Category: Truck Series PR

Weather Guard Truck Race | Bristol Motor Speedway

Team: No. 42 J.F. Electric/Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Matt Mills (New Philadelphia, Ohio) | Crew Chief: Jon Leonard
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Matt Mills: Twitter: @MattMillsRacing | Instagram: @MattMillsRacing | Facebook: /OfficialMattMillsRacing | Web: mattmillsracing.com

Start: 18th | Finish: 25th | Driver Point Standings: 28th

Matt Mills on Saturday’s Race at Bristol Motor Speedway: “Tonight I made a costly mistake early on in the race,” said Mills. “We fixed it as well as we could, and proved to run top-five lap times. Ultimately, we couldn’t make too much forward progress being laps down. We’ll continue on and look to run a smart race at COTA.”

Race Recap: Mills lined up 18th for Saturday night’s race after the afternoon’s practice and qualifying session. Unfortunately, an early spin and contact with the wall put Mills and the No. 42 team behind the eight ball for the remainder of the race. The J.F. Electric Chevrolet showed speed, but was unable to make up the lost laps, ultimately finishing the day In 25th.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2024, Niece Motorsports enters its ninth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 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 X @NieceMotorsport.

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.

Weather Guard Truck Race | Bristol Motor Speedway

Team: No. 45 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Kaden Honeycutt (Willow Park, Texas) | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Kaden: Twitter: @KadenWHoneycutt | Instagram: @kadenhoneycutt10 | Facebook: /KadenHoneycuttRacing | Web: kadenhoneycuttracing.com

Start: 8th | Finish: 12th | Owner Point Standings: 13th

Kaden Honeycutt on Saturday’s Race at Bristol Motor Speedway: “We got stage points there which is great, and ran around the top-10 all night,” said Honeycutt. “We got a little burned on the second stage with a long run on the tires. It was tough to make up positions, but when we could capitalize, we did. Thank you to Chevy Accessories, Phil [Gould], Niece Motorsports and my entire 45 crew for bringing me another great truck.”

Race Recap: Honeycutt showed speed in practice and qualifying, lining up eighth in the No. 45 Chevy Accessories Silverado. Honeycutt and team ran in the top-10 for the majority of the night, running a clean race. The No. 45 Chevrolet would ultimately end the night in 12th.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2024, Niece Motorsports enters its ninth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 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 X @NieceMotorsport.

Weather Guard Truck Race | Bristol Motor Speedway

Team: No. 41 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Bayley Currey (Driftwood, Texas) | Crew Chief: Mike Hillman Jr.
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Bayley Currey: Twitter: @BayleyCurrey | Instagram: @bayleycurrey05 | Facebook: /bayleycurrey05 | Web: www.bcurrey.com/

Start: 12th | Finish: 11th | Driver Point Standings: 16th

Bayley Currey on Saturday’s Race at Bristol Motor Speedway: “After the last three races, I’m pretty happy about finishing 11th today,” said Currey. “Niece Motorsports and my No. 41 team brought another great truck. This place is tough to pass right now and I think we can go back to the drawing board and improve for fall but I am ready for COTA next week.”

Race Recap: Currey and the No. 41 team lined up 12th to start Saturday night’s first short track race of the season. Track position proved crucial, as moving through the field was tough. Currey ran a clean race in the top-15 for most of the day, before crossing the finish line in 11th.

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2024, Niece Motorsports enters its ninth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 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 X @NieceMotorsport.

TWO TRICON TOP-10’s IN BRISTOL
Corey Heim, Taylor Gray add to their top-10 tallies

BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 16, 2024) – Corey Heim (sixth) and Taylor Gray (seventh) led Toyota with top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday evening.

Dating to last season’s spring race at Bristol, Heim continued his impressive top-10 streak. The Toyota Development Driver has now finished in the top-10, 19 of his last 20 Truck Series starts.

