Get to Know Al Niece
In 2019, Al Niece enters his third full time season as team owner of Niece Motorsports in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series (NGOTS).
Niece Motorsports ran just a handful of races in 2016. In 2017, the team ran the full NGOTS season with TJ Bell as the primary driver.
Prior to the 2018 season, Niece Motorsports formed a technical alliance with GMS Racing and moved shop locations to Statesville, North Carolina.
In 2018, Niece Motorsports fielded two full time entries in the NGOTS with drivers Austin Wayne Self and Justin Fontaine, driving the Nos. 22 and 45 Chevrolet Silverados, respectively. In addition, the team fielded the No. 38 truck on a part time basis with drivers Max McLaughlin, Ross Chastain, TJ Bell and Landon Huffman.
In addition to Niece Motorsports, Niece is also the founder and president of Niece Equipment in Buda Texas. Niece Equipment, which Niece founded in 1978, celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2018. The company provides water and fuel/lube trucks that are engineered with quality and durability in mind. Capability ranges from 2,000-gallon water trucks to 12,000-gallon water towers. The fuel/lube trucks offered range from 600 to 4,000 gallons.
Niece was born in 1945 in LaPorte, Indiana to mother and father, Elbert and Delores. Niece is the oldest of three children.
In 1966, Niece graduated high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1967, Niece enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving for two years. During those two years, Niece deployed to Vietnam with the 3rd Marine Division, Lima Co. 3rd Marine Regiment. During his time in the Marine Corps, Niece earned the rank of Sergeant.
In 1978, Niece opened Niece Equipment in a two-office suite in a business park in Austin, Texas. In 1985, the company expanded to include a water truck manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona.
In 1988, Niece Equipment expanded its manufacturing capabilities again, to include fuel and lube trucks at its Austin, Texas location.
In 2012, Niece Equipment purchased Klein Manufacturing in Fort Scott, Kansas. This expansion allowed Niece Equipment to produce specialized water equipment, fuel and lube trucks, along with custom-fabricated machinery for the quarry and mining industries.
Presently, Niece Equipment is comprised of three companies: Niece Equipment, Niemco and Niece Products of Kansas. Today, Niece Equipment has two manufacturing plants, one in Buda, Texas and another in Fort Scott, Kansas, with approximately 120 employees.
The current location is the sixth since that humble beginning. There were four locations north of Austin, one out east near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and now south in Buda.
In his free time, Niece enjoys clearing his land, traveling to the race track with his wife Luanna and spending time with his son and daughter, and six grandchildren.