Al Niece
In 2024, Al Niece enters his eighth full-time season as team owner of Niece Motorsports in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
The 2023 season saw the organization advance to NASCAR’s version of the playoffs for the third consecutive season with Carson Hocevar on the strength of four wins.
In 68 starts during the 2023 season, the team earned four wins, one pole and 16 top-five finishes. In addition, the organization amassed 21 top-10s and led 283 laps.
Niece Motorsports advanced to the post-season with Carson Hocevar and the No. 42 team in 2022. In addition, Ross Chastain earned the organization’s fourth win at Charlotte Motor Speedway, behind the wheel of the No. 41 WWEX Racing Chevrolet Silverado.
In 2022, Niece Motorsports drivers made a combined 99 starts in the Truck Series, earning one pole (Hocevar; Sonoma), one win (Chastain; Charlotte) and nine top-five finishes. In addition, the team earned 14 top-10 finishes and led 351 laps.
Niece Motorsports made 76 starts with 16 different drivers in 2021, earning six top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.
The 2021 season marked the first full time season in the Truck Series for Niece Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar. Hocevar had a strong rookie season, earning three top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes. He notched a career-best second-place result at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the spring.
In addition, Hocevar made the Truck Series playoffs, advancing to the ‘Round of 6’ and narrowly missing a chance at the ‘Championship 4’.
The 2020 season saw Niece Motorsports compete full time with three entries and a fourth truck in a partial schedule. In 76 starts, the team earned three top-five and 13 top-10 finishes.
In 2019, Niece Motorsports finished second in the driver and owner point standings, after making its first appearance in NASCAR’s version of the playoffs. Ross Chastain earned three wins in the No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet, with his first coming at Kansas Speedway in May.
After the win, Chastain changed his points declaration from the NASCAR Xfinity Series to the Truck Series. It took Chastain and the No. 45 team just four races to win a race and move into the top-20 in points to be eligible to compete in the playoffs.
Chastain led the most laps; over 100 more than the next closest competitor and earned the most stage wins; two more than the next closest competitor.
Niece Motorsports ran just a handful of races in 2016. In 2017, the team ran the full Truck Series schedule with TJ Bell as the primary driver.
In 2018, Niece Motorsports fielded two full time entries in the Truck Series 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, Delores and Elbert. Niece is the oldest of three children.
In 1966, Niece graduated high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1967, he 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.
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.