With his seventh-place finish following back-to-back fourth-place runs at Atlanta and Las Vegas, Gray has now earned three consecutive top-10 finishes for the first time in his Truck Series career.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Bristol Motor Speedway
Race 4 of 23 – 250 Laps, 133.25 Miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Christian Eckes*

2nd, Kyle Busch*

3rd, Zane Smith*

4th, Matt Crafton*

5th, Tyler Ankrum*

6th, COREY HEIM

7th, TAYLOR GRAY

15th, TANNER GRAY

21st, WILLIAM SAWALICH

22nd, STEWART FRIESEN

23rd, DEAN THOMPSON

24th, TIMMY HILL

36th, JUSTIN CARROLL

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

COREY HEIM, No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 6th

Solid top-10, but know you wanted more. Can you talk about your race tonight?

“Yeah, we kind of made something out of nothing, I guess. We didn’t qualify well, and we knew that would be the name of the game as part of track position goes. It was an uphill climb from the start. It’s really disappointing to not get any stage points, and come up short of a top-five, but most importantly come up short of a win. Huge thanks to Safelite, TRICON Garage, Toyota Racing for all they do. I feel like we put ourselves in a good spot – just didn’t have the raw speed and didn’t have the track position. We have to keep working on it and get better.”

TAYLOR GRAY, No. 17 Factory Canopies Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 7th

Battled damage early, and came back for a top-10. Can you describe your race?

“Definitely a little bit of a roller coaster of a day. We had a really fast Factory Canopies Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, just struggling with other people’s mistakes. But overall, like I told my crew chief Jeff Hensley, we are pissed off and we finished seventh – so we still had a decent points day. We have to move on and hold our heads high. We will move on to COTA and have a strong run, and have a strong run at Martinsville and Texas, and so forth. Really proud of all of my TRICON Garage guys, just have to keep moving forward.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 63,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 45 million cars and trucks at our 13 manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 14th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 26 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series
Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway | WEATHER GUARD Truck Race at Bristol

Fast Facts
No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Mason Massey
Primary Partner(s): Young’s Building Systems | Randco Industries Inc.
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Silverado RST
2024 Driver Points Position: 21st
2024 Owner Points Position: 26th
Engine: Ilmor Racing Technologies

Notes of Interest:

Welcome To The Team: In February, Young’s Motorsports announced that Mason Massey will compete full-time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series this season aboard the team’s flagship, No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST continuing with Saturday night’s WEATHER GUARD Truck Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

Massey arrives at Young’s Motorsports after running a limited NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule last season for SS-GreenLight Racing, including a top-10 performance at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

The Douglasville, Ga. native started his 2023 Truck Series season with Reaume Brothers Racing and competed in seven races with a season-high 11th place finish at Texas Motor Speedway, but later shifted his presence to Xfinity for five races throughout the 33-race season.

About Mason: Massey has over 20 years of experience behind the wheel, launching his racing career at age five. Since then, he has garnered over 200 feature wins, 11 championships, and 10 track records across multiple series, including the U.S. Legends Pro National Championship.

Amongst the many Late Model victories to Massey’s credit during his tenure in the Bill Elliott Racing Development Program is the 2012 triumph in the Alabama 200. He eventually graduated to NASCAR in 2019, competing in the Truck Series before advancing to the Xfinity Series in 2020.

After part-time Xfinity stints in 2020 and 2021, respectively, the Georgian captured the attention of many with an impressive sixth-place finish in the spring 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series contest at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway in front of the hometown crowd.

With 32 more NASCAR starts to his resume since his first career NASCAR top-10 effort, Massey has landed with Young’s Motorsports, a longtime fixture in the Truck Series, hoping to impress and land the organization back in Victory Lane this season.

All-Aboard!: For the fourth of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races this season, Young’s Building Systems and Randco Industries Inc. will serve as the co-primary marketing partners on the No. 02 Chevrolet Silverado RST for the 250-lap race on Saturday night.

