll have to use a different mindset as soon as I hop out of the Cup car in Friday’s practice. I’ve had a fun year racing for Al (Niece) and everyone at Niece Motorsports. Any time I get the chance to drive one of their trucks, I know we’ll have the pace to contend. I’m hoping to make this last start of the year a good one for all my guys on the No. 45 team.”
– Quoting Gould: What are you looking to build on your short track package for IRP?
“I feel like the past few years, we’ve just been okay at IRP. We haven’t been great, haven’t been bad, but we’re looking to improve on it this week. Really, on the short tracks, our team is pretty good, but IRP is a bit of a different animal. We need to get the trucks handling better with more corner speed to contend for the win. I’ve only been here twice with Carson (Hocevar) before, but we’ve been working on our package with Ross in the simulator, so I’m feeling optimistic about this weekend.”
About Indiana Criminal Justice Institute: The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI) is the state planning agency for criminal justice, juvenile justice, traffic safety and victim services. The institute develops long-range strategies for the effective administration of Indiana’s criminal and juvenile justice systems and administers state and federal funds to carry out these strategies.
Through the use of evidence-based decision-making, ICJI works to improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system, from call for service through post-conviction. The agency accomplishes this by bringing together key leaders from the criminal justice system at the state, local, and national levels to identify critical issues facing Indiana. The agency evaluates policies, programs, and legislation designed to address these issues. ICJI is designated as the State Administering Agency for distribution of federal funds, and as the State Statistical Analysis Center for research.