Matt Mills - Fr8 208 Race Preview
Event: Fr8 208 (135 laps / 208 miles)
Round: 2 of 25 (Regular Season)
Track: Atlanta Motor Speedway
Location: Hampton, Georgia
Date & Time: Saturday, February 22nd | 1:30 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | Motor Racing Network (MRN) | Sirius XM Ch. 90
Team Stats & Notes
- Niece Motorsports Atlanta Stats: Niece drivers have accounted for 24 combined NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway since 2017. The team has earned one top-five and seven top-10 finishes, with a best overall result of fourth set by Bayley Currey in 2023. Last year, Kaden Honeycutt led the organization with a sixth-place finish.
- Close, But No Cigar: Last week's outing in Daytona saw two Niece Motorsports drivers lead the field at various points of the race, but after getting collected in separate incidents, the crews were left to wonder, 'what if?'.
No. 42 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
- Mills' Atlanta Stats: Matt Mills has made two prior NCTS starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with both coming on the new track layout. Mills finished 27th here in last year's race, which is currently his best series finish at the track. Out of seven NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) races, Mills best run is 26th-place finish from the July, 2021 event.
- Shiplett's Atlanta Stats: Mike Shiplett has called one NCTS race at this track, finishing 11th last year with Bret Holmes. Shiplett's NXS stats are highlighted by a pole with Cole Custer in 2019, a pair of runner-up finishes (Kyle Larson, '16, and Custer, '19), four top-fives, and six top-10 results in seven races. He's earned two Cup Series top-10s in 11 starts, posting a personal best of sixth-place with AJ Allmendinger in the spring of 2010.
- On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra, who will serve as his anchor partners for the entire 25-race season.
- Look Good, Race Good: This week sees the debut of the "day" paint scheme on Mills' J.F. Electric Chevrolet. The No. 42 will feature different versions in corresponding day and night time races.
- Recapping Daytona: Matt Mills and the No. 42 J.F. Electric team were hindered by a tire rub on the right rear of the truck. After starting 24th, Mills’ bided his time early, hoping to avoid any on-track incidents. Midway through stage two, the tire came apart, forcing a green flag pit stop which placed him two laps behind the leaders. The crew continued to work on the truck throughout the race, but were shown in 29th-place at the checkered.
- Points Rundown: Mills heads to Atlanta sitting 26th in driver points, one point behind Rajah Caruth in 25th. He has a two-point buffer over Nathan Byrd, who currently holds down the 27th position.
- Quoting Mills: Do you view this race as another super speedway track, or has it started to age past that point?
“Year-to-year, the grip has gotten progressively worse here in Atlanta. It’s gotten more aggressive, the bumps are starting to come out, and track position matters. In last year’s race, it started to get one lane dominant on the top side, so having good pit stops and keeping that track position is going to be important all race long I think it’s a fun hybrid for us in the Truck Series, and think our No. 42 J.F. Electric team can be really strong this week.”
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2025, the team celebrates its 10th consecutive season competing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) where it fields the Nos. 41, 42, 44 and 45. Since its founding in 2016, Niece Motorsports has garnered nine wins, 50+ top-fives, 100+ top-10s, 190+ top-15 finishes and made five playoff appearances. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a trusted build shop for the Chevrolet Silverados of multiple NCTS teams as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.
Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect 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.
