NCTS RACE RECAP: TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY
Event: Love’s RV Stop 225 (85 laps / 226.1 miles)
Round: 23 of 25 (The Chase)
Track: Talladega Superspeedway
Location: Lincoln, AL
Date & Time: Friday, October 23 | 4:00 PM ET
No. 45 J.F. Electric Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Landen Lewis | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Start: 30th | Stage 1: 11th | Stage 2: 6th
Finish: 6th | Driver Points: 20th | Owner Points: 10th
- Key Takeaway: Landen Lewis and the J.F. Electric team put together an impressive race at Talladega. Lewis qualified deep in the field in 30th-place, but took a methodical approach to slice through the field early on. The No. 45 Silverado just barely missed out on capturing points in stage one in 11th, but backed it up with a sixth-place effort in stage two. In his first super speedway start, the rookie managed a clean, mistake-free run throughout the event. He crossed the finish line in sixth-place, right in the middle of a thrilling three-wide finish.
- Landen Lewis’ Post-Race Thoughts: “That was a blast, that’s for sure. I learned so much that I can’t even put into words. I’m definitely going to have to go back and digest this one to try and take good notes when we come back for Daytona next year. It was a great day overall; we ran up front all day long after starting 30th, and it was just a solid outing for me. I guess the biggest thing to take away from the super speedways is to not take anything for granted, because the next one could go completely sideways. I’m proud of Phil Gould and the whole No. 45 team and am thankful to J.F. Electric and Chevrolet for everything they do for us. We’ll build on this one and go to Martinsville.”
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.
No. 42 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Conner Jones | Crew Chief: Landon Polinski
Start: 28th | Stage 1: 12th | Stage 2: 15th
Finish: 27th | Driver Points: 41st | Owner Points: 25th
- Key Takeaway: Conner Jones and the Niece Equipment team were having a solid outing in Talladega before being collected in a multi-truck crash, which took them out of the running. Jones started the 225-mile race in 28th and played it smart in the opening two stages. After finishing 12th in stage one, Jones was dealt a pit road speeding violation and had to restart from the tail of the field. He drove the truck back up inside the top-15 in stage two, and continued to gain experience, setting up for the final stage. On lap 57, Jones made contact with another truck in front of him and was sent spinning down the backstretch. His truck was heavily damaged and could not complete the race, resulting in a 27th-place finish.
- Conner Jones’ Post-Race Thoughts: “It was fun out there today and we had a fast Niece Equipment Chevy. I just have to do better next time to not wreck and put myself in a bad position, I guess. I really don’t know what happened; I haven’t had a chance to see a great replay yet. It sucks that we couldn’t finish, but we will move onto Martinsville next week.”
About Niece Equipment: For over 40 years, Niece Equipment has provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Our reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability. Each of our water and fuel/lube trucks are engineered with quality and durability in mind. Our capability ranges from 2,000 gallon water trucks to 12,000 gallon water towers. The fuel/lube trucks we offer range from 600 to 4,000 gallons.
No. 44 Acceptance Insurance Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Andrés Perez de Lara | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Start: 25th | Stage 1: 18th | Stage 2: 31st
Finish: 31st | Driver Points: 16th | Owner Points: 22nd
Read Andrés’ Bio
- Key Takeaway: Andrés Pérez de Lara and the Acceptance Insurance team had a promising run go array early in Talladega. Pérez de Lara rolled off from the 25th position, but made quick work to climb inside the top-10 in stage one. Just as he was pushing the middle lane forward with a couple of laps remaining in the first stage, the truck in front of him blew a tire which caused “the big one”. With nowhere to go, Pérez de Lara slammed into the outside wall and was done for the day. He was relegated to a 31st-place finish.
- Andrés Pérez de Lara’s Post-Race Thoughts: “It’s just a really unfortunate way for us to end our day with the Acceptance Insurance Chevy. I feel like we were putting ourselves in the right positions, but once the No. 52 (Stewart Friesen) had a problem in front of us, we were just passengers after that. We’re just going to regroup at Martinsville next week. It’s obviously not ideal, and I just feel bad for the team since they have to rebuild the truck. We’ll just look forward to next week and try to get a solid result there.”
About Acceptance Insurance: Acceptance Insurance is a proud member of Confie, the largest personal lines agency in the U.S. We believe in investing in the communities we serve by offering affordable insurance solutions so our customers can have peace of mind. Our agents and team members uphold our values, which include promoting excellence, responsibility and caring.
Acceptance has been in business for over 50 years. We have over 700 agents in over 288 neighborhood locations ready to give you the service, respect and savings you deserve. We come to you so you can find the solutions you need, regardless of your background and driving record. We offer easy solutions to meet your unique needs.
No. 4 Blues Hog Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Cleetus McFarland | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
Start: 24th | Stage 1: 27th | Stage 2: 36th
Finish: 36th | Driver Points: N/A | Owner Points: 33rd
- Key Takeaway: Cleetus McFarland and the Blues Hog team had their race end early due to a crash in stage one at Talladega. McFarland’s No. 4 Chevrolet qualified the highest out of the team in 24th, and was on its way forward when “the big one” struck on lap 16. As he was avoiding the crash ahead of him, contact from another competitor sent McFarland careening into the inside wall. The truck had too much damage to continue the race, and was credited with a 36th-place finish.
- Cleetus McFarland’s Post-Race Thoughts:
Interviewer: Cleetus McFarland has been checked and released from the infield care center. I heard the frustration from you on the radio; what happened from your vantage point?
“It just sucks. You know, I honestly just saw the wreck and was slowing down heavily. I was getting called down and was trying to get down and out of the way and I don’t know how or where, but I lightly got tapped on the back-left and it sent me on a trajectory that just bent up the front of my hot rod. I felt like my truck was really tight, so I got out of the way. I was riding and having a great race, I was learning, it was phenomenal. I saw the wreck and got on the brakes and I was totally good, and then I just got spun and I just wrecked. It sucks.”
About Blues Hog: Blues Hog is a nationally recognized producer of premium barbecue products, trusted by top chefs, champion pitmasters, and restaurateurs worldwide. Known as “The Award-Winning Choice of Champions,” Blues Hog offers a diverse lineup of sauces, seasonings, marinades, fuels, meat sticks, and heat-and-eat meats—all crafted to elevate any barbecue experience, from backyard cookouts to elite competitions. With an unwavering commitment to exceptional flavor and quality, Blues Hog delivers next-level taste by blending authentic barbecue tradition with modern convenience. For more information, visit www.BluesHog.com.
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).
