Picture a four-way stop on a busy afternoon. A driver waves another through. A cyclist rolls slowly, deciding whether to go. A kid on a scooter hovers at the curb. Humans read this chaos with glances and nods. Machines have to figure it out from data.
Teaching a car to drive itself sounds simple until you realize how much of driving is unwritten. Eye contact, hand signals, hesitation, and gut instinct fill gaps the rulebook never covers. Programming all of that into software is an enormous challenge.
That’s why the dangers of self-driving cars deserve a clear-eyed look. The question isn’t whether the technology is impressive. It clearly is. The question is how it handles the messy, unpredictable situations real roads throw at every driver, human or not.
Why Driving Is Harder Than Following Traffic Rules
If driving were just following rules, computers would ace it. Stop at red lights, stay in your lane, obey the speed limit. But real roads demand constant prediction. Will that car merge? Is that pedestrian about to step out? Guessing right is the whole game.
Ambiguous situations are everywhere. A police officer directing traffic might override a green light. A delivery truck double-parked might require crossing a center line. Human drivers improvise in these moments, often bending rules slightly to keep everyone safe and moving.
Unexpected conditions add another layer. A mattress in the road, a flooded underpass, or a fallen tree branch demands quick judgment. Humans can draw on years of experience and common sense. Automated systems have to recognize the situation and respond correctly, every single time.
The Situations That Can Confuse Automated Driving Systems
Construction zones are notorious trouble spots. Lane lines shift, cones appear in odd places, and workers wave vehicles through unconventional paths. Systems trained on normal road layouts may struggle when the road suddenly looks nothing like the map they expected.
Weather and visibility cause problems too. Heavy rain, snow, fog, and blinding glare can interfere with cameras and other sensors. Dirt or ice on a sensor can limit what the system sees. When the inputs get fuzzy, the decisions can get shaky.
Emergency vehicles and unpredictable people round out the list. A fire truck approaching from behind requires a quick, correct response. Jaywalkers, erratic drivers, and cyclists weaving through traffic can behave in ways that are difficult to predict, even for very sophisticated software.
Why Not All Self-Driving Technology Is the Same
The term self-driving gets tossed around loosely. Plenty of vehicles marketed with fancy names actually offer driver-assistance features, like adaptive cruise control or lane-centering. These systems help, but they still require a human to watch the road and stay ready.
Engineers often describe automation in levels, ranging from no automation to full automation. Lower levels support a human driver, who remains responsible for monitoring the road. Higher levels can handle driving tasks within specific conditions, sometimes without a human taking over.
Confusing those categories can be dangerous. A driver who treats an assistance system like a fully autonomous chauffeur might stop paying attention at exactly the wrong moment. Knowing what a vehicle can actually do, and what it can’t, matters enormously. Marketing isn’t a manual.
Who May Be Responsible When Automated Technology Contributes to a Crash?
Human drivers often remain part of the equation. If a vehicle requires supervision and the driver was distracted or ignored warnings, that driver may bear responsibility. Using an assistance system doesn’t automatically erase the duty to drive carefully. The driver’s seat still comes with obligations.
Manufacturers and software developers may also face scrutiny. If a defect in design, sensors, or programming contributed to a crash, product liability claims might come into play. Marketing that overstates what a system can do could also become part of the analysis.
Other parties can be involved too, like fleet operators, maintenance providers, or companies running robotaxi services. There’s no single universal rule. Responsibility depends on the technology involved, the facts of the crash, and the laws that apply where it happened.
Conclusion
Automated driving technology is impressive and evolving fast. Still, the road is full of human unpredictability, and machines have to handle all of it safely. That challenge sits at the heart of every conversation about automated vehicles. Progress and caution can coexist.
Safety depends on what each system can actually do, how well it’s been tested, and whether humans supervise it properly when required. Treating driver assistance like full autonomy creates real risk. Clear expectations matter as much as clever engineering.
The future of driving still has plenty of human questions. Anyone involved in a crash where automated technology may have played a role can talk with a qualified attorney about how responsibility might be evaluated. Answers usually start with the evidence.
Defective seat belts can make car accident injuries worse by failing to hold occupants securely, releasing during impact, or placing excessive force on vulnerable body parts. Even when a collision is unavoidable, a properly functioning restraint can reduce the risk of serious injury by limiting movement and spreading crash forces across stronger areas of the body.
Chicago, Illinois, has busy expressways, crowded intersections, and heavy commuter traffic, creating many situations where sudden braking or collisions can occur. The city’s Kennedy and Dan Ryan Expressways experience frequent stop-and-go traffic, increasing the likelihood of sudden stops and rear-end collisions.
