Category: Truck Series PR

Richmond Raceway Competition Notes

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 6, 2024) – Layne Riggs is back in action this weekend at the Richmond (Va.) Raceway after NASCAR’s Olympic break and his fifth-place finish at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

This will be Riggs’ second visit to the 0.750-mile asphalt track, competing there in 2022. Riggs enters the weekend in a must-win situation to make the 2024 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs in the iconic yellow, Love’s RV Stop Ford F-150.

It will be a one-day show for Riggs and the No. 38, kicking off the weekend with practice and qualifying at 2:30 pm ET on Saturday, August 10th. The Clean Harbors 250 is scheduled for Saturday evening at 7:30 pm ET and will be televised live of FS1. Fans can also listen in on the action from the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM channel 90.

No. 38 Love’s RV Stop Ford F-150:

DRIVER LAYNE RIGGS:

“We’re going into this weekend with the same mindset we have had all year; show up and try to win. If we win and make the playoffs, great, but we aren’t going to hang our heads if we don’t. We have had a good season and speed, just a lot of bad luck. This is my learning year and the team’s learning year. There is still a lot of racing left in the season where we can learn, compete for wins, and prepare for 2025.”

CREW CHIEF DYLAN CAPPELLO:

“I’m excited for this weekend. Layne (Riggs) has shown a lot of speed on short tracks this year and Richmond is just that, a short track. We have lot of good momentum from IRP, we just need to keep our same mindset and execute on all fronts. I think we can do that this weekend.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

NIECE MOTORSPORTS
NCTS RACE ADVANCE: RICHMOND RACEWAY
Race: Clean Harbors 250 (250 laps / 187.5 miles) | Race 16 of 23
Track: Richmond Raceway
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Date & Time: Saturday, August 10th | 7:30 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | Motor Racing Network (MRN) | Sirius XM Ch. 90

No. 41 DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Bayley Currey | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Bayley Currey
@BayleyCurrey
@BayleyCurrey05

• Personnel Updates: Veteran crew chief, Wally Rogers, has taken over full-time duties on the No. 41 team after the team’s General Manager, Cody Efaw, subbed in for the past three races. Rogers had originally been tabbed as the crew chief on the part-time No. 44 entry, but a shift was made which now sees Tom Ackerman (Niece Competition Director) calling the shots for that truck.
• Niece Motorsports Richmond Stats: Niece drivers have accounted for 12 NCTS starts at Richmond Raceway since it was re-added to the series schedule in 2020. Of those drivers, Carson Hocevar proved to have the most successful results with two top-10 finishes. Last year, Hocevar led the second-highest amount of laps (64) en route to a thrilling victory – the first for the organization at this track.
• Currey’s Richmond Stats: Last year’s Truck Series event marked Bayley Currey’s only series start at Richmond, where he finished 18th. Currey has made five Xfinity Series starts here and posted a best run of 19th in 2020. He also made a lone Cup Series start at the track in 2019.
• Rogers’ Richmond Stats: Wally Rogers has called six NCTS races at Richmond and has one top-10 finish with Ron Hornaday (10th in 2005). He’s also called 14 Xfinity Series races at this track and finished runner-up with Kevin Harvick in 2008. In six Cup Series starts, Rogers’ best result on top of the box was 27th with Jeffrey Earnhardt in 2016.
• On the Truck: Currey’s No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from DQS Solutions & Staffing along with Masked Owl Technologies.
• Recapping Indianapolis: Bayley Currey and the No. 41 Niece Equipment team put together a respectable night in Indianapolis. The team showed promise early on in practice, where they were posted fifth fastest, but started in 22nd. The team made changes that helped gain him positions after the conclusion of stage one, and he would go on to run 14th the following stage through the finish of the race. This was the solid run they needed to help turn around their momentum.
• Points Rundown: Heading to Richmond, Currey remains 18th in the championship points standings for the second straight week. There is a 27-point margin to Jake Garcia, who holds onto the 17th position. Being it is the last race in the regular season, Currey will have to win the race in order to qualify for the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs.
• Quoting Currey: What are some differences between driving a truck vs. an Xfinity car at Richmond?

“Mainly just the corner speed, there’s a lot more corner speed in a truck there compared to the Xfinity car. There’s a little less wheel spin, too. Trucks at Richmond, like a lot of these places, are momentum-based so you have to try and keep that up while not smoking the tires off. That’s a big deal here especially for us.”

• Quoting Rogers: Can you carry over some of the feedback Bayley gave at IRP and use those notes at this track?