Since 1981, Young’s Building Systems has been providing West Texas with all their metal building needs. This family-owned and operated business has become an industry favorite due to the experience gained and the professional results completed. Young’s Building System is a division of Randco Industries, Inc. We have expanded into a company that has the ability to erect any type of building, from a small single story to a city high-rise.

Our customers have multiple uses for our buildings, including commercial, residential, agricultural, industrial, skid-mounted buildings, and compressor station buildings. We also have a team that specializes in stairs and railings of all shapes and sizes. Young’s Building Systems is fully insured for your peace of mind so we carry workmen’s compensation and general liability that go above and beyond State requirements.

Our company is fully equipped with moving and lifting equipment along with compressors, generators and welding equipment. We have the tools and equipment needed to support large, demanding projects. Our work ethic is based on the principles of quality, promptness, and customer experience.

Young’s Building Systems approaches each job with the mindset. We continuously raise our standard of excellence and work hard to make sure that each and every one of your needs are met.

Longtime Massey supporters BRUNT Workwear and Anderson Power Services will serve as associate partners for the series’ first of two trips to the Thunder Valley in 2024.

Mason Massey Truck Series Bristol Motor Speedway Stats: Saturday night’s rumble will mark Massey’s inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series race at the 0.533-mile speedway on concrete.

Previously, the Georgian has competed at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, but the track was in the dirt mode configuration.

Massey, however, also holds two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts for B.J. McLeod Motorsports and DGM Racing, respectively.

In 2021, Massey’s Xfinity track-best finish was 30th after starting 34th in the Cheddar’s 300 presented by Alsco.

Mason Massey Truck Series Career Stats: Entering Bristol, Massey has 17 career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races to his credit, earning a career-best 11th place finish at Texas Motor Speedway after starting 27th in the SpeedyCash.com 250 for Reaume Brothers Racing.

Since 2019, he has carried an average finish of 24.9.

Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway | Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200 Race Recap: In the third race of the 2024 Truck Series, Young’s Motorsports and Massey searched for another solid finish in Sin City.

Massey was able to have a productive night under the Las Vegas spotlight, qualifying his No. 02 Anderson Power Services Chevrolet Silverado on time with hopes to maneuver forward during the 134-lap race.

Steadily moving forward and continuing to work on the balance of his truck, Massey was able to climb from his 29th-place starting position and gamble during a fuel mileage race in Stage 3 – controlling the Truck Series field for six laps before having to pit for a splash of fuel in the closing laps of the race.

Massey returned to the track for a respectable 21st-place finish.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Bristol Motor Speedway: This weekend will mark Young’s Motorsports’ 23rd NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series start at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

The organization posted a team-best finish of 14th at the track on August 16, 2018, with dirt standout Tanner Thorson at the wheel in the 2018 UNOH 200.

Since 2012, the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young’s Motorsports team has had an average starting position of 23.9 and an average finish of 24.8 in 22 Bristol Motor Speedway starts overall.

Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series History: Since entering the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series in 2012, the Mooresville, N.C., – based organization has logged 475 starts from 59 drivers, resulting in solid performances that include two victories (Talladega Superspeedway 2019 and 2021), seven top-five finishes and 33 top-10 finishes, with an average starting position of 22.8 and an average finishing position of 21.9.

Follow on Social Media: For more on Mason Massey, please visit masonmassey.com, like him on Facebook (Mason Massey Racing), and follow him on Instagram (@mason_massey) and X |Twitter (@mason_massey).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Mason Massey Pre-Race Quote:

On Bristol Motor Speedway: “Bristol is a place that I’ve circled for a few weeks. Qualifying is going to be super important, and that’s something I’ve been focusing on over the off-weekend.

“We’ve done a good job so far getting the best finishes and finding a good balance on the truck throughout the race. I think we can keep that going on Saturday night with our No. 02 Young’s Building Systems | Randco Industries Chevrolet Silverado RST!”

