Celebrating 10 Seasons
This year, Niece Motorsports is celebrating its 10th season competing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Over the course of 10 seasons, the organization has amassed a total of nine wins, over 50 top-fives, over 100 top-10s, and 190+ top-15 finishes.
This page highlights our stories from the past as we look towards a bright future. Stroll down memory lane with key moments from over the years.
2016
The year it all began.
On November 4, 2016, Niece Motorsports competed its first Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway with driver, Casey Smith. With only one truck and three employees behind the team, it was off and running. On that day, the team would see humble results, starting 24th and finishing 23rd. This effort would lay the ground work for what was to come beginning in 2017.
TOTAL STARTS: 1
BEST FINISH: 23RD
2017
Starting to take shape.
Originally, 2017 was planned to be a part-time year for the team to get its footing secured in the sport. However, this quickly turned into a full-time effort with the team attempting to qualify in every race. With TJ Bell serving as the team’s “anchor driver”, this year became crucial to build a notebook for several new tracks. At select events, Niece would field two entries in preparation for growth in the following season.
TOTAL STARTS: 24
BEST FINISH: 14TH
TOP-15 FINISHES: 7
2018
Building Strength in Numbers.
Beginning in 2018, Niece expanded its operations to field two full-time entries in every Truck Series race with drivers Justin Fontaine and Austin Wayne Self. At some races, this included a third part-time team with an array of drivers. This year saw the team earn its first top-10 on-track results, with its highest team finishing 16th in the points standings.
TOTAL STARTS: 52
BEST FINISH: 9TH
TOP-10 FINISHES: 2
TOP-15 FINISHES: 17
2019
Underdogs No More.
In 2019, Niece Motorsports began to be taken seriously. On May 10, Ross Chastain delivered the team its first win at Kansas Speedway, instantly putting the organization on the map. The No. 45 team went on a tear that year, capturing victories at Iowa Speedway (depending who you ask), World Wide Technology Raceway, and Pocono Raceway. Ultimately, the ending to the Cinderella story came up one point short with a runner-up finish in the championship.
TOTAL STARTS: 52
WINS: 4
POLES: 1
TOP-5 FINISHES: 10
TOP-10 FINISHES: 24
TOP-15 FINISHES: 31
2020
Continuing to Search for Success.
After experiencing a breakout season, Niece Motorsports had high hopes for 2020. Following the pandemic, however, the results proved to be difficult to come by. The team fought deep through the year, pressing the attack onward with a plethora of drivers. Though it might have been seen as a bit of a down span compared to the year prior, plenty of hard work was put in over the offseason to come back stronger.
TOTAL STARTS: 76
BEST FINISH: 2ND
TOP-5 FINISHES: 3
TOP-10 FINISHES: 13
TOP-15 FINISHES: 32
2021
Return to the Playoffs.
Following a difficult year, Niece Motorsports overhauled its program to return to competitive form in 2021. After signing Carson Hocevar to a full-time bid, the rookie impressed by showcasing speed on a regular basis. The team rebounded by qualifying for the postseason and went on to finish 10th in the overall points standings. That year also saw the organization move to a different shop in Mooresville, NC.
TOTAL STARTS: 76
BEST FINISH: 2ND
TOP-5 FINISHES: 6
TOP-10 FINISHES: 14
TOP-15 FINISHES: 28
2022
Back to Victory Lane Again.
2022 was a large improvement for the organization as a whole, as it proved that multiple trucks could compete at a high level. After going two years without a race win, Ross Chastain ended the drought with a thrilling victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Carson Hocevar would vault the team into the Playoffs for a second-straight year, once again finishing 10th in the standings.
TOTAL STARTS: 99
WINS: 1
POLES: 1
TOP-5 FINISHES: 9
TOP-10 FINISHES: 14
TOP-15 FINISHES: 25
2023
Championship Contention Once More.
Niece Motorsports achieved greatness throughout the 2023 season, capping off a banner year. Carson Hocevar broke through for his first-career victory at Texas Motor Speedway, and quickly rifled off additional wins at Nashville Superspeedway, Richmond Raceway, and Homestead-Miami Speedway. After moving to a new shop in Salisbury, NC, the team qualified for the Playoffs for a third year in a row and made their mark on the Championship 4, finishing fourth overall.
TOTAL STARTS: 68
WINS: 4
POLES: 1
TOP-5 FINISHES: 16
TOP-10 FINISHES: 21
TOP-15 FINISHES: 31
2024
Winning for Three Years in a Row.
With two full-time drivers in Bayley Currey and Matt Mills brought onto the team, the No. 44 and 45 trucks would see several talented drivers take the wheel in 2024. Ross Chastain earned his fifth Truck Series win for the organization at Darlington Raceway, and paired up with drivers Kaden Honeycutt, Johnny Sauter, and Connor Mosack, the No. 45 team qualified for the Owner’s Playoffs. The team completed the year with a 10th-place finish in the points standings.
TOTAL STARTS: 79
WINS: 1
TOP-5 FINISHES: 6
TOP-10 FINISHES: 12
TOP-15 FINISHES: 26
2025
Looking Ahead to the Future.
As Niece Motorsports enters its 10th season, the organization is as prepared as ever to contend for wins on a weekly basis. With three full-time teams, the goal remains the same: compete relentlessly and work as hard as possible to achieve greatness. We believe a fantastic year is ahead of us, so come along with and join the ride.