“Richmond and IRP are a little bit different, but we can take some of the stuff we learned at that track and apply those ideas here and at Milwaukee. Hopefully we can get out of there with a better finish this time, so we’ll see.”
DQS Solutions & Staffing Mission Statement: The core mission of DQS Solutions & Staffing is to attain unparalleled excellence in our specialized domains, specifically staffing and security. Simultaneously, we maintain the flexibility required to collaborate closely with our clients in the creation of innovative products and services within the framework of DQS.

No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Jon Leonard
Matt Mills Racing
@MattMillsRacing
@MattMillsRacing

• Mills’ Richmond Stats: Matt Mills has one prior Truck Series start at Richmond Raceway, which came in last year’s running of the event. Mills had a strong run in that race, where he qualified and finished in the top-five. In seven Xfinity Series starts at the track, Mills’ best result is 13th – which was obtained twice in the double header race weekend of 2020.
• Leonard’s Richmond Stats: Jon Leonard has called one prior Truck Series race at Richmond when he worked with Stewart Friesen in 2022. Friesen finished 11th that night after qualifying in third-place. Leonard also made one start as a Cup Series crew chief at this track with Regan Smith as his driver in 2018.
• On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra.
• Mills Runs Well in Richmond: Barring any mechanical issues, Mills has typically thrived at Richmond Raceway. This short track falls right into his wheelhouse, and is his favorite track on the schedule. With two respectable Xfinity Series runs under his belt, he chose to add it to his limited schedule with Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2023. Last year’s running was some of Mills’ best work, where he qualified fifth and gained stage points twice en route to a fifth-place finish. It was in that race where he gained the attention of Al Niece, who eventually signed him onto the team for this season.
• Home Race: Though he claims New Philadelphia, Ohio as his true hometown, Mills was born in nearby Lynchburg, Virginia just over two hours away from the track. He considers Richmond as his home race since Mid-Ohio was removed from the schedule this year.
• Recapping Indianapolis: Matt Mills and the No. 42 team fought through early adversity at IRP. Mills spun and sustained heavy left front damage in practice, and subsequently was not able to post a qualifying lap. Mills fought a tight-handling truck for the majority of the race, but continued to gain positions through stage one and two. Through several adjustments, the team continued to make big swings at it on every pit stop. Ultimately, the group would wind up with a 22nd-place finish after starting 34th on the day.
• Points Rundown: Following the 22nd-place finish in Indy, Mills’ streak of points position gains came to a close after seven strong races in a row. He’s still shown 21st in the points standings, and notably made ground up on the top-20. Bret Holmes, who currently is seeded 20th, is now only 11 points ahead of Matt heading into Richmond. In order to make the 10-driver NCTS Playoffs field, he will need to pick up the race victory on Saturday night.
• Quoting Mills: What is it about Richmond that tends to fit your driving style?

“Richmond is one of those tracks that you have to be disciplined the whole race. What you do and how you drive the truck on lap one is going to affect how it drives on lap 40. So, just being aware of that and how big the tire falloff is there is important. You have to balance when it’s time to get positions and when you have to manage your tires. Honestly, it’s not a track for an aggressive driving style, and I think that mine is more calculated, so that helps. It’s a home track for me since I was born in Lynchburg, VA, so that has always added some extra motivation as well. It’s been a good rhythm track for me.”

• Quoting Leonard: Since this has been a good track for Matt and for the team in the past, does that help give you a sense of direction on where you need to be setup-wise?

“I think Matt’s confidence will be high this weekend, and with Phil (Gould) and Carson (Hocevar) winning last year, we have a good baseline on where to start off with. We’ve all been comparing notes on how the trucks were built last year and where they were at on the setup which will give us a good direction on where we should be when we roll off 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. 45 Moore’s Venture Foods Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Kaden Honeycutt | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Kaden Honeycutt Racing
@KadenWHoneycutt
@KadenHoneycutt10

