Matt Mills - Weather Guard Truck Race Preview
Event: Weather Guard Truck Race (250 laps / 133.25 miles)
Round: 6 of 25 (Regular Season)
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway
Location: Bristol, Tennessee
Date & Time: Friday, April 11 | 7:30 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | NASCAR Racing Network (NRN) | SiriusXM Ch. 90
Team Stats & Notes
- Niece Motorsports Bristol Stats: Niece drivers have combined to make 27 starts at "The World's Fastest Half Mile" over the years. The team has garnered two top-fives and four top-10 finishes, including a best result of third place with Ross Chastain in 2019. In the spring race last year, Bayley Currey led the team with an 11th-place finish. Currey also led the team in the fall race, but was 15th.
No. 42 Utilitra / J.F. Electric Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
- Mills' Bristol Stats: Matt Mills made his NCTS debut at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2016, and has made a total of three series starts here. In both races held at the 0.533-mile short track last year, Mills finished in 25th-place. Mills has started five NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) races here, earning a best finish of 18th in the fall of 2019.
- Shiplett's Bristol Stats: Mike Shiplett made his NCTS debut as a crew chief at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2008, and competed in both races here last year. His series-best result at the track came in last year's fall race when Bret Holmes finished in 13th. Shiplett is a two-time Bristol winner, having won NXS races with Kasey Kahne in 2007 and Kyle Larson in 2018. The experienced crew chief's impressive NXS track record includes two poles, nine top-fives and 10 top-10 finishes. He has also made nine Cup Series starts with one top-10 (eighth with Cole Custer in 2022).
- On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners Utilitra and J.F. Electric, who will serve as his anchor partners for the entire 25-race season.
- This Scheme Pops: There are some bright new colors which will be sported on the No. 42 truck this week. Utilitra is a woman-owned utility and technology solutions firm which will serve as Mills' primary sponsor at Bristol, North Wilkesboro, and Watkins Glen.
- Recapping Martinsville: Matt Mills and the No. 42 team fought their way to another top-15 finish at Martinsville Speedway. Qualifying 23rd, Mills went on to finish 25th in both stages with mild damage to the left-front of the J.F. Electric Chevrolet. Through late-race drama, Mills was able to pick up some track position towards the end, finishing in 15th-place.
- Points Rundown: Following Martinsville, Mills gained one spot in the championship points standings, where he is now shown in 14th-place. The driver of the No. 42 sits 21 points behind Gio Ruggiero in 13th and has a one-point gap over Rajah Caruth, Andres Perez De Lara, and Matt Crafton who are all currently tied for 15th.
- Quoting Mills: Did you notice any differences in the track last year comparing the spring race to the fall?
“I felt like there was a tad less grip in the fall race, so going back here in the spring, I think it’s going to be a bit more free. It should be a bit warmer there this time, so hopefully we can capitalize on a good run in our Utilitra Silverado. Last year, we were pretty good, but didn’t start the race off where we needed to and just got ourselves in a bind. It was too hard to make up ground, but hopefully we can have a good qualifying effort to make our race efforts easier.”
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 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.
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.