Illinois law generally requires drivers and passengers covered by the state’s seat belt law to wear properly fastened restraints. When a defective belt contributes to injuries, a motor vehicle accident attorney serving Chicago may assess the relevant evidence and applicable legal responsibilities.
Retractor Problems Increase Impact Injuries
The retractor should allow normal belt movement but lock during sudden deceleration. If its locking mechanism fails, the occupant may travel farther forward before hitting the steering wheel, dashboard, or another surface. This extra movement increases the risk of chest injuries, facial fractures, and brain trauma.
False Latching Creates Hidden Danger
A buckle may appear connected without securely engaging its locking mechanism. Occupants might believe they are protected, even though the belt can actually separate under pressure. Manufacturing defects, worn components, or damaged buckles may cause this problem, making proper inspection important after unusual belt behavior.
Damaged Webbing Can Break Under Pressure
Seat belt webbing may withstand substantial forces during a crash. Fraying, cuts, chemical damage, prior crash-induced stress, or manufacturing flaws can weaken its fibers and compromise its restraint. If the material tears, the occupant may suffer injuries that a properly functioning belt could have helped prevent.
Incorrect Belt Position Can Damage Internal Organs
While the shoulder belt should cover the chest, the lap belt should lie low across the hips. If defective components allow the belt to ride over the abdomen or fit improperly, crash forces can damage abdominal organs, ribs, and the spine. Severe cases may involve internal bleeding.
Faulty Pretensioners Can Reduce Protection
Pretensioners tighten seat belts rapidly during certain crashes, helping restrain occupants before they move too far forward. A defective pretensioner may fail to activate, leaving excess slack during impact. Faults in restraint systems can also affect how forces are managed, potentially increasing the risk of chest and shoulder injuries.
Failed Restraints Can Injure Other Passengers
An occupant whose belt fails may collide with nearby passengers or strike the driver as they move through the cabin. Unrestrained rear-seat occupants can also injure people sitting in front. Therefore, a defective restraint can increase injury risks beyond the person wearing the faulty belt.
Legal Responsibility Depends on the Evidence
Liability may involve a vehicle or seat belt manufacturer, a parts supplier, or another responsible party, depending on the defect and circumstances. Product liability claims generally require evidence connecting a defect to the injury. Maintenance history, crash data, photographs, medical records, and professional inspections can help establish what happened.
Preserve Evidence After a Collision
Keep the damaged belt and buckle intact when possible, and avoid repairs until an appropriate inspection is completed. Photograph visible damage, retain repair and purchase records, and seek medical assessment for injuries. In Illinois, deadlines and legal requirements can affect claims, so documenting the defect and its connection to the crash is important.
Wrapping Up
Buckle failures can leave occupants unrestrained during impact.
Retractor and pretensioner defects may increase forward movement.
Damaged webbing can tear under crash forces.
Poor belt positioning can injure the abdomen and spine.
Failed restraints may expose other passengers to additional harm.
Product liability depends on evidence, causation, and applicable law.
It’s amazing how quickly an ordinary garage can become a frustrating place to work. You’re halfway through a simple job, the hood is up, and the ceiling light is shining on everything except the part you need to see. Then you look up and realize the garage door tracks take up half the space where you might put better lighting or a fan.
The fix isn’t necessarily a bigger toolbox or a complete remodel. A more useful place to start is the environment itself: where the light falls, how air moves, how much room you have to work, and whether the setup is safe for the jobs you actually do.
Map the Garage Around the Work You Actually Do
First, forget the picture-perfect garage for a minute. Think about an ordinary Saturday. Are you washing the car, checking fluids, changing wheels, sorting parts on a bench, or working through a restoration project that takes up the whole weekend? Those jobs use the same floor, but they don’t need the same lighting or the same amount of space.
Detailing is a good example. You might need light from the side to pick up fine marks in the paint, then a different portable light to check the wheel wells. Mechanical work brings its own problems: an open hood creates deep shadows, and a floor jack or creeper needs a clear path beside the car. If you mainly park and store gear, simpler lighting and clear walkways may be all you need.
Before buying anything, park the vehicle where it normally sits. Open the doors and hood. Raise the garage door. Stand at the workbench. It’s a better test than an empty-room measurement.
Layer Lighting for Parking, Detailing, and Repairs
One bright fixture in the middle of the ceiling can make a garage look well lit until you start doing real work. Your own body blocks the beam, the hood throws a shadow, and suddenly the bolt you need is hiding in the dark. That’s why it helps to think in layers instead of looking for one light that does everything.
Start with general lighting so you can walk around the car, find equipment and spot anything on the floor. Then add task lighting where you actually work. A movable inspection light is handy under the hood or beneath a dashboard. For paint correction or detailing, pay attention to the direction and quality of the light, not simply the claimed brightness on the box.