• Honeycutt Returns: After taking a two-race break from the Truck Series while Ross Chastain took over the ride, Kaden Honeycutt returns to make his seventh start of the season in the No. 45 Chevy for Niece Motorsports. Honeycutt will nearly round out the season schedule as he has
• Honeycutt’s Richmond Stats: Honeycutt has started one Truck Series race at Richmond Raceway which came in 2022 when he drove for On Point Motorsports. He started and finished the race in the same position – 21st.
• Gould’s Richmond Stats: Phil Gould has called four Truck Series races at Richmond and earned two top-10s with Carson Hocevar. Last year, Gould led his team to a convincing victory at the track which significantly boosted their momentum heading into the Playoffs.
• On the Truck: Honeycutt’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Venture Foods, a family-owned grocery store chain located in Oklahoma. 2024 marks the company’s 50th anniversary of the first store opening, and has been operated by the Moore family for three generations.
• Recapping Indianapolis: Ross Chastain was in for an eventful start to his day at IRP as he narrowly made it to the track just in time for practice. Chastain would go on to start 16th in the race, but quickly found pace in stage one. After taking his first set of tires with a handful of laps to go in the stage, Chastain’s truck rocketed to the front. He would finish sixth in both stages, but a miscue on pit road would hamper his running position in the final stint. In his final start of the year with Niece Motorsports, Chastain would go on to finish eleventh.
• Late Models In Action: The past month has been a busy stretch of racing for Honeycutt as he’s competed in several Late Model events. Honeycutt battled engine troubles in the Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway but rebounded for a seventh-place finish. The following week, he earned another top-10 finish in the CARS Tour Pro Late Model Series (PLM) at Hickory Motor Speedway. From there, it was onto North Wilkesboro Speedway for both the CARS Tour Late Model Stock (LMS) & PLM divisions. He finished eighth in the PLM but was sidelined by a crash in the LMS race.
• Owner Points Outlook: The No. 45 team looks to secure their spot in the NCTS Owner Playoffs in the regular season finale. Entering Richmond, the team is seeded ninth in the owner points standings, 39 points above the cutline. The No. 45 is one of only two multi-driver teams currently in the fight for postseason eligibility, along with Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 team. They are within 16 points of CR7 Motorsports’ No. 9 team in eighth.
• Quoting Honeycutt: Do you think having all the recent late model experience will tend to help you save tires on Saturday?

“I think for Richmond, if you’re fast at the start, you’re going to be fast for the whole race; but if you’re not, you’re just not going to be quick at all from start to finish. From what I’ve seen in the past, if you can take off quick on the short run and be able to manage your stuff throughout the whole stage, you’re going to be good. You don’t want to push it too much, especially if you spin the right rear tire. If you do that, you’re just going to make it mad, and you’ll be very free just like a late model. So, you just have to manage that throughout the night. That’s the way to go.”

• Quoting Gould: Will your team approach this race differently knowing that there is the Owner Playoffs spot on the line?

“Not really, honestly. I think we’ve had a great year and have been pretty competitive with Kaden, so we’re just going to go into this weekend and try to win the race. If we’re able to do that, the points will just take care of themselves. I think he’ll do a great job like he normally does for us.”

About Moore’s Venture Foods: Moore’s Venture Foods is a family-owned grocery store chain located in Oklahoma. The chain has brick-and-mortar stores in Alva, Fairfax, Shattuck, and Tonkawa, Oklahoma, and has been operated by the Moore family for three generations. To learn more, please visit www.MooresVentureFoods.com.

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.

Mooresville, NC (August 6, 2024) – Amthor International, America’s leading custom tanker truck manufacturer, is thrilled to announce a dynamic new partnership with NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Driver Spencer Boyd. This exciting collaboration celebrates the dedication of Amthor’s nearly 100-year legacy and highlights the hard work of its employees.

Under this partnership, Amthor International will proudly serve as the primary sponsor for Boyd’s No. 76 truck at the Martinsville, VA race in November. The association will debut with Amthor’s logo showcased on Boyd’s truck during the upcoming race at Richmond, VA on August 10, 2024.

“I made my NASCAR debut at Martinsville in 2016,” Boyd shared. “It holds a special place in my career. Partnering with a company that’s a local neighbor to the track allows us to celebrate the passionate NASCAR fans in Virginia. With the track and Amthor having storied histories, I’m excited to honor that legacy with a strong performance at the Paperclip.”

Amthor International, a fourth-generation, family-owned enterprise based in Gretna, Virginia, is also gearing up to open a new location in early 2025.

Brian Amthor, Executive Vice President of Amthor International, commented, “We are so excited to announce our entry into the NASCAR community and be a partner of Spencer Boyd and Freedom Racing Enterprises. This partnership allows us to connect with their passionate and loyal fan base while bringing our company and its products to the forefront of the racing world. We look forward to creating memorable experiences and driving growth together.”

In conjunction with supporting the new facility’s employee recruitment, Amthor will host a Job Fair and “trunk or treat” event at their Gretna location on October 31, 2024. This family-friendly event will feature a special “trunk” display with Boyd’s actual Martinsville race truck, courtesy of Freedom Racing Enterprises. Attendees will also have the chance to meet Spencer Boyd in person.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoff Race at Martinsville is set for Friday, November 1, 2024, at 6:00 PM. This crucial race will determine the final four drivers vying for the Truck Series Championship and promises to be a thrilling spectacle.

