Matt Gould - LiUNA! 175 Race Preview
Race: LiUNA! 175 (175 laps / 177.625 miles) | Race 17 of 23
Track: Milwaukee Mile Speedway
Location: West Allis, Wisconsin
Date & Time: Sunday, August 25th | 4:00 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | Motor Racing Network (MRN) | Sirius XM Ch. 90
No. 44 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Gould | Crew Chief: Tom Ackerman
- NASCAR Truck Series Debut: Announced last week, Matt Gould will attempt to make his NCTS debut with Niece Motorsports' No. 44 team at the Milwaukee Mile. Gould primarily competes in Late Model Stock Cars at Hickory Motor Speedway and Caraway Speedway, and has made three ARCA Menards Series starts. He is the son of Phil Gould, who is the crew chief for the No. 45 team. This will be the first race of Gould's career that him and his father will not directly be working together on the same vehicle.
- Gould's Milwaukee Stats: Matt Gould made his ARCA Menards Series debut at the Milwaukee Mile back in 2022. Despite limited experience in a heavy stock car, Gould put together a respectable run, having qualified 12th and finished 10th in his debut race.
- Ackerman's Milwaukee Stats: Tom Ackerman has made two starts as a crew chief in Milwaukee, first in 2006 with Ted Musgrave and second the following year with Dennis Setzer. Setzer delivered Ackerman his best finish at this track while atop the pit box with a 19th-place run in 2007. Last year, in the series' return to the Mile, Ackerman won as the competition director for GMS Racing with Grant Enfinger.
- On the Truck: Gould's No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Niece Equipment. Located in Buda, Texas, Niece Equipment specializes in building water and fuel/lube trucks for commercial use on construction projects.
- Off to College: At the start of the week, Gould began taking his first classes as a freshman in college. Gould is studying mechanical engineering at Mitchell Community College in Mooresville, NC, and will be learning in tandem with his full-time role as a mechanic.
- Quoting Gould: What do you remember about your ARCA start here that you can use in the truck this week?
“I mainly remember that you had to run above the sealer that’s on the bottom of the corners. It was important for us to keep all four tires above that strip and run a higher lane. But, to do that, you also had to have room to drive under guys to pass them. That was the biggest part, but I also learned what it was like to move around with dirty air. I’ve been talking with Grant Enfinger a bunch, and he’s been helpful for me to get prepared for how the truck drives.”
- Quoting Ackerman: What is your biggest piece of advice for Matt in his Truck Series debut?
“I’d say our biggest goal is to go out there and do everything right. It’s a big week for Matt, but I don’t want him to get too caught in the moment and put too much pressure on himself. We all feel pretty confident that he can go out there and get the job done, so there’s no reason to overcomplicate things. As long as he does his best and we execute all day long, it should be a good day for us.”
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 Niece Equipment: For over 30 years, Niece Equipment has provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Our reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. Each of our water and fuel/lube trucks are engineered with quality and durability in mind. Our capability ranges from 2,000 gallon water trucks to 12,000 gallon water towers. The fuel/lube trucks we offer range from 600 to 4,000 gallons.