In a garage that doubles as a hobby room or general-purpose hangout, some people consider ceiling fans with lights to combine circulation and overhead illumination. That can be a sensible use of a ceiling position if the particular fixture is rated for the environment and fits the space. Just don’t expect a fan-mounted light to replace a proper inspection light when you’re checking a paint finish or hunting for an oil leak.
Neutral or daylight-looking light can be useful for detailed tasks, but glare, shadows and the quality of the fixture matter just as much. Test the light where your eyes and hands will actually be.
Separate Air Movement From Hazardous-Air Ventilation
A stuffy garage makes even a short job feel longer. It’s tempting to point a big fan at the workbench and call the problem solved. For comfort, that may help. Moving air across your skin can make a hot afternoon feel more bearable. But here’s the distinction worth remembering: moving air around the room is not the same thing as getting contaminated air out of it.
A ceiling fan, floor fan or wall fan mainly circulates air. Exhaust ventilation is designed to remove air, and some automotive jobs call for much more specific controls. Running engines, spraying coatings, welding and using certain solvents can introduce hazards that a normal circulation fan cannot fix. Poor placement can spread dust or vapors.
The carbon-monoxide warning is especially important. The CDC advises against running a vehicle inside an attached garage even with the garage door open. If a repair task requires an engine to run, don’t treat an open door and a household fan as an exhaust system. Professional shops use appropriate procedures and, where needed, dedicated exhaust capture and ventilation designed for the activity. Painting and other hazardous operations may require purpose-built equipment and controls.
For routine comfort, choose where you want airflow and check that it doesn’t scatter lightweight parts, dust or paperwork. For fumes and combustion gases, deal with the source and proper ventilation first. They’re two different jobs, and it’s safer to keep them that way.
Check Ceiling Clearance Before Adding Overhead Equipment
Garage ceilings are busier than they look. Even a fairly empty two-car garage may have a door opener, tracks, storage racks, lights and electrical runs competing for the same overhead space. The real test isn’t whether a fan fits while the door is closed. It’s whether the entire installation works through the door’s full range of motion and around everything else that moves or projects into the space.
If you’re considering garage ceiling fans with lights, measure the complete installed height and the lowest part of the fixture, not just its blade diameter. Check the manufacturer’s required clearances and location rating. A ceiling that looks high enough from the floor might leave surprisingly little space once a vehicle roof rack, open hatch, storage platform or raised garage door enters the picture.
A workbench under a fan isn’t automatically a problem, but a lift, ladder or tall piece of equipment can change the clearance calculation. Use the exact model’s instructions and a qualified installer where appropriate. There’s no benefit in gaining a little airflow at the cost of an awkward or unsafe overhead layout.
Match Fan Type to Garage Size and Work Zones
Not every garage needs something hanging from the ceiling. A small space where you work in one corner may be better served by a directional fan that can be moved as the job changes. A wall-mounted unit might keep the floor clear, provided there’s a suitable mounting spot. A ceiling fan can make sense when the room has enough unobstructed overhead space and you want more general circulation while you’re in the garage.
A bigger hobby workshop is a different story. One giant fan won’t necessarily serve all three areas, particularly if walls, cabinets or equipment interrupt the airflow. Separate work zones may make more sense.
For those larger layouts, large shop ceiling fans are one category worth evaluating alongside smaller directional equipment. Look beyond blade span: the documented airflow, mounting height, controls, environmental rating and nearby obstructions all matter. Also think about what happens when you open a roll-up door or move a lift. The best position on an empty floor plan may be the worst position during a normal working day.
And keep the terminology straight. A comfort fan isn’t an exhaust fan, and industrial styling doesn’t prove a fan is rated for harsh conditions. Check the actual product documentation rather than buying by the name or appearance alone.
Make Long Garage Sessions Easier on the Body
Comfort isn’t only about temperature. Anyone who’s spent a long afternoon working beside a car knows how often you end up kneeling, reaching sideways or twisting around something that seemed easy to access ten minutes earlier. A few small changes can make the space less awkward without turning it into a professional race shop.
Put frequently used tools where you can reach them from your usual working position. If you spend time at a bench, get the height right for the tasks you do there, and leave enough light to see small fasteners clearly. A stable mechanic’s stool may help for wheel-level jobs; a suitable creeper can be useful for under-car access when the vehicle is properly secured. Anti-fatigue mats can help at standing stations, but keep them out of paths where wheeled equipment needs to move.
Don’t overlook the simple things: a dry floor, a place for a portable light, room to set down a removed part, and somewhere to step back from the vehicle. It’s not glamorous, but it helps.
When a Garage Becomes a Professional Auto Shop
Scale changes the conversation. In a home garage, the question might be where to put one workbench and whether a fan clears the door tracks. In a professional shop with multiple service bays, you’re dealing with vehicle lifts, taller equipment, shared work areas, overhead lighting, building systems and workers who aren’t all doing the same task at the same time.
