NCTS RACE RECAP: 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
No. 44 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Andrés Perez de Lara | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Start: 27th | Stage 1: 19th | Stage 2: 12th
Finish: 12th | Driver Points: 14th | Owner Points: 20th
Read Andrés’ Bio
- Key Takeaway: Andrés Pérez de Lara and the Freeway Insurance team overcame early setbacks to come home with a solid finish in Phoenix. Pérez de Lara started deep in the field, but the No. 44 team made positive changes to find speed throughout the race. The Mexico City native drove through the field in the opening two stages and contended for a top-10 finish at the end of the race. As the checkered flag flew, Pérez de Lara came home as the highest finisher from the organization in 12th-place.
- Andrés Pérez de Lara’s Post-Race Thoughts: “I think we have to be happy with the result we had tonight after a very challenging start to our day. We struggled in practice and qualifying, but we got it better in the race. We fought hard all night long. Of course, we were looking for a top-10, but just fell a little too short. I’m just happy to rebound after a day that was looking like it was going to be tough for us. The No. 44 team never quits, and I was very thankful to have Freeway Insurance supporting our efforts on their big weekend in Phoenix.”
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
Start: 4th | Stage 1: 3rd | Stage 2: 9th
Finish: 16th | Driver Points: 22nd | Owner Points: 10th
Read Landen’s Bio
- Key Takeaway: Landen Lewis and the Sparco team brought a fast truck to Phoenix, but an electrical issue put a damper on their finishing result. Lewis rocketed to his best-career qualifying effort in fourth-place and drove up to second on the opening lap. Completing stage one in third, the No. 45 team showcased promising speed early on. Towards the end of the second stage, Lewis experienced low battery voltage causing him to sputter to ninth. The team looked under the hood on pit road to rectify the issue, but was ultimately unable to climb back into the top-10. After having to restart from the tail, Lewis made a valiant effort to gain track position and crossed the line in 16th-place.
- Landen Lewis’ Post-Race Thoughts: “We started off great at the beginning of the day and I felt like Phil (Gould) made really good adjustments in practice. Our Sparco Chevy was really close right off the hauler and I was really happy with how it drove. When we ended up fourth in qualifying, it felt like everything was going great. There was a lot of promise and happiness throughout the team and I felt like we were hitting our stride and getting everything headed in the right direction.
Starting the race off, we ran second for the majority of stage one and fell back to third. In stage two, we fired off with a vibration from a loose wheel on the left-front, and then had an issue with a wiring harness, or something like that. The motor started cutting in and out and we lost all of our track position after coming down pit road. Once that issue happened, the motor just never felt right for the rest of the race.
We still fought back to 16th, but it was a shame. We were coming off of a good run in Charlotte and I was hopeful to make it two in a row tonight. On the bright side, we are starting to build our momentum up as a group and things are starting to click really well. We’ll take this one and put it to the side and move onto Talladega next week.”
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.
No. 4 Nightclubs Suck Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Donovan Strauss | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
Start: 22nd | Stage 1: 23rd | Stage 2: 28th
Finish: 24th | Driver Points: 69th | Owner Points: 31st
Read Donovan’s Bio
- Key Takeaway: Donovan Strauss and the Nightclubs Suck team had a clean evening in Phoenix, gaining valuable experience. In just his second-career NCTS start, Strauss qualified 22nd for the 150-lap race. On the first pit stop of the night, the rookie slid through his pit stall and had to make up for lost ground in stage two. The No. 4 team held serve for the final run to the checkered flag, and Strauss brought his truck home to his best-career finish in 24th-place.
- Donovan Strauss’ Post-Race Thoughts: “I don’t think the finishing result is too bad considering I made a lot of rookie mistakes tonight. I slid through my box on the first stop, lost my track position, and had to restart at the tail of the field. But overall, I feel like I learned a lot tonight and finished all the laps. I have to learn how to keep up with the balance on how the track changes and be a little better on the initial start. Tonight was a building night for sure, and I thought it went well. Huge thanks to everyone at Nightclubs Suck, Niece Motorsports, and Team Chevy for this opportunity. I have had a lot of fun in my first two times racing in the Truck Series and hope to be back soon.”
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
Start: 30th | Stage 1: 29th | Stage 2: 30th
Finish: 27th | Driver Points: 28th | Owner Points: 24th
Read Tyler’s Bio
- Key Takeaway: Tyler Reif and the DQS Solutions & Staffing team faced a challenging night in Phoenix. Reif, who returned to the site of his NCTS debut, rolled off the starting grid in 30th-place. The No. 42 struggled to make headway as Reif wrestled the balance on his truck in the first two runs of the night and made slight contact with the outside wall. After making several adjustments on pit road, the team was able to pick up a handful of positions in the final stage. Reif finished the race in 27th-place.
- Tyler Reif’s Post-Race Thoughts: “That was a tough race for us tonight. I’m not really sure what our biggest issue was – maybe it was downforce or drag, but really I don’t know. I told Landon (Polinski) after the race that I was kind of lost a little bit because this was the first time I’ve raced here and didn’t know what to tell my crew chief. I had really high hopes coming back here because we qualified and finished inside the top-10 in my debut last year and I feel like Phoenix has always been a good track for me. We will debrief when we get home and go from there, but I know my No. 42 guys will work hard to make sure our next race together goes better for us.”
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.
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).