Race Information:

The WEATHER GUARD Truck Race at Bristol (250 laps | 133.25 miles) is the fourth of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2024 schedule. A fifteen-minute practice is slated for Sat., March 16, beginning at 3:00 p.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 3:40 p.m. The field will take the green flag later that night, shortly after 8:00 p.m., with live coverage on FOX Sports 1, the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).

17-Year-Old Prodigy Joins All-Star Lineup

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 15, 2024) – Today, Spire Motorsports announced Connor Zilisch will make his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) debut in next weekend’s XPEL 225 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

In addition to next weekend’s 42-lapper at the 3.14-mile Austin, Texas road course, Zilisch will be at the controls of the No. 7 Chevy Silverado later this season at Talladega Superspeedway. Additionally, Spire Motorsports will coordinate a separate entry for Zilisch at the October 27 NCTS playoff race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Zilisch, 17, is an accomplished karting and road racer who, most notably, was part of Era Motorsport’s LMP2 class win at the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, making him the second-youngest driver, ever, to win the iconic race. He is a 10-time Trans-Am TA2 class race winner and a central component of Trackhouse Racing’s driver development program.

“I can’t wait to make my NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut at Circuit of the Americas, as well as other select races with Spire Motorsports this year,” said Zilisch. “Spire has obviously had a lot of success already this year, so I know that I’m getting into winning equipment. I’ve been doing a lot of preparation for COTA, and I feel that it’s a track that suits my style. I can’t wait to get to work with these guys and hopefully get my No. 7 Austin Hatcher Foundation Chevy Silverado to Victory Lane.”

The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer, through the generosity and support of Hixon Motor Sports, will serve as Zilisch’s primary sponsor for all three races.

The Mooresville, N.C., native is the 2022 Mazda MX-5 championship runner-up where he also claimed rookie-of-the-year honors for Hixon Motor Sports. The Trackhouse Racing development driver made his ARCA Menards Series debut last season at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International where he led 34 of the race’s 42 laps before securing an impressive runner-up finish.

The Austin Hatcher Foundation is a leading nonprofit organization committed to helping families impacted by childhood cancer at no cost, for the entire family’s entire lifetime. The Foundation provides comprehensive, coordinated care through evidence-based therapies, counseling, family programs, grief groups, educational resources and more, fostering resilience and hope for families. The Foundation’s focus not only assists families coping in the present, but helps them thrive in the future following a childhood cancer diagnosis.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Spire Motorsports in a couple different ways,” said Spire Motorsports president Doug Duchardt. “We’re thrilled to have Connor Zilisch drive the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado this season, but separately, we’re looking forward to working closely with our friends at Chevrolet and Trackhouse Racing to help Connor get some vital seat time. Connor is an exceptionally talented young racer whose credentials speak for themselves. It’s almost hard to get your arms around how accomplished he really is, given that he’s just 17-years-old. Based on what he’s done already, we expect Connor to be a key contributor as we race for a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series owner’s championship.”

The XPEL 225 from Circuit of the Americas will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, March 23, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The fifth of 23 NCTS races on the 2024 schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer …
The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer is a leading nonprofit organization committed to helping families impacted by childhood cancer at no cost, for the entire family’s entire lifetime. The Foundation provides comprehensive, coordinated care through evidence-based therapies, counseling, family programs, grief groups, educational resources and more, fostering resilience and hope for families. The Foundation’s focus not only assists families coping in the present, but helps them thrive in the future following a childhood cancer diagnosis.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively. The team will also field the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. An all-star driver lineup will rotate throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Rajah Caruth will drive the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Chevrolets in the No. 77.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on May 20, 2023, when Kyle Larson took the checkered flag in the Tyson 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

In four NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) starts at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS), including both pavement and dirt surfaces, Spire Motorsports has notched one top-10 and three top-15 finishes. Chase Elliott drove the team’s No. 7 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado to a seventh-place finish in the 2022 Truck Race on Dirt at BMS. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NCTS. An all-star driver lineup will rotate throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Rajah Caruth will drive the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Chevrolets in the No. 77.