NIECE MOTORSPORTS
NCTS RACE RECAP: 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

No. 41 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Bayley Currey | Crew Chief: Cody Efaw
Bayley Currey
@BayleyCurrey
@BayleyCurrey05

Start: 22nd
Stage 1: 22nd
Stage 2: 14th
Finish: 14th
Driver Points: 18th
Owner Points: 22nd

• Key Takeaway: Bayley Currey and the No. 41 Niece Equipment team put together a respectable night in Indianapolis. The team showed promise early on in practice, where they were posted fifth fastest, but started in 22nd. The team made changes that helped gain him positions after the conclusion of stage one, and he would go on to run 14th the following stage through the finish of the race. This was the solid run they needed to help turn around their momentum.
• Bayley Currey’s Post-Race Thoughts: “It was a solid night tonight. We’re treading in the right direction here for sure. From going from a few DNFs, to a 17th last week, to 14th tonight, we’re getting better. IRP definitely lived up to all the hype, that was the most fun racetrack I’ve ever been on. We fired off too loose, but managed to get it back and tighten it up. We made a big charge through the field, so huge thanks to everyone at Niece Motorsports, the No. 41 team, and all the fab guys back home. We’ll take what we learned tonight and just keep getting better.”
  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
Matt Mills Racing
@MattMillsRacing
@MattMillsRacing

Start: 34th
Stage 1: 30th
Stage 2: 22nd
Finish: 22nd
Driver Points: 21st
Owner Points: 25th

• Key Takeaway: Matt Mills and the No. 42 team fought through early adversity at IRP. Mills spun and sustained heavy left front damage in practice, and subsequently was not able to post a qualifying lap. Mills fought a tight-handling truck for the majority of the race, but continued to gain positions through stage one and two. Through several adjustments, the team continued to make big swings at it on every pit stop. Ultimately, the group would wind up with a 22nd-place finish after starting 34th on the day.
• Matt Mills’ Post-Race Thoughts: “I kind of put us in the hole there by not getting much practice with the slight spin. We had to start in the back and go off of what our teammates were saying. I felt like our team did a good job of getting all the damage repaired; it felt like they had everything within a 1/16th of an inch close. Honestly, I felt like we kind of missed the setup tonight. We could never really get the track position we needed, never got our truck handling as good as it should have, and just struggled. I felt like it was hard to make the changes to get us back where we needed to be. We’ll pick ourself up and take this opportunity to prepare for Richmond, which has been a good track to me in the past.”

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 Day | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Conor Daly
@ConorDaly22
@ConorDaly22

Start: 35th
Stage 1: 24th
Stage 2: 31st
Finish: 29th
Driver Points: N/A
Owner Points: 43rd

• Key Takeaway: In his first Truck Series short track race at IRP, Conor Daly had to overcome issues early on. In practice, a rear gear seal issue prevented him from making a qualifying attempt, which forced him to start shotgun on the field. Daly continued to learn throughout the night, and climbed up into the top-25 before debris cut his right front tire. After the issue, his truck would go a couple of laps down, resulting in a 29th-place finish.
• Conor Daly’ Post-Race Thoughts: “Honestly, working with Stevie Reeves, my spotter, was super helpful today. I think the first stint was mainly just for me to learn a little bit. Then we got back on the lead lap, and once we took the green again, we were ripping. We were passing a ton of trucks out there and were really fast, and it felt so good. I followed Bayley (Currey), my teammate, there, and he was really cool to follow through when we ripped the top side. That was awesome, but then obviously when our right front went down, that basically ended our race. When we put on the right sides after the flat, it was a really fun next stint because we started to pass those trucks again. But, we were just never really as competitive as where we were before that. I think it was really fun. Everything has to be perfect when you want to go out there and put together a good finish, but I thought it was a great learning experience for me tonight.”

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
Ross Chastain
@RossChastain
@RossChastain

Start: 16th
Stage 1: 6th
Stage 2: 6th
Finish: 11th
Driver Points: N/A
Owner Points: 9th

• Key Takeaway: Ross Chastain was in for an eventful start to his day at IRP as he narrowly made it to the track just in time for practice. Chastain would go on to start 16th in the race, but quickly found pace in stage one. After taking his first set of tires with a handful of laps to go in the stage, Chastain’s truck rocketed to the front. He would finish sixth in both stages, but a miscue on pit road would hamper his running position in the final stint. In his final start of the year with Niece Motorsports, Chastain would go on to finish eleventh.
• Ross Chastain’s Post-Race Thoughts: “It was really cool to come back to IRP tonight. It’s well-documented, but this was where I ran my first NASCAR race at. I had a lot of flashbacks and memories from the first time I raced here. As for the race today, we got the truck better from the start of practice through the end of the race. We were tight, but when we got it turning better I was able to go forward on restarts. It was fun to make moves and run different lines to get leverage on some guys. On the last pit stop, I basically drove past my stall before I turned in, so I had to back up there and really made it tough on the pit crew. It basically threw all their timing off, so we went from sixth to the mid-teens and couldn’t recover. There’s still some things we need to work on fundamentally to make the truck last throughout the entire run, but there’s a really solid group here. With Kaden (Honeycutt) and Connor (Mosack) taking over the rest of the year, I feel really good for them. In all the races I’ve ran this year, we’ve gotten better, so it’s going to be fun to watch and cheer them on the rest of the year.”
  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.

