Category: Truck Series

Ford EcoBoost 200 | Homestead-Miami Speedway Race Advance

Team: No. 38 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado

Driver: Ross Chastain

Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @RossChastain

Chastain on Racing at Homestead: “I always enjoy coming to Homestead, so this weekend will be no different,” said Chastain. “This is as close as NASCAR comes to my hometown – I’m excited to be back in Florida. I know this Niece Motorsports team has been working hard all year, and especially on this truck, and I’m really hoping I can help this team close out the 2018 season on a high note.”

Chastain at Homestead: Chastain will look to make his fifth NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) start at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday. In his previous four starts, Chastain has two top-10 finishes, with his best finish of eighth coming in 2013. In those four starts, Chastain has three top-15 finishes.

Chastain also has four NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, earning three top-20 finishes.

About Chastain: Chastain looks to make his third start for Niece Motorsports in 2018. In August, Chastain made his first start with Niece Motorsports at Bristol Motor Speedway. The veteran racer turned in a solid performance in the No. 38 Chevrolet, qualifying 10th and finishing the night in 12th.

The 2018 season has been a busy one for Chastain, who has competed in all three of NASCAR’s major series. To date, Chastain has made 33 starts in the MENCS, 32 starts in the NXS, and six starts in the NCWTS this season.

In September, Chastain broke into the Winner’s Circle in the NXS, after putting on a dominating performance at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, winning each stage of the race and leading 180 of 200 laps.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2018, Niece Motorsports enters its second full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, fielding two full-time teams with Austin Wayne Self and Justin Fontaine. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 30 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Ford EcoBoost 200 | Homestead-Miami Speedway Race Advance

Team: No. 45 ProMATIC Automation | Superior Essex Chevrolet Silverado

Driver: Justin Fontaine

Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @driverfontaine

Fontaine on Racing at Homestead: “I can’t believe the end of the season is here,” said Fontaine. “It’s been an incredibly humbling season driving for Niece Motorsports and we’ve had a lot to be proud of.

“Through the good and bad though, my Niece Motorsports team has stuck behind me and I know Homestead will be no different this weekend.

“I’ve heard a lot about the track and a lot of the drivers have told me it’s one of their favorites because it’s a place where there is lots of room to race. There’s a lot on the line for some on Friday night, but for us, it’s business as usual. And there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Fontaine at Homestead: Friday night’s season finale will mark Fontaine’s first start at Homestead-Miami Speedway as he closes out his rookie campaign.

Recapping Phoenix: In his first start at ISM Raceway, Fontaine earned a 24th-place finish.

“It was an OK night for our No. 45 ProMATIC team,” said Fontaine. “It was just so hard to pass the whole night and the cautions didn’t fall our way when we needed them to, to make up any ground.”

On the Truck: Fontaine’s No. 45 Chevrolet will carry the ProMATIC Automation, Inc. colors in this week’s race. ProMATIC Automation, Inc. specializes in the design and build of custom factory automation equipment.

ProMATIC Automation, Inc. has extensive experience in the integration of high-level automation technologies like robotics, laser, vision, and dispensing systems along with many years of combined experience in the design and machining of custom manufactured components.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2018, Niece Motorsports enters its second full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, fielding two full-time teams with Austin Wayne Self and Justin Fontaine. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 30 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as twitter @NieceMotorsport.

Ford EcoBoost 200 | Homestead-Miami Speedway Race Advance
Team: No. 22 GO TEXAN | AM Technical Solutions Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Austin Wayne Self
Follow the Team: @NieceMotorsport; @AustinWSelf

Self on Racing at Homestead: “Homestead is a blast,” said Self. “It’s a fast race track with plenty of room to race. It’s also one of those tracks that is really temperature sensitive. We’ll practice and qualify during the day, but run at night, so we have to make sure we’re doing our part to keep our No. 22 GO TEXAN | AM Technical Solutions Chevrolet Silverado adjusted accordingly.

“It’s a fast-paced race. Restarts will be pretty important and exciting at the same time. I just need to be smooth on the wheel and rely on my team for good pit stops and hope when push comes to shove, we’re competing for a top-10 when the checkered flag waves.”

Self at Homestead: Self has two previous NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, with his best finish of 17th coming in this race last season.

Recapping Phoenix: Self and the No. 22 team battled track position at a newly reconfigured ISM Raceway to earn a 19th-place result.

“It was another solid night for our Niece Motorsports team,” said Self. “We made some changes to our No. 22 GO TEXAN | AM Technical Solutions Chevrolet Silverado throughout the night and the truck responded. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the track position we needed to have a better finish.

“We’ll go to Homestead next weekend and look to wrap up the year on a high note.”

