NCTS RACE PREVIEW: PHOENIX RACEWAY
Event: Zero Carbon Bioethanol 150 (150 laps / 150 miles)
Round: 22 of 25 (The Chase)
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Location: Avondale, AZ
Date & Time: Friday, October 16 | 7:30 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 2 | NASCAR Racing Network (NRN) | SiriusXM Ch. 90
Team Stats & Notes
- Niece Motorsports Phoenix Stats:
NCTS Starts: 27; Top-10s: 5; Best Finish: 7th (Kaden Honeycutt, 2024).
- Double Header Race Weekend: In addition to competing in the NCTS race at Phoenix Raceway, Niece Motorsports will enter the CARS Tour season finale at South Boston Speedway on Saturday night. Connor Hall will be behind the wheel of the No. 4 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet for the 125-lap race, which will air live on FloRacing.
No. 4 Nightclubs Suck Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Donovan Strauss | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
Read Donovan’s Bio
- Strauss Returns: CARS Tour Late Model Stock Series regular Donovan Strauss returns to the seat of the No. 4 Nightclubs Suck Chevrolet Silverado RST at Phoenix Raceway for his second-career NCTS start. Strauss made his debut with Niece Motorsports at North Wilkesboro Speedway earlier this year, and most recently competed in the prestigious ValleyStar Credit Union 300 race at Martinsville Speedway.
- Strauss’ Phoenix Stats:
Donovan Strauss will make his first-career start in any series at Phoenix on Friday.
- Shiplett’s Phoenix Stats:
NCS Starts: 11; Poles: 1 (A.J. Allmendinger, 2010); Top-Fives: ; Top-10s: 2; Best Finish: 9th (twice – 2011 & 2020).
NOAPS Starts: 13; Poles: 1 (John Hunter Nemecheck, 2018); Top-Fives: 3; Top-10s: 6; Best Finish: 2nd (2019).
NCTS Starts: 2; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 9th (2025).
- On the Truck: Strauss’ No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with primary support from Nightclubs Suck, a performance apparel brand which also offers athletic training programs. The truck will sport a new, eye-popping camouflaged paint scheme with bright orange accents to promote the company’s new line of performance hats.
- Recapping Charlotte: Matt Mills and the Utilitra team battled through a considerable amount of adversity in Charlotte. Rolling off from 19th, Mills ran conservatively early on in his first start since last year’s season finale. As the night progressed, Mills began his advance through the field. Unfortunately, his No. 4 Silverado was damaged after a multi-truck crash on lap 119. Shortly after, Mills was forced to pit under green as he had a left-front tire go down due to the damage. In his series return, Mills came home in 23rd-place.
- Quoting Strauss: Though most wouldn’t consider North Wilkesboro to be similar to Phoenix, what did you learn in your series debut that you can apply this weekend?
“For me, the biggest thing I learned in North Wilkesboro was how the trucks drive compared to the late models that I’m used to racing. I think having the seat time heading into Phoenix is going to be very helpful in making me feel comfortable in the truck, especially considering that we will be going faster here. With it being a one-day show, I just have to adapt really fast, but having made laps in the truck before, I feel like I will be able to do that a lot quicker. I’m super excited to make my second-career start with everyone at Niece Motorsports and Nightclubs Suck behind me.”
About Nightclubs Suck: Nightclubs Suck (NC❌) is a performance apparel brand built for endurance athletes who live differently. Founded in 2025 by two triathletes, Ty and Clayton, NC❌ was born out of a simple but powerful idea: that serious athletes shouldn’t have to choose between technical performance and great design. From faster splits to longer distances, we make gear that matches the 24/7 commitment of the endurance lifestyle. For those who earn their Saturday morning PRs on Friday night, this is for you. For those who endure.
No. 42 DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Tyler Reif | Crew Chief: Landon Polinski
Read Reif’s Bio
- Reif Returns: Henderson, NV’s Tyler Reif will make his eighth NCTS start of the year in the No. 42 Silverado this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. Reif made his series debut at this track one year ago, and made a great impression by earning a top-10 result. This year, his best result so far is a 12th-place finish which came in his most recent start at North Wilkesboro Speedway back in July.
- Reif’s Phoenix Stats:
NCTS Starts: 1; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 9th (2025).
ARCA West Starts: 6; Wins: 1 (2023); Top-Fives: 2; Top-10s: 3.
- Polinski’s Phoenix Stats:
NCTS Starts: 1; Best Finish: 11th (2025).
- On the Truck: Reif’s No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from DQS Solutions & Staffing.
- Recapping Charlotte: Conner Jones and the Comprehensive Logistics team had their night end early due to a mechanical failure in Charlotte. Jones earned his best qualifying result of the year in 11th, and was optimistic for a solid evening. Once the race began, Jones did not maintain his pace and fell behind. The No. 42 team made several adjustments throughout the race, but a rear gear issue ultimately brought their efforts to a halt with 20 laps to go. Jones was credited with a 34th-place result.
- Owner Points Outlook: Jones’ 34th-place finish at Charlotte kept the No. 42 team sitting 24th in the owner point standings. The team is currently 34 points behind Kaulig Racing’s No. 10 team in 23rd, and 11 points ahead of Kaulig’s No. 25 team in 25th.
- Quoting Reif: You’ve won an ARCA race here before and ran top-10 in your Truck debut last year. What makes Phoenix such a good race track for you?
“I think some of our success at Phoenix relates to the fact that it’s similar to a short track, but there’s also aero racing involved as a factor. You have to make sure that you’re in the cleanest line and know where the right side of your truck is, especially considering how everything fans out on the restarts. Phoenix is a very momentum-based track, so it’s all about keeping your RPMs up and getting a good drive off the corners. You have to find the clean air and race aggressively to get to that point. It’s a great track to race on and I can’t wait to get back there with our DQS Silverado on Friday night.”