The Weather Guard Truck Race from Bristol Motor Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, March 16, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The fourth of 23 NCTS races on the 2024 schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Kyle Busch – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

• Kyle Busch will be making his third of five NCTS starts for Spire Motorsports in Saturday night’s Weather Guard Truck Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. This will be his first NCTS start at Bristol since he led a race-high 109 laps en route to victory in August of 2017.
• Across NASCAR’s top three series, Busch has accumulated 22 victories at “The Last Great Colosseum,” including five in the NCTS. In August of 2010, Busch made history when he won the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Cup Series races at Bristol, becoming the only driver to sweep all three of NASCAR’s top-three series at one track on the same weekend. He repeated the feat at Bristol in August of 2017.
• The 38-year-old driver opened his 2024 Truck Series campaign at Atlanta Motor Speedway by picking up his series-record extending 65th career victory in his Spire Motorsports debut. It was his first Truck Series victory for a team other than his own since Kyle Busch Motorsports originated in 2010. Most recently, Busch started fourth and led 13 laps at Las Vegas Motor Speedway before being relegated to a 15th-place finish after the team received a safety violation late in the race and he was forced to complete a pass-thru penalty on pit road.
• The Las Vegas native will get behind the wheel of the No. 7 Chevrolet for two additional races in 2024: Texas Motor Speedway (4/12) and Darlington Raceway (5/10).
• Group 1001 will serve as the primary sponsor on Busch’s Chevy Silverado this weekend. Group 1001 is a collective that empowers companies to create positive growth. Our insurance and annuities are easy to understand and accessible to all. Our online investing platform gives individuals control over their savings. Our technology and innovation help companies succeed. And our strategic partnerships bring people together through education and sports. Group 1001 comprises the following brands: Delaware Life, Gainbridge®, Clear Spring Health, Clear Spring Property and Casualty Group, Clear Spring Life and Annuity Company, and RVI Group.
• In addition to being the winningest driver in NCTS history, he also leads the series all-time with an average finish of 6.4 and ranks second in laps led (7,833).
• ‘Rowdy’ has won 37.8% (65/172) of the Truck Series races he has entered going into the 2024 season and has finished first or second in 56.9% (98/172). Over his last 31 Truck Series starts he has posted an average finish of 2.9, while registering 16 wins and nine runner-up finishes.
• With his win at Atlanta, he extended his series-best streak of winning at least one race to 12 consecutive NCTS seasons (2013-2024).
• Busch will be pulling double duty this weekend, as he heads into his second season behind the wheel of the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Kyle Busch Quotes
It’s been a few years since you’ve raced a truck at Bristol. Are you looking forward to it?
“With having the dirt on Bristol for the first race of the year the last few seasons and the pavement race moving into the Truck Series playoffs, it’s been a while since I’ve raced there in the truck, so I’m looking forward to Saturday with (Brian) Pattie and my No. 7 Group 1001 team. Obviously, I have a lot of fond memories of running a truck at Bristol with being able to start the weekend sweep back in 2010 with the truck win and then being able to repeat it the last time I was in the truck race back in 2017. It won’t be a triple this weekend, but my goal is to go sweep the weekend and add to the Bristol trophy collection.”