On The Truck: The Texas Department of Agriculture’s GO TEXAN program and AM Technical Solutions will support Self.

GO TEXAN represents Texas agri-business on state, national and international levels by building recognition with the GO TEXAN mark.

Along with its signature mark in the shape of Texas, GO TEXAN celebrates, promotes and supports the business savvy and plainspoken grit Texas agriculture is known throughout the world.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2018, Niece Motorsports enters its second full season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, fielding two full-time teams with Austin Wayne Self and Justin Fontaine. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 30 years provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Niece Equipment’s reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind for the construction and mining industry. Follow the team on Facebook and Instagram @NieceMotorsports as well as twitter @NieceMotorsport.

NCWTS Advance: Homestead-Miami Speedway

Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway, 1.5-mile oval
Event: NCWTS 200 (134 laps, 201 miles)
Entries: Chris Windom
No. 54 Baldwin Brothers Racing Toyota Tundra
Schedule: Friday, Nov. 16
8:35 a.m………..Practice
10:05 a.m………..Final Practice
3:45 p.m………..Qualifying (FS1)
8:00 p.m………..Race (FS1)
(all times ET)
__________________________________

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Nov. 13, 2018) — The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) will head to Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway this weekend for the 2018 season finale. USAC Champion Chris Windom will be behind the wheel of the No. 54 Baldwin Brothers Racing / Central Abrasives Toyota Tundra in Friday’s 200 mile race.

The NCWTS 200 will mark the 27-year-old Canton, Ill. native’s fifth-career Truck Series race, his second for DGR-Crosley. Windom has one prior start at the one-and-a-half mile track of Homestead-Miami Speedway which occurred in 2017 with MB Motorsports. An electrical issue during that race forced him to retire from competition early, relegating him to a 26th-place finish. Earlier this season, Windom raced in the Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway for DGR-Crosley where he earned a 14th-place finish despite fighting engines issues. The top-15 that he and the No. 54 Toyota Racing team earned at Eldora was a career best NCWTS finish for Windom. He will return to Homestead-Miami Speedway with the familiar voice of Bono Manion calling the shots atop the pit box, looking to top his career high finish.

Practice, qualifying and the NCWTS 200 will all take place on Friday, Nov. 16. Qualifying will kick-off at 3:45 p.m., ET on FS1 with racing action beginning at 8:00 p.m., also on FS1.
______________________________________________________________________

Windom on Homestead: “I’m thankful for the opportunity to return to the Truck Series and race with DGR-Crosley again this season. We had a strong Toyota Tundra at Eldora [Speedway] before the engine issues came into play, and I’m confident that the guys will unload another fast truck for me in Homestead. This will only be my second mile-and-a-half start in a truck, but I’m confident in the equipment and I’ll have Bono and David [Gilliland] there to lean on. I’m excited to see what we can do. Hopefully, we can end the season on a high note for everyone at DGR-Crosley.”
______________________________________________________________________

Season Review: The No. 54 Toyota Tundra has had 10 different drivers behind the wheel this season in DGR-Crosley’s first season as a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series team. The No. 54 team has an average finish of 16th through 22 races with four top-five, five top-ten and 17 top-20 finishes with 79 laps lead. The team currently sits 16th in NCWTS Owner Point Stands, 20 points behind the 15th-place team.

Sheldon Creed, No. 2 United Rentals / Team Chevy Chevrolet Silverado
Homestead-Miami Stats
This will be Creed’s first NCWTS start at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
2018 Season Stats
4 starts, 1 top-10

Notes:

– This weekend Creed will race chassis no. 307 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The No. 2 has utilized this chassis in five other races during the 2018 NCWTS season, collecting two top-10 and four top-15 finishes with Cody Coughlin.

– For the season finale at Homestead, Creed’s No. 2 Chevrolet Silverado will continue to carry longtime supporter United Rentals. Also highlighted on the No. 2 truck this weekend will be Team Chevy.

Quote:

“I’m really excited for Homestead-Miami Speedway. Just running up on the top along the wall, plus the track wears out fast, so I’m really looking forward to it. Comparing some of the races I’ve run in ARCA to this weekend in Miami, I would say you could take away things from a track like Iowa Speedway where you run along the fence, or Chicagoland Speedway where you get up there as well. There’re a few tracks that we had to run the top at, but I still think Homestead is going to be unlike anything I’ve raced at so far.”

Johnny Sauter, No. 21 ISM Connect Chevrolet Silverado
Homestead-Miami Stats
11 starts, 1 win, 4 top-fives, 8 top-10s
2018 Season Stats
22 starts, 6 wins, 14 top-fives, 17 top-10s

Notes:

– Sauter will run GMS chassis no. 304 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This particular chassis has been a favorite of the No. 21 team since its debut last year a ISM Raceway where Sauter picked up the win. This year, it has been raced five times with Sauter earning the win at Dover and finishing no worse than eighth Pocono Raceway.

