Matt Mills - TSport 200 Race Preview
Race: TSport 200 (200 laps / 137.2 miles) | Race 15 of 23
Track: Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park
Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
Date & Time: Friday, July 19th | 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' IRP Stats: Matt Mills has made one prior Truck Series start at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, which came last year. Driving for Young's Motorsports, Mills started the event in 17th and finished 23rd.
- Leonard's IRP Stats: Jon Leonard has competed in both NCTS races at IRP since its re-addition in 2022. That year, Leonard called Stewart Friesen to a strong, fourth-place finish. Last season, while working with Jake Drew, his truck finished 17th.
- On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric and Utilitra.
- Recapping Pocono: Thanks to his top-10 finish at Nashville, Matt Mills would start the highest of the Niece Motorsports drivers in 13th after qualifying was canceled. Mills showed promise throughout the race as he gained confidence in his truck. Following a 13th-place run in stage one, Mills climbed to 10th in stage two to pick up a point. Before the red flags came out for rain, the No. 42 was slated to finish sixth, but ultimately dropped to eleventh. Still, a solid showing for the team.
- Points Rundown: The streak continues, as for the seventh consecutive race, Mills gained a spot in the points standings. Following his eleventh-place run at Pocono, Mills is now shown in 21st overall. His nearest competitor is Bret Holmes in 20th, who has a 14 point gap on him heading into IRP.
- Quoting Mills: What makes IRP such a fun track amongst all the drivers?
“IRP is great. Last year in my first time running at that track, I wasn’t really sure on what to expect, but it was a lot of fun learning how the track changed throughout the course of the race. We’re able to run on the bottom groove, in the middle, and all the way up to the fence. It was cool figuring out how to pass other guys and put them in uncomfortable positions. It just races like how a short track should feel like. Multiple lanes, having the option to change your line based off how the truck is handling, so I’m really looking forward to going back.”
- Quoting Leonard: Since Matt raced here in a truck last year, does that give you more of a direction on what to look for in terms of his feedback?
“I think that just gives him more confidence more than it does our team. There’s multiple facets and variables to what he ran last year, and we don’t have their notes, so I think this should give him some knowledge and confidence when he starts to head to some of these tracks for a second and third time. He’ll have a better understanding on the balance and know where he needs to run, which will help him trust himself more in the truck.”
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.