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.

HOMPSON LEADS TOYOTA WITH SECOND STRAIGHT TOP-10
Tanner Gray vaults back into the Playoff field with one race remaining in the regular season

INDIANAPOLIS (July 19, 2024) – Dean Thompson (ninth) led Toyota with a top-10 finish on Friday night at Indianapolis Raceway Park. For Thompson, it was his second consecutive top-10 finish and sixth of the season.

Despite a 20th-place finish, Tanner Gray moved back into the provisional Playoff Field with one race remaining in the regular season.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Indianapolis Raceway Park
Race 15 of 23 – 200 Laps, 137.2 Miles

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Ty Majeski*
2nd, Christian Eckes*
3rd, Grant Enfinger*
4th, Tyler Ankrum*
5th, Layne Riggs*
9th, DEAN THOMPSON
12th, WILLIAM SAWALICH
16th, TAYLOR GRAY
17th, COREY HEIM
19th, TIMMY HILL
20th, TANNER GRAY
23rd, JOHNNY SAUTER
33rd, STEWART FRIESEN
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

DEAN THOMPSON, No. 5 Thompson Pipe Group Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 9th

Two top-10’s in a row, and two top-10 finishes today with a strong run in the ARCA race. How would you describe your day at Indianapolis Raceway Park?

“We are really piecing it together here at TRICON. All of my guys and me are clicking and firing on all cylinders, so these next few races are going to be pretty strong. Hopefully, we get a win here soon – we need to get one at Richmond. I think we have a good enough team, and a good enough Thompson Pipe Group Tundra. Hopefully we get it done.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs more than 49,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 34 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing plants. By 2025, Toyota’s 10th 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 28 electrified options.

Through its Driving Possibilities initiative, the Toyota USA Foundation has committed to creating innovative educational programs within, and in partnership with, historically underserved and diverse communities near the company’s U.S. operating sites.

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

• In the team’s lone NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) start at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP), Layne Riggs drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to a third-place finish in 2023. 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 TSport 200 from IRP will be televised live on FS1 Friday, July 19, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 15th of 23 NCTS races on the 2024 schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
• Jason “LEFTurn” Leffler’s name will be displayed on the passenger-side name rail of all three Spire entries as a memorial to the late-racer. The 2007 NASCAR Xfinity Series victor at IRP was a Spire Sports and Entertainment client throughout his career. His son, Charlie, who resides in the Indianapolis area, will be a guest of the team at Friday night’s race.

Sammy Smith – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

• Sammy Smith will steer Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Golden Harvest Chevrolet Silverado in Friday evening’s TSport 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park.
• Friday’s 200-lap event will mark Smith’s third of four NCTS starts this season, finishing eighth and fifth at Martinsville (April 5) and North Wilkesboro (May 19), respectively. He will round out his four-race slate at the Milwaukee Mile on Sunday, August 25.
• Smith, who was 17 at the time, qualified on the pole and lead 89 laps en route to a runner-up finish in the 2022 ARCA Menards Series event at the Indiana oval with Kyle Busch Motorsports. One day later, he finished fourth in an ARCA/CRA Super Series event at the facility, placing behind Erik Jones and William Byron.
• The talented teenager will be pulling double duty this weekend, piloting the No. 8 TMC Transportation Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). It will be his first start on the oval configuration at “The Brickyard,” but participated in last year’s NXS race on the road course at IMS.
• Golden Harvest Seeds has been working with and listening to farmers with intention since 1973, offering in-depth seeds expertise combined with the local agronomic know-how of an independent Golden Harvest Seed Advisor to help identify custom solutions for every corn and soybean acre. Today, each Golden Harvest hybrid or variety is bred with the individual needs of hardworking farmers in mind. Golden Harvest® corn hybrids feature elite genetics with proven performance and the most complete above- and below-ground insect control solutions with the Duracade® and Viptera® trait stacks. Golden Harvest soybean varieties include the industry’s broadest trait choice and exclusive genetics that set a new standard for performance and yield potential.
• In 61 NXS starts, the Johnston, Iowa, native has 10 top fives, 28 top 10s and claimed his first NASCAR national touring series victory at Phoenix last March.
• The two-time ARCA Menards Series East champion has racked up eight wins across 15 starts in the regional stock car series. He won five of the seven East Series races while maintaining an average finish of 1.7 en route to his second-consecutive title in 2022.
• The short track ace has earned wins in some of the country’s most notable late model races including the Winchester 400, Red Bud 400 and Florida Governor’s Cup. He earned a CARS Pro Late Model Tour victory in 2021 at Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway and four pavement Super Late Model wins that same season. In 2022, Smith was victorious in a star-studded combination ARCA CRA Super Series/Southern Super Series race at North Wilkesboro.
• After 14 races, the No. 7 team sits fifth in the 2024 NCTS owner point standings. The No. 7 team has compiled two wins with an average starting position of 9.1 and an average finish of 11.9 thus far this season. Kyle Busch led a race-high 33 laps en route the team’s first victory of 2024 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February and a race-high 112 laps in the team’s most recent triumph in Texas. In its most recent outing, Connor Mosack started 18th and finished 15th at Pocono Raceway.
• In his first season at Spire Motorsports, crew chief Brian Pattie led the No. 7 team to two victories across the first seven events this season, both with Kyle Busch (Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway). The duo also won twice across five races last year with Kyle Busch Motorsports.
• Jack Wood finished 18th in Pattie’s lone race calling the shots in Truck Series action at IRP last July. He has been atop the box for five races in the Xfinity Series at the Indiana oval, leading Reed Sorenson to third and second-place finishes in the 2005 and 2006 events, respectively.
• Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-062 will be driven by the 19-year-old on Friday night, who piloted the truck in its previous two appearances. In 19 starts, the chassis has 10 top-10 finishes including a pair of runner-up finishes with Kyle Busch behind the wheel.