Some high-ceiling facilities may evaluate commercial HVLS fans for broad, low-speed air circulation across open areas. They are not simply oversized household fans, and they’re not right for every repair building. Structural support, installed height, sprinkler and other overhead systems, electrical compatibility, control zones and interaction with existing ventilation all have to be reviewed for the actual site.
The ventilation point still stands. A large circulation fan does not take the place of vehicle-exhaust capture, spray-booth ventilation or other controls required by hazardous work. In fact, airflow equipment should be planned so it doesn’t undermine those systems. If you’re fitting out a real service facility, involve the people responsible for building safety, mechanical systems and installation before picking equipment from a product page.
The goal is better comfort without disrupting the systems that keep the shop safe.
Build a Practical Garage Improvement Plan
It’s easy to turn a garage upgrade into a shopping list. A better approach is to change one problem at a time and see whether the fix actually works. Start by watching where you stand and what you struggle to see during your next job. If the bench is dark, deal with the bench light. If an open hood blocks the overhead fixture, try a movable task light before rewiring the whole garage.
Next, check the serious stuff: any exhaust or chemical exposure concerns, the clear travel of the garage door, and the position of ladders, lifts or tall gear. Those aren’t details to figure out after you’ve mounted a new ceiling fixture. Once the space is properly planned, you can decide whether a floor, wall or ceiling fan would add useful comfort.
Finally, use the garage for a while before adding more gear. You may discover that better light and a clearer work area solve most of the annoyance. The best garage upgrade isn’t always the biggest one. It’s the one you notice because the next job goes more smoothly.
A good garage doesn’t have to look like a TV workshop. It just has to work for your car and the jobs you enjoy doing. Light the places where you need to see, move air where it helps with comfort, handle fumes with the proper controls, and keep the overhead space clear. Get those basics right and the garage starts feeling less like a storage room you happen to work in, and more like a place built for the job.
Number plate cloning, the British version of someone copying your license plate, is climbing fast. The UK’s Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) logged 11,394 reports of cloned plates in 2025. That’s up 9% on the year before and 54% higher than in 2020. In London alone, penalty notices canceled because of cloning rose from 22,450 in 2021 to 36,794 in 2023, according to a BBC investigation.
That’s where cloning comes in. A criminal finds a car that matches theirs in make, model and color, often from an online sales listing. They have a set of plates made up with that car’s registration and bolt them on. From then on, every camera that spots them bills the real owner.
Jon Kirkbright, Sales Director at RegHunters, one of the UK’s largest DVLA-recognized plate suppliers, says the system is working exactly as designed, and that’s the problem.
“Every one of those cameras is doing its job perfectly. It reads the plate, matches it to a name and sends the bill. The trouble is, the plate is the only thing it checks, and anyone can get one made.”
Why the plates are so easy to get
Around 34,000 businesses are registered to sell number plates in Britain, and getting registered costs a one-off £40, roughly $50. The plates themselves carry no holograms, chips or watermarks. The British Number Plate Manufacturers Association has told lawmakers that the UK and Ireland are the only countries in Europe without security features in their plates.
How victims find out
There’s no alert and no database to check. Most people discover the problem when a parking ticket arrives from a town they’ve never visited, or a speeding notice is timed while their car sat in the driveway. Others hear from debt collectors over unpaid fuel, or from police asking where they were on a particular day.
“We’re taking two or three calls a day from people in this position,” says Jon. “Some of them are dealing with half a dozen different councils at once, each with its own appeals process.”
The strongest evidence is usually the camera image itself. Cloners copy the basics, but wheels, roof racks, trim and dents rarely match. Owners who keep dated photos of their own car from every angle have a much easier time proving the difference.
Getting back on track
The advice from police and the trade is consistent. First, report the cloning to the police and get a crime reference number, because every appeal depends on it. Next, notify the DVLA and tell your insurer. Then answer every penalty notice in writing before its deadline, even the ones that look ridiculous. In the UK, ignoring a speeding notice can lead to prosecution for failing to name the driver.
“Speed matters,” Jon says. “The sooner you get a crime reference number and start answering notices, the less of a mess you’re left to untangle.”
The final step is the one many victims overlook: moving the car onto a new registration. The cloned plate stays out there, but it no longer leads back to the owner.
“A fresh registration is the closest thing to a clean slate,” says Jon. “The old number is still on someone else’s car, but it stops pointing at you.”
The checkered flag
Until British plates get the kind of security that protects a credit card, cloning looks set to keep rising. For now, the best defenses are simple: blur your plate in any photo you post online, fit tamper-resistant screws, open every letter promptly and act the moment something doesn’t add up.
