Matt Mills - Kubota Tractor 200 Race Preview
Race: Kubota Tractor 200 (134 laps / 201 miles) | Race 19 of 23
Track: Kansas Speedway
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
Date & Time: Friday, September 27th | 8:30 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' Kansas Stats: Matt Mills has made three previous NCTS starts at Kansas Speedway. Mills finished 23rd in the spring race after qualifying 15th. The Ohio native started five Xfinity Series races on the mile-and-a-half and posted a personal-best result of 19th last year. In 2021, Mills made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at this track - his only series start to-date.
- Leonard's Kansas Stats: Jon Leonard has called four NCTS races at Kansas, and he finished 10th in the fall race last year while working with Jake Drew. Leonard made his debut as a Cup Series crew chief here in 2017 and went on to make a total of two starts with a best result of 18th in the same race.
- Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Yesterday, Niece Motorsports announced a one-year contract extension for Mills to remain the driver of the No. 42 Silverado RST in 2025. J.F. Electric and Utilitra will be featured as Mills' primary sponsors for all 25 races next year as a continuation of their strong partnership.
- On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra.
- Honoring a Cancer Hero: Matt Mills will have a special passenger riding along his No. 42 Silverado RST as part of an annual tradition with The NASCAR Foundation & MTJ Foundation. Charles Ripple III, a cancer survivor, chose to bid on Mills' truck because he lives near his hometown in Dover, Ohio.
- Recapping Bristol: Matt Mills and the No. 42 team battled handling issues throughout the day in Bristol. Mills started the day off in 30th and finished the first stage in the same position. He gained a handful of spots to finish 27th in stage two, and climbed to 25th at the checkered flag.
- Points Rundown: After leaving Bristol with a 25th-place finish, Mills continues to be scored 22nd in the driver's points standings. Timmy Hill, currently shown in 21st, has a 15-point advantage heading into Kansas, and Mills has a 31-point gap to Kaden Honeycutt in 23rd.
- Quoting Mills: You finished in the top-five at the last mile-and-a-half race in Charlotte, so do you feel like you can expect that to translate to Kansas?
“Yeah, for sure. Now that we are starting to go back to some of these tracks for a second time this year, especially since it’s just my first full-time year in the trucks, I think we are starting to hit on some stuff. At Charlotte towards the end of the race, I found some ways to find more speed out of our truck, so I’ve been really looking forward to getting back to Kansas. Knowing what I know now and where our stuff is at on these types of tracks, I feel confident for Friday.”
- Quoting Leonard: How much better has Matt been at 'aero racing' this season?
“I think he’s been great and has learned a ton. Having TJ (Majors) spotting for him has been a huge help and I think through the year he’s developed and gotten the hang of where to put himself on track and how to run these aero races. We’ve been running good on the intermediates and are bringing a similar setup to what we had in the spring, so it should be a good weekend 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 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.