Sammy Smith Quotes
You’ve made a pair of starts at IRP. The track is a different animal compared to anyone else. How do you attack getting around the track?
“I had the opportunity to run an ARCA car and a Late Model at IRP in 24 hours. It’s very low grip and restarts quickly go three and four-wide. You can run up near the wall, and you can run all the way on the apron. It provides really good racing. The trucks definitely drive differently than either of the other disciplines I’ve been in there. It will be fun to get rolling and should be a fun race. I’m excited to get back there on Friday night.”
You will be hopping out of the Xfinity car after practice at IMS and jumping right into the truck at IRP to practice and qualify just over an hour afterwards. How different will those experiences be?
“It will be different for sure. They are obviously two different vehicles at two completely different race tracks. The Xfinity cars will be going a lot faster at the big track, and the trucks will be going slower and sliding around a bit more with the low-grip surface. It will be an exciting day.”
Golden Harvest is hopping aboard as the primary sponsor for your final two truck races this season. Are you excited to build on that previous relationship?
“I’m excited to have Golden Harvest onboard. They’ve been a great associate partner the last couple years on my Late Model stuff so it’s cool to see them get a primary. I’m looking forward to continuing that relationship and having a lot of farmers out at the racetrack.”

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

• Rajah Caruth will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado in Friday night’s TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
• Last week, Caruth started third and finished 10th at Pocono Raceway, claiming his third top-ten finish in the last four races.
• 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 one prior start in the NCTS at the 0.68-mile short track, qualifying fourth and finishing seventh in last year’s event. His lone ARCA start at the Indiana oval in 2022 concluded with an eighth-place finish.
• The 21-year-old has seen plenty of success on short tracks, collecting Late Model wins at Greenville-Pickens (S.C.) Speedway and Hickory (N.C.) Motor Speedway early in his racing career.
• In 11 short track starts in ARCA Menards Series (AMS) competition, Caruth has racked up five top-five and nine top-10 finishes. He also boasts four top 10’s on short tracks in a truck.
• Caruth scored his career-best finish in 19 NASCAR Xfinity Starts at a short track, crossing the line 12th at the 0.5-mile Martinsville Speedway last fall.
• The Washington, D.C., native is currently fifth in the NCTS championship point standings after 14 races. He has logged one pole, one win, seven top-10 and 11 top-15 finishes. He’s recorded an 11.1 average start, an 11.2 average finish and completed 97.5 percent of the laps contested this season.
• With his first career NCTS win and pole position earlier this season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Caruth became the third African American driver, alongside NASCAR Hall of Famer, Wendell Scott and current NASCAR Cup Series regular Bubba Wallace, to win a NASCAR National Touring Series race.
• Caruth raced his first full season in NCTS in 2023, earning four top-10 finishes and coming home 16th in the division’s championship point standings.
• Crew chief Chad Walter has called the shots four prior times at IRP, all in Xfinity Series competition. During his stint at Team Penske, he guided Justin Allgaier to a top-ten finish at the track in 2010.
• Walter has seen success all across “The Hoosier City.” He helped Sam Hornish, Jr., to a runner-up finish in the inaugural Xfinity Series race at IMS.
• The No. 71 Silverado racing on Friday evening is identified as Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-003. Earlier this season, the truck finished seventh at Martinsville Speedway with Rajah Caruth behind the wheel. The chassis has been driven to victory lane twice by William Byron (Martinsville, 2022) and Kyle Larson (North Wilkesboro, 2023).