For a deeper look at cloned, ghost and stealth plates, RegHunters has published a full guide to number plate cloning.
Broken headlight pieces can provide valuable clues when investigators are trying to identify a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run. The fragments may reveal the type of headlight, the vehicle’s make or model, and sometimes its approximate year of manufacture. When combined with surveillance footage, witness statements, paint transfer, and other physical evidence, these small pieces can help investigators narrow their search and connect a particular vehicle to a collision.
When the responsible party leaves the scene of a crash, it can be difficult for injured victims to identify the driver or obtain compensation. However, after a hit and run accident, even seemingly insignificant debris may become important evidence. A headlight fragment left on the road can help investigators reconstruct the collision, determine which vehicle was involved, and develop leads that might otherwise be missed.
What Headlight Fragments Can Reveal
Modern vehicle headlights are made from several components, including plastic lenses, housings, reflectors, and mounting brackets. When a vehicle strikes another car, a pedestrian, or a fixed object, some of these parts may break off and remain at the scene.
Investigators can examine the fragments for identifying marks, manufacturer logos, part numbers, and molded symbols. These details may help match the debris to a particular headlight assembly or a group of compatible vehicles.
The shape and construction of the fragments can also provide clues. Different manufacturers use distinct headlight designs, and components may change between model years. Although a fragment may not identify one specific vehicle by itself, it can help eliminate unlikely possibilities and guide further investigation.
How Investigators Connect Debris to a Vehicle
Identifying a vehicle usually requires comparing physical evidence with other information gathered during the investigation. Investigators may document the location of the debris, photograph the fragments, and compare their features with replacement parts or manufacturer records.
Several forms of evidence can strengthen the process:
Part numbers and manufacturer markings: These may help narrow down compatible vehicle makes, models, and production years.
Paint transfer: Paint found on the debris or another damaged surface may provide clues about the vehicles involved.
Vehicle damage: A suspected vehicle with a missing headlight or matching damage may warrant closer examination.
Surveillance footage: Security cameras, traffic cameras, or nearby business recordings may capture the vehicle before or after the collision.
Witnessdescriptions: Information about the vehicle’s color, size, direction of travel, or visible damage can help investigators evaluate potential matches.
Investigators must consider whether the evidence genuinely connects the vehicle to the crash. A matching headlight part may narrow the search, but it does not automatically prove that a particular driver caused the collision.
Why Preserving the Scene Matters
Physical evidence can disappear quickly after a crash. Passing vehicles may scatter debris, rain can wash away traces, and road maintenance crews may remove fragments. Promptly documenting the scene can therefore make a difference.
Anyone involved in a collision should prioritize safety and seek medical assistance when necessary. Witnesses should contact law enforcement and provide factual information about what they observed. People should not enter traffic or approach a dangerous location to collect debris themselves.
Photographs taken from a safe location may help document the scene, vehicle damage, road conditions, and the position of visible fragments. Investigators can then collect and examine relevant evidence using appropriate procedures.
Maintaining records of where evidence was found can also help establish its relevance. If the debris is moved or handled without documentation, questions may arise about whether it came from the collision under investigation.
How Physical Evidence Can Support a Compensation Claim
When a hit-and-run driver is identified, physical evidence may help establish the connection between the vehicle and the crash. This can support an investigation into liability and assist an injured person pursuing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
Victims should preserve medical records, repair estimates, photographs, police report information, and communications with insurance companies. If the driver cannot be identified, uninsured motorist coverage may provide benefits in some circumstances, depending on the policy and applicable law.
Legal deadlines and insurance reporting requirements can affect available options. Seeking guidance early may help victims understand which evidence to preserve and what steps to take next.
Important Points to Remember
Broken headlight fragments may contain markings that help identify a vehicle’s make, model, or headlight assembly.
Investigators compare debris with vehicle damage, paint transfer, surveillance footage, and witness accounts.
Physical evidence should be documented and collected appropriately to preserve its reliability.
Headlight fragments can provide investigative leads but do not independently prove who was driving.
Prompt reporting and careful documentation can help protect an injured person’s legal and insurance options.
Venue: Talladega Superspeedway Event: Love’s RV Stop 225 Date: Friday, October 23 Location: Lincoln, AL Track Description: 2.66-mile tri oval Distance: 85 laps, 226.1 miles (3:00 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, Motor Racing Network, SiriusXM)
Hemric Trending Towards the Top Entering Talladega
Trending Towards the Top … Daniel Hemric has been delivering his best performances of the season when it’s mattered the most. Over the last five races, the driver of the No. 19 Motion Industries Chevrolet Silverado RST has tallied four top-10 finishes, including a seventh-place result last Friday at Phoenix Raceway. Hemric looks to rejoin the top five in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks Series (NCTS) Chase standings by extending that streak on Friday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway. Since mid-August, the North Carolinian has been a model of consistency by scoring 30 points or more in five of the last six races and looks to notch his first Chase victory at the biggest superspeedway on the planet.