About DQS Solutions & Staffing: Guided by a mission to achieve excellence and adaptability, DQS partners with clients to create custom solutions that address unique business challenges. Recognized as Michigan’s fastest-growing company and #22 in the nation on the Inc. 5000 list, DQS drives industry growth while giving back through its nonprofit, Foundation for Pops, and partnerships like the River Rouge School District.
No. 44 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Andrés Perez de Lara | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Read Andrés’ Bio
- Pérez de Lara’s Phoenix Stats:
NCTS Starts: 2; Best Finish: 30th (2025).
ARCA West Starts: 3; Top-Fives: 2; Top-10s: 3; Best Finish: 3rd (2022).
- Rogers’ Phoenix Stats:
NCS Starts: 9; Best Finish: 25th (2018).
NOAPS Starts: 9; Top-Fives: 1; Top-10s: 4; Best Finish: 4th (2008).
NCTS Starts: 10; Top-Fives: 2; Top-10s: 2; Best Finish: 2nd (2005).
- On the Truck: Pérez de Lara’s No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Freeway Insurance, the Official Insurance Partner of NASCAR. The company will make its debut as a partner of Niece Motorsports at Phoenix Raceway, and will also serve as the entitlement sponsor for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race.
- Recapping Charlotte: Andrés Pérez de Lara and the Telcel team had fortune on their side as they were able to capitalize on a well-deserved top-10 finish in Charlotte. Pérez de Lara laid down a quick lap in qualifying and started in ninth-place. In the first two stages, the No. 44 team made swings at the balance of the truck on pit road. He crossed the line in eighth-place for his third top-10 result of the year.
- Driver Points Outlook: Pérez de Lara’s eighth-place finish closed the gap to his nearest competitor in the point standings. Heading into Phoenix, the driver is only 10 points behind Brenden “Butterbean” Queen in 15th-place overall, and 71 points ahead of Corey Heim in 17th.
- Quoting Pérez de Lara: Do you anticipate any change in the track conditions compared to last year considering this race will be a few weeks earlier on the schedule?
“The weather might be a little different this time, and I would say that Phoenix is a track that is very weather-dependent. I think our preparation and what we bring setup-wise is going to be very similar to last year. The mentality is going to be the same heading here, and especially coming off a top-10 in Charlotte, we want to continue to build some momentum to end the year strong. It will be great to have Freeway Insurance on our truck for the first time, and I hope to kick off their big weekend with a good result.”
About Freeway Insurance: Built for drivers who like to do things their way, Freeway Insurance makes it easy to compare options, choose coverage that fits your ride and your budget, and save. With a simple click, call, or come in approach, we help drivers stay in control and keep moving forward. From auto and truck to motorcycle, homeowners, renters, and more, Freeway offers coverage designed for every journey. Compare. Choose. Save Freeway, Your Way.
No. 45 Sparco Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Landen Lewis | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Read Landen’s Bio
- Lewis’ Phoenix Stats:
Landen Lewis will make his first-career NCTS start at Phoenix on Friday.
ARCA West Starts: 3; Top-Fives: 1; Top-10s: 3; Best Finish: 2nd (2023).
- Gould’s Phoenix Stats:
NOAPS Starts: 12; Top-10s: 4; Best Finish: 6th (2016).
NCTS Starts: 7; Top-10s: 4; Best Finish: 7th (2024).
- On the Truck: Lewis’ No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Sparco, the team’s official uniform supplier. Sparco keeps Niece Motorsports’ drivers and pit crew safe with its top-of-the-line fire suits, gloves, protective underwear, shoes, and more.
- Recapping Charlotte: Landen Lewis and the J.F. Electric team had a great outing in Charlotte. Lewis started off on the right foot after nabbing his best-career qualifying effort in fifth-place. The No. 45 team fell back in the opening two stages as they fought a tight-handling condition, and nearly lost all track position once the caution flew during a green flag pit cycle. Lewis rose to the occasion in the last run of the night and rallied back to finish in seventh-place, marking his fifth top-10 finish of the season.
- Owner Points Outlook: Lewis’ seventh-place run in Charlotte brought the No. 45 team closer to the rest of the Chase contenders in the owner point standings. Though the team continues to sit 10th overall, the gap to Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet in ninth has been cut down to 11 points. With four races left in the season, the No. 45 team looks to continue its rise through the standings.
- Quoting Lewis: Does having ARCA experience at Phoenix help you feel more comfortable before your first start here in a truck?
“It definitely makes me feel more comfortable. The biggest thing, I think, is that having that experience will help me get up-to-speed quicker and getting the truck closer to where we need to be. The truck is obviously way different than the ARCA car, and I learned that at Bristol last month. I always look forward to going to Phoenix because it is one of my favorite race tracks. It’s a super racy place, and the restarts are something that I always look forward to. Having Ron Hornaday in my corner is super valuable because he’s a restart king and restarts are key there. I’m looking forward to debuting our new Sparco paint scheme and hope to deliver them a good performance.”
About Sparco: Sparco designs, manufactures, and sells racing safety apparel, karting safety apparel, vehicle racing seats / accessories, and gaming products. Headquartered in Volpiano, Italy, and founded in 1977, Sparco is a well-known provider in the racing industry.
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team that has competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2016. The team is owned by Josh Morris of DQS Solutions and Staffing and the Fowler Family of J.F. Electric and Utilitra, and was founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a full-service race vehicle build shop 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).