– Sauter has been eligible to compete for the NCWTS championship in Miami each season since joining GMS in 2016, the same year he earned his first championship title. Every season since then, the Necedah, Wis., native has become the winningest driver at both Daytona International Speedway and Martinsville Speedway and has moved up to fifth on the NCWTS All-Time Wins list, among other accomplishments.

– For the first time, GMS will have two drivers competing for the title in Miami as Sauter is joined in the Championship Four by teammate Justin Haley.

Quote:

“I tend to enjoy tracks where the racing is in the driver’s hands. You can move around, pick which lane works best for you and how your truck is handling but at the end of the night, whether you did good or bad, it’s just as much on you as it is the setup being right. You have to be able to communicate what you need to run the top, middle or bottom and if you can’t then you’re going to end up in trouble.”

“This has been a phenomenal season for the No. 21 team and GMS Racing as a whole. I’ve felt like the last two seasons there were some wins we left out on the track; we should’ve had more, even with the title in 2016 which was a great accomplishment. Once again, I think there were a few that we missed out on, but I know what it took to get six wins this year so there’s no disappointment in not having more, especially when you look at GMS having 10 wins total. This is a strong organization, everyone is committed to getting the job done and if anyone watching thinks we aren’t one of the top teams then I’m not sure what else we can do to prove it to them. Everyone has an opinion and you’re not always going to like what they have to say, but Mr. Gallagher brought us in to win. We race hard and we don’t like to lose, and that’s what every person back in Statesville expects from us. So it’s time for us to bring them another trophy.”

Justin Haley, No. 24 Fraternal Order of Eagles Chevrolet Silverado
Homestead-Miami Stats
1 start, 1 top-10
2018 Season Stats
22 starts, 3 wins, 9 top-fives, 17 top-10s

Notes:

– The Fraternal Order of Eagles team will unload chassis no. 305 for the season finale at Homestead. A staple for the No. 24 team during the 2018 season, Haley has raced chassis no. 305 seven times already this year. In those seven starts, Haley collected three top-five and five top-10 finishes, including his most recent NCWTS win at Texas Motor Speedway just two weeks ago.

– This weekend will be the first time Haley will appear in the Championship Four of the NASCAR Playoffs. While this is Haley’s second NCWTS season, he only competed in 21 of 23 races last season due to an age restriction forcing him to miss the first two races of 2017.

Quote:

“I’m really proud of the year this team has had. We’ve been working hard since last season to get to this point. After my first win in Gateway, the No. 24 team has had momentum on its side, and I think we really started getting rolling at the right time, during the first two rounds of the Playoffs. Now we’re headed to Homestead for a shot at the championship and I couldn’t be more excited. Hopefully we can keep the momentum we’ve built up on our side and wrap up the 2018 season on top.

“Our notebook for Homestead is pretty thin since we only race there once a year. While it’s a mile-and-a half track, it’s unlike any other one we race at, and tire falloff is huge. Last year we had good speed at Homestead, but I think we’ve learned a lot since we raced there last, so I think we’ll show up even stronger this time.”

Tyler Dippel, No. 25 Vai Anitta Chevrolet Silverado
Homestead-Miami Stats
This will be Dippel’s first NCWTS start at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
2018 Season Stats
4 starts, Best Finish: 13th (Eldora)

Notes:

– The No. 25 team will utilize GMS chassis no. 308 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. This chassis has been raced three times this year with a best finish of third at Pocono Raceway.

– Netflix’s docuseries “Vai Anitta” is featured on the No. 25 for this week. “Vai Anitta” follows the life of Brazil’s biggest pop star and social media personality, Anitta, as she travels the world performing and collaborating with today’s top performers. Anitta has had three chart-topping albums released by Warner Music Brazil, including the hit single “Downtown” – the first song by a Brazilian artist to be featured on Spotify’s Top 20. The “Vai Anitta” series is Shots Studios’ first production for Netflix.

– Joining “Vai Anitta” on the No. 21 is the Hue Jackson Foundation.The Hue Jackson Foundation is committed to empowering children, teens, and adults through awareness, education and prevention of Human Trafficking while assisting survivors and their families in their journey through recovery and survivorship.

Quote:

“These last three races have been more than I could have hoped for. I can’t thank everyone at GMS enough for the opportunity, especially Jerry (Baxter, crew chief) and the No. 25 team. These guys have brought fast trucks each week and stuck with me as I continued to learn. Hopefully we can go out here to Miami and build on what we’ve done the last three weeks, and close out the season strong.”