Knack for the Front … Despite the natural unpredictability that’s in ‘Dega’s DNA, Hemric has had a consistent knack for finding the front of the field in his 12-year career in NASCAR’s national series. While he’s hunting his first top-five finish on the 2.66-mile speedway in NCTS competition, Hemric has scored top-five results in both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series, and has led laps in six different Talladega races. His debut with MHR last season at Daytona International Speedway netted his best superspeedway result behind the wheel of the No. 19 Chevrolet, with a seventh-place finish and seven laps led.
Season to Date … Three consecutive top-10 runs in the Chase briefly bumped Hemric inside the top-five in the NCTS Chase standings after Charlotte Motor Speedway but enters ‘Dega sixth in points. Through 22 of the 25 events, Hemric has recorded three top-five’s and 11 top-10 finishes with one stage win and an average finish of 13.7.
Tune In … Coverage from Talladega commences Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET with qualifying on FOX Sports 2, followed by the green flag at 4:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Stay connected with the No. 19 Motion Industries team by following @BMR_NASCAR on Twitter, @bmr_nascar on Instagram, and Bill McAnally Racing on Facebook.
Daniel Hemric Quote:
On superspeedway racing:
“This No. 19 team has done a great job being consistent as we’ve gotten into the Chase. Talladega is a huge equalizer. There’s a lot of guys that see this as a big opportunity to get a win and race with a lot of desperation. We want to get a win too. You need to be running at the end to have a shot at it and manage risk throughout the day to get there. Hopefully we can do that with our Motion Industries Chevrolet and work with our teammates to make the right moves at the right time.”
Daniel Hemric 2026 Statistics
Starts: 22
Wins: 0
Top-5’s: 3
Top-10’s: 11
Poles: 0
Laps Led: 5
Stage Wins: 1
Average Finish: 13.7
2026 NCTS Points Position: 6th
Motion is a leading distributor of maintenance, repair, and operation replacement parts, and a premier provider of industrial technology solutions. Products include bearings; mechanical power transmission products; electrical and industrial automation components; hose, belting, and gaskets; hydraulic/pneumatic components; process pumps; industrial/safety products; seals and accessories; material handling solutions; and more.
With the goal of increasing customers’ productivity, the Company offers many valued-added services, including engineering, fabrication, repair, and Industry 4.0 solutions across these product groups. To learn more, visit Motion.com.
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: TALLADEGA II PRE-RACE ADVANCE EVENT: YellaWood 500
DATE: October 25, 2026 RACE: NASCAR Cup Series 34 of 36 TRACK: Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway | 2.66-Mile Oval
JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK NO. 42 PYE-BARKER FIRE & SAFETY TOYOTA CAMRY XSE JHN AT TALLADEGA: John Hunter Nemechek has seven NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega, where he has earned two top-10 finishes. He finished eighth in both races in 2020. In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Nemechek has made four starts, including two top-10 finishes in April 2018 and April 2019. In his seven starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, he earned one pole award in October 2022 and two top-10 finishes, including a best finish of fourth in October 2021.
JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE: “I’m excited for Talladega. We’ve shown speed at superspeedways in the past, so I’m hopeful that will translate into a solid run for us this weekend. We’ve only got a few races left, so I want to bring home a good finish as we begin to close out the season.”
ERIK JONES NO. 43 DOLLAR TREE TOYOTA CAMRY XSE JONES TALLADEGA STATS: Sunday’s YellaWood 500 will mark Erik Jones’ 20th NASCAR Cup Series start at the 2.66-mile, behemoth track of Talladega Superspeedway. In total, he’s earned three top-five and eight top-10 finishes at Talladega. He’s been especially consistent as of late, finishing in the top-10 in seven of his last 11 races while leading a total of 75 laps. He earned a best finish of second in October 2020, where he finished .086 seconds behind race winner Denny Hamlin. In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Jones has three starts at Talladega, never qualifying outside the top-10 and securing a best finish of fifth in May 2017, where he led five laps after starting 10th. In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the 2015 champion made two starts at Talladega, boasting an average starting position of 4.5 and an average finish of fifth. Jones earned a best finish of fourth in October 2015 and never finished outside of the top-10 in the Truck Series.
ERIK JONES QUOTE: “I’m excited to get to Talladega. It’s a track where we’ve been really close, have been competitive, and had a shot to win a couple of races. Just haven’t had it work out yet. You have to put yourself in those positions at superspeedways time and time again to finally win a few along the way. I feel like we’ve done that, and hopefully, this is the one where it pays off and everything plays out so we can grab a win this Sunday.”