Rajah Caruth – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

• Rajah Caruth heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for Saturday’s Weather Guard Truck Race with momentum on his side after picking up his first NCTS victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. HENDRICKCARS.COM will serve as the primary sponsor for Caruth and Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado throughout the 2024 season.
• Caruth earned his first pole position at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and went on to lead 38 of 134 laps, securing the win by 0.851 seconds.
• After 30 NCTS starts, Caruth joins NASCAR Hall of Famer, Wendell Scott and current NASCAR Cup Series regular Bubba Wallace as the third African American to win a NASCAR National Touring Series race. Caruth currently sits fourth in the NCTS driver standings, three races into the 2024 campaign.
• HENDRICKCARS.COM is the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group. Visitors can shop thousands of new or pre-owned vehicles, locate centers for service and collision repair, receive a value to sell or trade their car, chat online with customer service, discover career opportunities, learn more about vehicle protections programs, and explore how the company gives back to the community.
• The Winston-Salem (N.C.) State University senior has finished all 370 laps contested this season and boasts three consecutive top-10 finishes. His current average finish in 2024 is fourth place.
• Fans can meet Caruth on Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m. for a question-and-answer session at the Food City Fan Zone Stage.
• The Washington, D.C., native has two previous NCTS starts at the famed half-mile oval and one start in the NXS. He also secured an 11th-place finish in the 2023 NCTS race on the dirt track at Bristol. Caruth looks to improve on his best track finish of sixth place in Saturday night’s 250-lap race.

Rajah Caruth Quotes
Coming off your first ever NCTS win at Vegas, what’s your outlook heading into Friday night’s race at Bristol?
“Going into Bristol, there’s not any different of an outlook than before. I feel excited because I truly enjoy racing at that place – after all, it’s the opening track from Cars. Overall though no different prep. It’s just any other race.”
What did it mean to you to win on the 50th anniversary of Wendell Scott’s first NASCAR start?
“It’s pretty special because of the relationship I’ve developed with the Scott family. It’s great to add to their legacy but in that same vein, I’m ready to start my own.”
You’ve had a fantastic start to the year. How do you keep momentum high and not lose focus?
“I think it just comes down to doing the same thing each and every week, with minor adjustments as necessary. The success I feel comes in the process and consistency, not in big swings or big moments. One step, one punch, one round at a time.”

Chase Purdy – Driver, No.77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

• Chase Purdy will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado in Saturday’s NCTS Weather Guard Truck Race at BMS.
• In three NCTS starts at “Thunder Valley”, Purdy has logged a 15.3 average start and 22nd-place average finish, including a venue-best eighth-place finish in 2023.
• The Weather Guard Truck Race will mark Purdy’s 79th NCTS career start and his fourth as a Spire Motorsports driver. Purdy comes into the fourth event of the season 18th in the NCTS championship point standings.
• Purdy is looking to bounce back and take a step forward in the Weather Guard Truck Race. After a 15th- place finish at Atlanta, and a 16th-place finish at Las Vegas, Purdy is looking to take the confidence learned from Bristol 2023 and bring it to 2024 for another top-10 finish.
• Purdy’s crew chief Jason Trinchere earned the checkered flag in the in the 2021 Food City 300 NXS race with driver AJ Allmendinger.

Chase Purdy Quotes
What does it take well to run well at Bristol?
“In years prior to run well there, you have to stay on the apron and wrap all the way around on both ends. Discipline is key, and trusting your team and plan will help you succeed at the end of the race.”

After last year’s run on the concrete, what can you take away and apply to this weekend’s race?
“I believe being able to use last year’s notes is going to be extremely beneficial. Same truck with the same set up, we should be able to know a lot of what to expect and know what we can get out of the truck.”

What have you learned over the first three races that you’re able to take away and apply moving forward?
“I think for me, it’s just been about continuing to build and make not only myself better but as a team get better and overcome some early adversity we have faced. I believe in this Bama Buggies group and I’m looking forward to getting to Bristol.”

From the Top of the Box

Brian Pattie – Crew Chief, No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado

• Brian Pattie earned two victories last year, both with Kyle Busch. The duo started off the 2024 campaign with a victory at Atlanta last weekend.
• In addition to his three NCTS triumphs with Busch, he also won with Ron Fellows at Watkins Glen International in 1999.
• Pattie was atop the pit box for six wins across 14 seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series and has 11 career victories as a crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
• Jack Wood qualified seventh but was relegated to a 36th-place finish after getting caught up in an early accident last year in Pattie’s lone start on the pavement at Bristol in the Truck Series. His best result across 28 cup starts at Bristol was fourth with Clint Bowyer in 2012 and equaled by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in 2018.