Rajah Caruth Quotes
IRP was one of your best “all-around” performances last season. How are you looking to build on your solid day at the track last year?
“I think overall we have just gotten better, both myself and Chad (Walter). We have made some improvements. I have also gotten better at short tracks, which is something I have really been focusing on. That’s a spot I know I’ve needed to improve. IRP is a track I have a little experience at between ARCA and trucks, so hopefully that correlates to a good run this weekend.”
The progressive banking at IRP opens a variety of lines drivers can utilize and make time. Does this add to your excitement as a driver and which line do you prefer to run?
“IRP is interesting because the seams determine the banking of the racetrack. Meaning, the higher you go, the more banking the racetrack has. It’s really a testament to how well your truck works. If your truck is turning well, you can take the inner line with the least amount of banking that is the shortest way around. If your truck isn’t turning, you can use the banking on the higher side of the track to help make the corner. It’s a racetrack that’s a different animal with good tools to use no matter how the truck handles.”

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

• Chase Purdy will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No.77 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado in Friday night’s TSport 200.
• The 24-year-old sits 14th in the NCTS driver points standings, 61 points behind the playoff cut line with two races remaining in the regular season.
• Last week, Purdy started 16th and finished sixth in the CRC Brakleen 175 at Pocono Raceway.
• The Meridian, Miss., native has two starts at IRP in Truck Series competition, logging a venue-best finish of 14th last year.
• In his lone ARCA Menards Series start at the Indiana oval, Purdy started and finished fourth after pacing the field for 25 laps in 2018.
• On a quest for his first win, the TSport 200 will mark Purdy’s 90th NCTS start and 15th behind the wheel of the No.77 Bama Buggies Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports.
• Purdy finished third in the 11-race Sioux Chief Short Track Challenge series within the 2018 ARCA season. He racked up six top fives and nine top 10s while achieving a sixth-place average starting starting position and a 6.9 average finish.
• While racing for Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2023, Purdy had the best statistical season of his career thus far. He racked up three top-five, 11 top-10 and 14 top-15 finishes while earning a career-best finish of second at Texas Motor Speedway (April 1) and claiming the first Truck Series pole of his career at Kansas Speedway (Sept. 8). He would snag his second pole two races later at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (Sept.30), a race in which he led a career-high 11 laps.
• Crew chief Jason Trinchere will make his debut atop the box at IRP, but has called the shots twice in NASCAR Xfinity Series competition down the road at the road course configuration at IMS. During his time at Kaulig Racing, he helped A.J. Allmendinger to a second-place finish in 2021.
• Purdy will be piloting Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-038 on Friday evening in its 31st start. The chassis has led nearly 900 laps, maintained an average finish of 6.5 and visited victory lane seven times, most recently at Texas Motor Speedway in 2021 with John Hunter Nemechek behind the wheel.

Chase Purdy Quotes
The playoffs are closing in and you find yourself battling at the cutline. What is your mindset heading into the weekend?
“We have one goal heading into this weekend. Win.”
The progressive banking at IRP opens a variety of lines drivers can utilize and make time. How does affect the way you can move through the field?
“The progressive banking makes it a multi-groove track. You can run as high or as low as you want, and still make speed. It makes it exciting as a driver and for the fans. The ability to move around and change lanes gives the driver a lot of options. It creates more opportunities to make passes.”
From the Top of the Box

Brian Pattie – Crew Chief, No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado

• In his first season at Spire Motorsports, Brian Pattie has led the No. 7 team to two victories, both with Kyle Busch. The duo also won twice across five races last year at KBM.
• Pattie also collected a victory with Ron Fellows at Watkins Glen International in 1999 to give him five career NCTS wins.
• 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.

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.
• Walter guided Caruth to his first NCTS win March 1, 2024 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
• 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.

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 April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Indianapolis Raceway Park Competition Notes

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 17, 2024) – Layne Riggs is back in action this Friday night, under the lights of the Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP).

Following a 30th place finish at the Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Riggs and the team look to bounce back at a place that has been good for the 22-year-old rookie. With only two previous starts at the 0.686-mile track, Riggs has finished in the Top-10 twice, posting a seventh-place result in 2022 and a third-place result in 2023.

