Matt Mills - UNOH 200 Race Preview
Race: UNOH 200 Presented by Ohio Logistics (200 laps / 106.6 miles) | Race 18 of 23
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Location: Bristol, Tennessee
Date & Time: Thursday, September 19th | 8:00 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' Bristol Stats: Matt Mills has made two prior NCTS starts at Bristol, including the spring race earlier this year. In March, Mills notched his best Truck Series finish at the track with a 25th-place result. Mills made five Xfinity Series starts at the short track and produced a best finish of 18th in the fall race of 2019.
- Leonard's Bristol Stats: Jon Leonard has called four NCTS races at Bristol, and in two of those starts, he secured top-10 finishes while working with Stewart Friesen (fourth in 2021 & seventh in 2022). In his lone Cup Series start in 2018, Leonard's team drove to a 15th-place finish with Kasey Kahne at the wheel.
- On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners J.F. Electric & Utilitra.
- Looking Back on NASCAR Debut: At age 19 in 2016, Mills made his very first NASCAR national series start at Bristol Motor Speedway driving the No. 07 Silverado for SS Greenlight Racing. On that night, Mills started 31st and finished 27th in his Truck Series debut.
- There's a New Leonard in Town: Jon Leonard and his wife, AudriOnna, welcomed the birth of their third child last Thursday. Their baby boy named Karson is healthy and resting at home with his two big sisters. Congratulations to the happy family!
- Recapping Milwaukee: Matt Mills was on track to have a solid day in Milwaukee, but contact from another competitor resulted in him slamming into the wall with the rear of his No. 42 Chevrolet. Mills qualified 17th and held his track position in stage one. In stage two, he moved up to 16th, and made his way into the top-15 before the incident. A caution was not thrown for his contact and he fought an ill-handling truck for the rest of the race. Mills crossed the line in 24th.
- Points Rundown: Entering Bristol, Mills continues to be shown 22nd in the points standings. Last race, the driver of the No. 42 Chevy gained one point on his nearest competitor, Timmy Hill, who now leads a 12-point gap between the two for 21st. Mills in turn has a 21-point cushion above his teammate, Kaden Honeycutt, in 23rd.
- Quoting Mills: How much, if any, has the Bristol track changed since you made your debut here in 2016?
“Bristol has been one of those tracks that’s been hit or miss for me. It’s a track that doesn’t consistently race the same each time we go there, especially going from trucks to Xfinity cars. I’ve ran races when the track runs like a bottom feeder, but have also seen the top come in. It’s a very fun racetrack to make laps on, and even though my finishes have been hit or miss, I feel like we usually have speed there. We just have to keep up with how the track is going to race.”
- Quoting Leonard: Are the Bristol handling conditions similar when we race in the spring compared to the fall?
“I think for the most part, this track typically carries over a lot of similar handling characteristics. The biggest thing that will change from the first race to now is the fact that there won’t be any traction compound on the surface like how we are used to having before our race. I think that shouldn’t necessarily change how the trucks drive, but it should allow us to move around a lot more. Hopefully that will help improve the racing and make it easier for passing.”
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.
