Matt Mills – Heart of America 200 Race Preview
Race: Heart Of America 200 (134 laps / 201 miles) | Race 8 of 23
Track: Kansas Speedway
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
Date & Time: Saturday, May 4th | 8:00 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | Motor Racing Network (MRN) | Sirius XM Ch. 90
No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Jon Leonard
– MM in KC: Matt Mills has made two Truck Series starts at Kansas Speedway, posting a best finish of 17th in 2017. Though he did not compete in a NCTS race here last season, he’s gained experience through five Xfinity Series starts here as well as one Cup Series start in the race where he made his NCS debut in 2021.
– Leonard’s Kansas Stats: Jon Leonard has called three Truck Series races at Kansas before, with highlights of two top-10 starts (best with Stewart Friesen, fifth in 2022) and one top-10 finish (Jake Drew, 10th last year). In 2017, he made his Cup Series debut as a crew chief here with Michael McDowell and went on to make one more start the following season with Regan Smith.
– On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra.
– Recapping Texas: Mills and the No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra team showed speed early in the weekend at Texas Motor Speedway by posting the third-quickest lap in practice. Starting the race from the 20th spot, Mills fought for track position throughout the night but was unable to advance further through the field. At the checkers, he would be scored with a 26th-place result.
– Points Rundown: Following race seven of the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series season, Matt Mills currently sits 28th in the points standings. He is only six points behind his nearest competitor, Jack Wood, who holds down the 27th spot, and is 20 points behind Spencer Boyd in the top-25 for the driver standings.
– Quoting Mills: You’ve had experience in several types of vehicles at this track before, so what are some of the characteristics that make Kansas fun to race on?
“I think it’s fun because of the fact that it’s got a lot of grip. You can move around throughout the whole race depending on what your car or truck is doing. Obviously, ripping around the fence is the biggest thrill for us drivers if everything’s working right. Going there in a truck is a little bit more risky to get close to the wall, so hopefully we’ll have a good enough truck to be able to move around and make time so we can race a little more than some of the other mile-and-a-half tracks.”
– Quoting Leonard: Does having a top-10 run here last year with a different driver give you added confidence with Matt this week?
“I think so. Jake [Drew] was new to the Truck Series similar to Matt, and Niece Motorsports has run well at Kansas before, so I’ll try to use that as a baseline to work on Matt’s technique and his skillset. I feel like between my history and the team’s history, we have a pretty good idea where to start, and where the track goes, and where to run.”
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.
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.