Long John Silvers will join Riggs in his return at IRP, bringing the fan-favorite scheme to the No. 38 Ford F-150.

It will be a one day show for the team with practice and qualifying at 3:30 pm ET. The 200-lap event is scheduled for later that evening at 8:30 pm ET. Fans can watch the action live on FS1 or listen in from the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

No. 38 Long John Silver’s Ford F-150:

DRIVER LAYNE RIGGS:

“This is a big weekend for the team and me. We have shown a lot of speed on short tracks this year, and it’s the type of racing I grew up on in my late model days, so I am confident in our performance this weekend. Like I’ve been saying all year, just need to bring a fast Long John Silver’s Ford F-150 and execute on all fronts and I think we have a shot to win.”

CREW CHIEF DYLAN CAPPELLO:

“This track has Layne’s (Riggs) name written all over it. He is a short track guy through and through. We had a good sim session and are confident that we can execute a solid race, it just comes down to qualifying up front and staying up there.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 34 and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 38 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series team from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

NIECE MOTORSPORTS
NCTS RACE RECAP: POCONO RACEWAY
Race: CRC Brakleen 175 (70 laps / 175 miles) | Race 14 of 23
Track: Pocono Raceway
Location: Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Date & Time: Friday, July 12th | 5:30 PM ET

No. 41 DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Bayley Currey | Crew Chief: Cody Efaw
Bayley Currey
@BayleyCurrey
@BayleyCurrey05
Website
Start: 20th
Stage 1: 32nd
Stage 2: 22nd
Finish: 17th
Driver Points: 18th
Owner Points: 22nd

• Key Takeaway: 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.
• Bayley Currey’s Post-Race Thoughts: “Lackluster day for sure, we had a solid truck but got hit in the left rear on lap one. I came down pit road with it smoking real bad in the corners and thought the tire was going down. That put us behind all day. I was trying to fight for track position and make up spots on pit road, but it was tough. We came down at the end and put some tires on it to salvage a decent top-20 finish. I was hoping for a top-15; it was there, but I just didn’t capitalize enough in the last corner. But, that’s automobile racing, I guess. It seems like everything that can happen will happen to us, but the truck came home pretty straight. When we got out front, it handled really well and we were running as fast as the leader. It was just hard to keep track position. Big thanks to DQS, Masked Owl Technologies, AutoVentive, Precision, and everyone on our No. 41 Chevy team.”
  DQS Solutions & Staffing Mission Statement: The core mission of DQS Solutions & Staffing is to attain unparalleled excellence in our specialized domains, specifically staffing and security. Simultaneously, we maintain the flexibility required to collaborate closely with our clients in the creation of innovative products and services within the framework of DQS.

No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Jon Leonard
Matt Mills Racing
@MattMillsRacing
@MattMillsRacing
Website
Start: 13th
Stage 1: 13th
Stage 2: 10th
Finish: 11th
Driver Points: 21st
Owner Points: 25th

• Key Takeaway: 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.
• Matt Mills’ Post-Race Thoughts: “Overall, it was a good day for us. It was a nice change to start up front with that track position. We just fired off a bit loose and built tight throughout the race. Jon (Leonard) made some good calls to keep us in track position. I thought we still had a good truck even with it getting tight. I learned a lot today manipulating the air, but didn’t learn enough by the end there. I cost us a couple of spots just trying to be greedy and making aggressive moves, but overall, I learned a lot. It’s another good day, we have another clean J.F. Electric/Utilita Chevy, and we built up a pretty good notebook for next year.”

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. 45 Mar-Del Watermelon Association Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Ross Chastain | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Ross Chastain
@RossChastain
@RossChastain
Website
Start: 27th
Stage 1: 16th
Stage 2: 7th
Finish: 5th
Driver Points: N/A
Owner Points: 10th

• Key Takeaway: 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.
• Ross Chastain’s Post-Race Thoughts:
  Interviewer: You had some issues on your truck there at the end. On the restart, were the issues still there?
  “No, it made it! I’m happy. I mean, we gave up one spot, I didn’t get attached to the No. 19 well, so I didn’t give him the push he deserved. I got to him too late with the No. 77 pushing me and knocked our nose in. For all things considered, I’m happy with fifth. Our Mar-Del Watermelon Association Silverado was fast today, and it’s always fun to race these trucks for Al (Niece), Cody (Efaw), and Phil (Gould).”

About Mar-Del Watermelon Association: Established in 1965, the Mar-Del Watermelon Association is an organization that works to increase demand for Maryland and Delaware watermelons and the agriculture industry for their farmers, brokers, and industry suppliers. The voluntary, elected board of directors strives to make a positive difference in the business and lives of its members while working closely with National Watermelon Association and National Watermelon Promotion Board.

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.