Matt Mills - TSport 200 Race Preview
Event: TSport 200 (200 laps / 137.2 miles)
Round: 16 of 25 (Regular Season)
Track: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
Location: Clermont, Indiana
Date & Time: Friday, July 25 | 8:00 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | NASCAR Racing Network (NRN) | SiriusXM Ch. 90
Team Stats & Notes
- Niece Motorsports IRP Stats: Niece drivers have made a combined total of 12 starts at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (IRP) since the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) made its return to the track in 2022. The team has captured one top-five finish delivered by Carson Hocevar in 2023. Last year, Ross Chastain was the highest-finishing driver for the team in 11th.
No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
- Mills' IRP Stats: Matt Mills has made two prior NCTS starts at IRP, coming home 23rd in his first start in 2023. Mills bested that result by one spot last year, when he finished 22nd.
- Shiplett's IRP Stats: Mike Shiplett has only competed in one NCTS race held at IRP which came last year, where he finished 26th with Bret Holmes. Shiplett also made one NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) start at the short track in 2007, finishing in 35th with Deac McCaskill.
- On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra, who will serve as his anchor partners for the entire 25-race season.
- Recapping Lime Rock: Matt Mills and the No. 42 team fought hard all afternoon at Lime Rock, but lost all their track position after going off course at the end of the race. Mills started the 100-lap event in 21st, and battled a tight-handling truck in the opening two stages. After making wholesale changes to the setup ahead of the final stage, the J.F. Electric Chevy gained speed. Unfortunately for Mills, once he locked up the brakes and slid off in turn one, his results were shot down, finishing in 26th.
- Points Rundown: Following his 26th-place result in Lime Rock, Mills remains 19th in the championship points standings. With only three races remaining in the regular season (IRP, Watkins Glen, and Richmond), Mills finds himself in a must-win situation to enter the Playoffs as he sits 189 points below the cutline.
- Quoting Mills: Given your history at short tracks like Richmond where there is a considerable amount of tire fall off, do you think that should be in your benefit this week?
“Yeah, I think there are some similar characteristics between those places. The first year I raced at IRP, I ran pretty well there, but last year, I put our team in a hole immediately by spinning on lap three of practice. Hopefully, I can help give our team a better notebook this year through practice, because I feel like we can find a good balance of what we need. I think this is a track that suits Niece Motorsports and myself, so hopefully we can rebound from where we were last year. I know we can be fast here.”
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2025, the team celebrates its 10th consecutive season competing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) where it fields the Nos. 41, 42, 44 and 45. Since its founding in 2016, Niece Motorsports has garnered nine wins, 50+ top-fives, 100+ top-10s, 200+ top-15 finishes and made five playoff appearances. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a trusted build shop for the Chevrolet Silverados of multiple NCTS teams as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.
Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect 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.