CLUB NOTES: JJ AT TALLDEGA: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB owner and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson has 38 career Cup Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway. He earned two wins, seven top-fives, 13 top-10s, and led 474 laps. He scored back-to-back poles in his first two starts there in both of the 2002 races. His first victory came in May 2006 when Johnson started 16th and led the final lap of the race to beat Tony Stewart by .120 seconds. Johnson won his second race at Talladega in April 2011 after starting second and leading 14 laps. He bested Clint Bowyer by .002 seconds. Johnson has an additional two NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Talladega with a best finish of 28th in April 2001.
KENSETH TALLADEGA STATS: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB competition advisor and 2003 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Matt Kenseth has run 38 Cup Series races at Talladega. He earned one win, six top-fives, 10 top-10s and led 524 laps at the 2.66-mile, behemoth oval. He won at Talladega in October 2012 after starting 15th and leading 33 laps, beating Jeff Gordon under caution. Kenseth has an additional six starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Talladega. He earned one top-five and three top-10s in his starts with a best finish of fourth in April 1999.
THE KING WINS AT TALLADEGA: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ambassador and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Richard Petty owns 46 Cup Series starts at Talladega. During his legendary career, the NASCAR Hall of Famer collected two wins, 11 top-fives, and 18 top-10s as well as led 273 laps. He scored his first victory in August 1974 when he started third, led 34 laps and bested David Pearson. He followed that up in May 1983 when he started 15th and led a total of 52 laps en route to a victory over Benny Parsons.
SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT:
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB opened the doors of its Statesville, North Carolina shop to fans for Day with the CLUB, the team’s fan day, on Thursday, October 8, ahead of the Charlotte race weekend. Fans met and got autographs from Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Erik Jones, Richard Petty, and Dale Inman, shopped for merchandise, watched live pit stops and more. Some fans even camped out overnight to be first in line for autographs.
CLUB APPEARANCES: John Hunter Nemechek will be at the trackside merchandise trailer for an autograph session on Sunday, October 25 at 8:30 a.m. local time.
TUNE IN: Fans can tune in to watch the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, October 25 at 2 p.m. EDT on NBC, MAX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. The No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE driven by Riley Herbst will debut full time in the 2027 season, while Johnson will make his final NASCAR Cup Series start at the 2027 DAYTONA 500 in the No. 48 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty, “The King”, serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.
Phoenix Raceway (October 18) – 13th Charlotte Motor Speedway (October 11) – 25th Las Vegas Motor Speedway (October 4) – 20th
Driver and Team Event Notes
Noah Gragson is a former NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series winner at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, crossing the start/finish line in first with JR Motorsports in 2022. In total, Gragson has eight NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at the track, earning one win, three top-fives, and six top-10 finishes.
Gragson is consistently competitive at the track in the NASCAR Cup Series, capturing two top-five finishes. His best finish in the premier stock car series came at Talladega in April 2024, where he started 36th and finished third in the No. 10 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
Gragson led two laps and recorded his season best finish to-date at Talladega Superspeedway in the spring, with a ninth-place result.
Rush Truck Centers Event Notes
Rush Truck Centers, the premier solutions provider for the commercial vehicle industry, will again join Gragson and company for the 188-lap race. This weekend will be Rush Truck Centers’ 13th primary sponsorship race of the season.
With a commitment to keeping customers up and running, Rush Truck Centers proudly serves the southeast region, with nearby locations in Columbas (Ga.), Smyrna (Ga.) and Atlanta (Ga.).
For the haul to Talladega Superspeedway, and each week during the NASCAR Cup Series season, the Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang Dark Horse race cars are transported to the track behind the power of Peterbilt Model 579 tractors, provided and serviced exclusively by the team at Rush Truck Centers. To find the Rush Truck Centers location nearest to you, visit rushtruckcenters.com.
No. 34 Team Details
Driver: Todd Gilliland
Crew Chief: Chris Lawson
Primary Sponsor: Love’s Travel Stops / Peak
Standings: 23rd
Recent Season Results:
Phoenix Raceway (October 18) – 14th Charlotte Motor Speedway (October 11) – 22nd Las Vegas Motor Speedway (October 4) – 33rd
Driver and Team Event Notes
Talladega Superspeedway is statistically Todd Gilliland’s best track in the NASCAR Cup Series, averaging a 12.9 finish with one top-five and four top-10 finishes in nine starts at the track.
Gilliland’s best finish at the superspeedway, and best finish in his NASCAR Cup Series career, came in the October 2025 race where he finished second to race winner Chase Briscoe by only 0.145 seconds.