ABOUT GMS RACING

GMS Racing competes full-time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with drivers Johnny Sauter, Justin Haley, Sheldon Creed and Tyler Dippel, and in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Since the team’s start in 2014, GMS Racing has grown to occupy several buildings located in Statesville, N.C. The campus also includes operations for GMS Fabrication.

SOCIAL MEDIA

To keep up-to-date with the latest news, information and exclusive content, follow GMS Racing on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – On the heels of their fifth top-10 finish of the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) season, Jesse Little and JJL Motorsports head to Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway, site of Friday night’s season-finale looking to end their season – the same way it started, with a top-10 finish in its Skuttle Tight Ford F-150.

The Ford EcoBoost 200 will mark the team’s ninth race of the year and while much of the season has been considered an arousing success, the Sherrills Ford, N.C.-based team isn’t losing sight of the bigger picture.

“Honestly, I’d love to win,” said driver Jesse Little. “Our team is the strongest its been all year. We have a lot of great support and our trucks are fast. I’m eager to get to Homestead and get down to business, but I honestly think we can be a sleeper on Friday night and contend for the win.”

Of course, Homestead marks the Championship 4 race for the Truck Series and while Little says respect of the championship contenders is important, he also knows Friday night’s race offers another chance to keep his family-owned team in the spotlight.

Little, 21, will make his third start at Homestead and first since 2016. In his two previous starts at the 1.5-mile speedway, he earned a best finish of 14th in 2015, while earning a best starting spot of 12th two years ago.

This weekend, Little hopes to improve the bottom line.

“I enjoy racing at Homestead, it’s a racers race track,” he explained. “The track is going to change a lot from the start of the day to the end of the race – but that will help make it exciting. Handling will be crucial as the best handling car will be able to pass trucks.

“My crew chief Matt (Noyce) has a good setup and we’re just looking forward to getting down to Florida and doing our business.”

Like Texas, Little’s truck will be sponsored by Skuttle Tight, a Willmar, Minn.-based manufacturer that offers two insulted attic access system that are easy to install.

In addition to Skuttle Tight and Grindstaff Rub. Co., Little’s No. 97 Ford F-150 will have support from Ford Performance and Performance Friction Corporation (PFC) Brakes.

JJL Motorsports owner Jason Little says the organization continues to prepare for the 2019 season is hoping to compete full-time, but the team needs additional partners for next year to make it happen.

“The team continues to showcase its program and search for new partners who can benefit from participation in the 2019 Gander Outdoors Truck Series,” said Little. “We believe we have one of the strongest teams out here competing in the Truck Series and offer a very compelling return for our partners.

“When we analyze sponsorship metrics from Joyce Julius & Associates, the industry source for accurate exposure and value measurement of sponsorship programs and branding efforts JJL Motorsports and Jesse Little continue to be one of the top performers in the Truck races we run said Little.”

“It’s a challenge to find business and marketing partners but we will continue to work hard to compete for top-fives and wins every race. It’s been very exciting to see the improvement in the team and Jesse’s performance this season finishing consistently in the top-10 and competing for wins at tracks like Atlanta, Dover, Iowa, Las Vegas and Texas.

“Looking forward to seeing what the team can do at Homestead and close out the year with another impressive performance.”

Stay tuned to JJL Motorsports’ social media accounts early in the week for two opportunities to attend the season finale at Homestead as guests of Jesse Little and the team.

The Ford EcoBoost 200 (134 laps | 201 miles) is the 23rd of 23 races on the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck schedule. Practice begins on Fri., Nov. 16 from 8:35 a.m. – 9:25 a.m., while final practice is set for 10:05 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. Qualifying is set for later in the day beginning at 3:45 p.m. The 32-truck field will take the green flag shortly after 8:00 p.m. with live coverage on FS1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite Radio, Channel 90). All times are local (Eastern).
For more on Skuttle Tight, please visit skuttle-tight.com or by calling 1-866-SKUTTLE. Also visit them on Facebook (Skuttle Tight Inc.) or on Twitter @SkuttleTight.

For more on the Grindstaff Rub. Co and their products, please visit grindstaffrubs.com.

For more on Jesse Little, please like him on Facebook at Jesse Little Racing.

Little tweets too. Follow him @JesseLittle97.

For additional information on JJL Motorsports, please visit JJLRacing.com.

JJL Motorsports tweets too. Follow them @JJL_Motorsports.

About Skuttle Tight:

Skuttle Tight is a Willmar, Minnesota-based manufacturer that offers two insulated attic access system that are easy to install. The ST-200SW is adaptable for sidewall applications while the ST-100 model for ceiling applications.

Both models are pleasant to look at and can be installed in new construction or retro-fitted in an existing ceiling. The Skuttle Tight system is lightweight, paintable and always accessible.