Matt Mills - CRC Brakleen 175 Race Preview
Race: CRC Brakleen 175 (70 laps / 175 miles) | Race 14 of 23
Track: Pocono Raceway
Location: Long Pond, Pennsylvania
Date & Time: Friday, July 12th | 5:30 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
- Mills' Pocono Stats: Matt Mills has made one prior NCTS start at Pocono Raceway in 2017, but was forced to park with an early exit due to mechanical issues. Mills also made four Xfinity Series starts at this track before and finished as high as 23rd in 2021. He did not enter any races held at this 2.5-mile tri-oval over the past two seasons.
- Leonard's Pocono Stats: Jon Leonard has called three Truck Series races at Pocono Raceway and posted his best result last year while working with Christopher Bell, who finished in fourth. Leonard also made one Cup Series start as a crew chief here in 2018 with Kasey Kahne.
- On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra.
- Recapping Nashville: Despite having to start in the rear due to a steering issue in practice, Mills and the No. 42 team rallied back to earn their second top-10 finish of the season at Nashville Superspeedway. Mills overcame a pit road penalty early on and the J.F. Electric crew made solid adjustments throughout the race, putting him in position to capitalize. He crossed the line with an eighth-place result, nabbing the "hard charger" award in the process.
- Points Rundown: Mills' streak of gaining points positions continued after the last race in Nashville, where his top-10 bumped him up to 22nd in the driver standings. Since the eighth race of the year in Kansas, Mills has picked up one spot in points after every start, now making it six weeks in a row.
- Quoting Mills: This is one of the shortest races all year in terms of laps, so does that raise your intensity level?
“Yeah, I’ve never really been able to run a truck here before, but it’s all going to be about track position. The straightaways are so long and the trucks punch such a big hole in the air, so that’s going to be tough to learn and figure out how to time your runs and keep momentum. It’s another good track for us at Niece Motorsports, so I’m going to go there with a good mindset to learn as much as I can from my guys.”
- Quoting Leonard: How do you manage the balance of downforce (drag), and being trimmed out here?
“I think you need both here to be fast. I think you need drag-out with the big straightaways, but you need to be able to get through the corners, too. These trucks are still lifting out of the gas in all three corners, so you still have to build a good amount of downforce and find that good balance of being able to qualify well and not hurt the race trim. It’s a bit of a strategy/track position race, so you have to find that middle ground and not put your eggs all in one basket.”
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.