Chad Walter – Crew Chief, No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado

• Chad Walter has over two decades of experience and began his career with Hendrick Motorsports in 1996.
• He comes to Spire Motorsports with Caruth after spending last season in the same role with GMS Racing.
• Some of his most notable accomplishments include a pair of Daytona 500 victories (2001 & 2003) with Michael Waltrip, along with Cup Series wins with Steve Park and Terry Labonte.

Jason Trinchere – Crew Chief, No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado

• Jason Trinchere earned his Bachelor of Science from Penn State University and began his professional career in 2005 as the race engineer for the iconic No. 75 Spears Manufacturing NCTS team, owned by series’ pioneers Wayne and Connie Spears.
• Notable accomplishments include Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400 wins with both Ganassi Racing and Penske Racing. He was a key member of the 2018 NASCAR Cup Series Championship team with driver Joey Logano.
• He comes to Spire Motorsports from Kaulig Racing where he began as an engineer before being promoted to crew chief in 2021, ultimately serving in that capacity for all three of the organization’s NXS teams.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports is a NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race team co-owned by long-time NASCAR industry executives Jeff Dickerson and Thaddeus “T.J.” Puchyr. In 2024, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series with drivers Corey LaJoie, Zane Smith and Carson Hocevar, respectively. The team will also field the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados full time in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. An all-star driver lineup will rotate throughout the 2024 season in the No. 7 Chevy. Rajah Caruth will drive the No. 71 entry and Chase Purdy rounds out the team’s fleet of Chevrolets in the No. 77.

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on May 20, 2023, when Kyle Larson took the checkered flag in the Tyson 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Weather Guard Truck Race | Bristol Motor Speedway (250 laps / 133.25 miles)
Saturday, March 16 | Bristol, Tenn. | 8:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1 | Radio: Motor Racing Network (MRN) and Sirius XM Ch. 90

Team: No. 45 Chevy Accessories Chevrolet Silverado
Driver: Kaden Honeycutt (Willow Park, Texas) | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Follow the Team: Twitter: @NieceMotorsport | Instagram: @NieceMotorsports | Facebook: /NieceMotorsports | Web: www.niecemotorsports.com
Follow Kaden: Twitter: @KadenWHoneycutt | Instagram: @kadenhoneycutt10 | Facebook: /KadenHoneycuttRacing | Web: kadenhoneycuttracing.com

Kaden Honeycutt on Saturday’s Race at Bristol Motor Speedway: “I’ve been looking forward to getting back on track with this Niece Motorsports group,” said Honeycutt. “We had a great run in Atlanta, and I’m ready to build on that this weekend. I really enjoy short track racing, and have some experience at Bristol in a truck that should help me.”

By The Numbers: Saturday’s race marks Honeycutt’s 22nd NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start, and his third at Bristol Motor Speedway.

On the Truck: Honeycutt’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado will race with support from Chevy Accessories. Visit chevy.com/accessories to browse the latest accessories to personalize and enhance your vehicle.

Recapping the Last Race: In his first Truck Series start of the season, Connor Mosack and the No 45 team qualified the Chevy Accessories 19th for Friday night’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Mosack and team ran a clean race, battling for position inside the top-20 for much of the race, ultimately ending the night in 19th-place.

Mosack on Last Race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: “Definitely a lot of learning for me,” said Mosack. “I feel like at the beginning of the race I was a little too conservative with the truck, wanting to get comfortable with it. The truck started to get tight and didn’t realize how tight we were until we got later on in the run. We got it freed up later in the race and our speed was where it needed to be. I think there’s some things I can do to help that so I can be better for the next one. Thanks to Niece and Phil [Gould] for bringing a great truck and we’ll be ready for the next one.”

About Niece Motorsports:
Niece Motorsports is owned by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2024, Niece Motorsports enters its ninth season in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Niece also owns Niece Equipment, which has for over 40 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 X @NieceMotorsport.