Niece Motorsports

Niece Motorsports is an American professional stock car racing team that currently competes in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Owned by Al Niece, it currently fields No. 40 Chevrolet Silverado full-time for Ryan Truex, No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado full-time for Carson Hocevar, and No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado full-time for Brett Moffitt. Niece Motorsports formerly had a technical alliance with GMS Racing.

Niece Motorsports
Owner(s)Al Niece
BaseStatesville, North Carolina
SeriesNASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Race drivers40. Ryan Truex
42. Carson Hocevar (R)
45. Brett Moffitt
Sponsors40. Marquis Hot Tubs
42. GM Parts
45. Circle-B-Diecast
ManufacturerChevrolet
Opened2016
Career
Debut2016 Striping Technology 350 (Texas)
Latest race2020 Lucas Oil 150 (Phoenix)
Races competed207
Drivers' Championships0
Race victories3
Pole positions1

Xfinity Series

Car No. 17 history

In 2018, the team attempted to make their NASCAR Xfinity Series debut with Victor Gonzalez Jr. driving at Watkins Glen.

Camping World Truck Series

Truck No. 22 history

On October 30, 2017, it was announced that Austin Wayne Self moved to Niece Motorsports to drive the No. 22 truck full-time in 2018.[1]

Truck No. 40 history

In 2017, the No. 38 truck ran two races with T. J. Bell as a start-and-park team.

In 2018 the No. 38 truck planned to run at least four races with Max McLaughlin as the driver, starting at Eldora. McLaughlin qualified the race and finished 12th in his NASCAR debut. However, the deal fell through and McLaughlin only ran at Eldora. Ross Chastain ran 3 races (Bristol, Texas 2 and Homestead-Miami) with the best finish of 12th at Bristol. Bell returned to the No. 38 at Las Vegas in September and finished 21st due to a crash. Landon Huffman also drove for the team, he failed to qualify at Martinsville 2 and finished 25th at ISM Raceway.

In 2019, Bell returned once again to the No. 38 as a field-filler at Kansas, since only 30 trucks showed up. Chastain drove the No. 38 with sponsorship from TruNorth Global at Texas 2 and finished 10th.

In 2020, the No. 38 truck renumbered to the No. 40 and it is being shared by Ross Chastain, Garrett Smithley, Ryan Truex, T. J. Bell, Travis Pastrana, Carson Hocevar, Trevor Bayne, and Bayley Currey.

In 2021, Truex returned to the No. 40 for full-time schedule.[2]

Truck No. 42 history

In 2020, Ross Chastain announced that he would drive the No. 42 part-time. In 2021, Carson Hocevar announced that he would drive the No. 42 full-time.

Truck No. 44 history
Angela Ruch in the No. 44 at Homestead–Miami Speedway in 2019

On January 31, 2019, Timothy Peters announced that he would join Niece for the first three events of the 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series schedule.[3] After two top-tens in his first two events, Peters said that there is the possibility to run more races with the team.[4] Reid Wilson drove the No. 44 truck in 2 races (Martinsville 1 and Dover) with a best finish of 13th at Dover.[5] Angela Ruch is scheduled to drive the No. 44 truck in 12 races in 2019. Jeb Burton drove the truck in the July race at Kentucky.[6] Ty Majeski drove the truck at ISM.[7]

Natalie Decker signed with the team for the 2020 season. On February 14, 2020, she finished fifth at Daytona, becoming the highest-finishing female driver in Truck Series history.[8] She missed the Pocono race after being hospitalized for bile duct complications related to her gall bladder surgery in December 2019.[9] On September 25, Decker was not medically cleared to race at Las Vegas; because her truck had cleared inspection and was placed on the starting grid, she was credited with a last-place finish in the race.[10]

Truck No. 45 history
Ross Chastain in the No. 45 at Homestead–Miami Speedway in 2019

Niece Motorsports made their debut in 2016 with Casey Smith driving for two races.

The team returned in 2017, at first planning on running only part-time but were able to run the full schedule with various drivers, with T. J. Bell driving most of the races.

In 2018, it was announced that Justin Fontaine would drive the No. 45 truck full-time.[11] Fontaine started the season with a top 10 finish at Daytona and Las Vegas.

On January 18, 2019, it was announced that Ross Chastain and Reid Wilson would split driving duties for the upcoming season.[5] Chastain started off the year with two of the best results in team history, a third at Daytona and a sixth at Atlanta.[4] In April, Kyle Benjamin joined the team for a seven-race schedule starting at Texas in June.[12] On May 10, 2019 Ross Chastain delivered his first truck win and the team's first win at Kansas after Stewart Friesen's underfueled truck ran out of gas with three laps remaining.[13] In June, he announced his intention to switch to Truck Series points to compete for a championship in the series.[14] Chastain finished the season with 3 wins, 10 Top-5, 19 Top-10, 1 pole and finishing 2nd in the standings.[15]

On December 10, 2019, it was announced that Ty Majeski would drive this truck full-time for the 2020 NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season, replacing Chastain.[16] After 15 races Majeski was replaced by Trevor Bayne for undisclosed reasons.[17]

In 2021, It was announced that Brett Moffitt would drive the No. 45 truck full time.[18]

References
  1. "Austin Wayne Self to join Niece Motorsports in 2018". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  2. Estrada, Chris (November 24, 2020). "Ryan Truex lands full-time Truck ride at Niece Motorsports". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  3. DeGroot, Nick. "Timothy Peters joins Niece Motorsports for three Truck races". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  4. Massie, Michael. "Ross Chastain, Timothy Peters Continue Niece Motorsports' Strong Start". Fontstretch. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  5. Brooks, Amanda. "Ross Chastain and Reid Wilson to drive for Niece Motorsports in 2019". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  6. Utter, Jim. "Angela Ruch joins Niece Motorsports for 12-race Truck schedule". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  7. Brooks, Amanda (November 4, 2019). "Majeski joins Niece at ISM Raceway". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  8. "Natalie Decker scores best finish by a female competitor in NASCAR Truck Series history". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  9. McFadin, Daniel (June 26, 2020). "Natalie Decker to miss Pocono Truck race due to hospitalization". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  10. "Natalie Decker not medically cleared for Las Vegas Truck race". Jayski's Silly Season Site. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  11. "Justin Fontaine to run Trucks full-time with Niece Motorsports in 2018". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  12. Nolen, Bryan (April 29, 2019). "Kyle Benjamin, Niece Motorsports Team for 7 Races". Frontstretch. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  13. "Ross Chastain scores first career Gander Trucks win". NASCAR.com. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. May 10, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  14. "Chastain Switches Gears, To Chase Truck Title". Speed Sport. June 4, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  15. "Ross Chastain". Racing Reference.
  16. Brooks, Amanda (December 10, 2019). "Ty Majeski joining Niece Motorsports full time in 2020". Jayski's Silly Season Site. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  17. Winningham, Brett. "NGROTS: Trevor Bayne to Pilot No. 45 Niece Motorsports Entry at Richmond". www.speedwaydigest.com. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
  18. "Brett Moffitt to Compete Full Time for Niece Motorsports in 2021". Niece Motorsports. December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
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