Love’s Travel Stops Event Notes
Love’s Travel Stops returns with Gilliland and the No. 34 team for Sunday’s race.
This will be Love’s Travel Stops 19th primary partnership race of the 2026 season with Gilliland and the No. 34 Ford team.
Love’s Travel Stops has rolled out a major update to the Love’s App, introducing a unified Love’s Rewards program that now benefits every customer who stops at Love’s. Whether fueling up, grabbing a snack, or stocking up on Love’s-branded products, customers can now save and earn points at every turn simply by scanning the Love’s App in-store or at the pump.
The new Love’s Rewards program focuses on delivering meaningful value at every stop and aims to make Love’s the first stop drivers think of on the road. Love’s Rewards App users can also save 10¢ per gallon on gas and up to 25¢ per gallon on auto diesel. Fans can download the app from Google Play and the Apple App Store. To explore all the new benefits of the Love’s Rewards program, visit www.loves.com/loves-rewards.
Gilliland and the No. 34 team will also have PEAK Performance on their Ford Mustang Dark Horse to promote PEAK’s exclusive line of PEAK products available at over 600 Love’s Travel Stops across the country. PEAK is a leader in automotive and heavy-duty products ranging from PEAK Global Antifreeze, Final Charge, PEAK Windshield Wash, and BlueDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid. All products can be found at Love’s Travel Stops.
No. 38 Team Details
Driver: Zane Smith
Crew Chief: Ryan Bergenty
Primary Sponsor: Patriot Mobile
Standings: 26th
Recent Season Results:
Phoenix Raceway (October 18) – 15th Charlotte Motor Speedway (October 11) – 20th Las Vegas Motor Speedway (October 4) – 36th
Driver and Team Event Notes
Zane Smith heads to Talladega looking to build on past success at the track. Sunday’s race will be Smith’s seventh Talladega start in the NASCAR Cup Series. In his previous starts at the track, he was two top-10 finishes, finishing ninth in the October 2025 event and fifth in the April 2026 event. In the April 2025 event, Smith took his first Cup Series pole position with a 52.565 second lap time.
Patriot Mobile Event Notes
Patriot Mobile returns with Smith and the No. 38 Ford team, for the brands second primary partnership race with Front Row Motorsports.
Patriot Mobile is America’s only Christian conservative wireless provider, offering premium prioritized nationwide coverage on dependable 4G and 5G networks with exceptional U.S.-based customer support. Since 2013, Patriot Mobile has provided a values-driven alternative by supporting organizations that defend our God-given rights and freedoms. Learn more at patriotmobile.com, opens in a new tab or call 972-PATRIOT.
ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization competing in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, FRM has earned top honors including a 2021 Daytona 500 victory and the 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship. Based in Mooresville, N.C., FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and No. 38 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with the No. 34 and No. 38 teams in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. For more information, visit FrontRowMotorsports.com and follow Front Row Motorsports on social media — X: @Team_FRM, Instagram: @teamfrm, Tik Tok: @Team_FRM, YouTube: @FrontRowNASCAR, and Facebook: facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
PLANO, Texas (October 21, 2026) – The final superspeedway race of the season at Talladega could prove critical in tight championship battles across NASCAR’s top three divisions.
NASCAR National Series – NCS/NOAPS/NCTS
Toyota earns first Cup manufacturers’ championship since 2019… With Tyler Reddick’s sixth win of the season at Phoenix Raceway, Toyota has clinched the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturers’ Championship. It is Toyota’s first title since 2019 and fourth overall.
Toyota’s 18 wins put it one shy of matching its single-season record of 19, set back in 2019.
Another milestone possible – 700 wins… With two wins this past weekend, Toyota currently sits at 698 NASCAR national series victories and looks to hit the milestone 700 this weekend. Since first debuting in the NASCAR national series ranks in 2004, Toyota has amassed 221 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, 221 in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and 256 in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
Reddick plans to add to series-leading win total… Tyler Reddick continued his stellar season with his series-leading sixth win of the year last weekend. Reddick charged from sixth to first on the final restart to claim his first victory at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday. Reddick heads to Talladega a former winner (April 2024), and off a year where he has simply been stellar on superspeedway style tracks, including winning the Daytona 500 in February. With five combined starts at Daytona, Atlanta and Talladega this year, Reddick has two wins, three top-fives and four top-10s, with a worst finish of 14th. Since joining 23XI Racing in 2023, Reddick has completed every lap at Talladega with all seven finishes inside the top-20.
Briscoe looks for second straight fall Talladega win… Chase Briscoe continued his performance surge this past weekend at Phoenix, as he earned his fourth straight top-10 finish to now sit just 24 points out of the lead. Briscoe is the reigning race winner as he took the lead from fellow Toyota driver Bubba Wallace on the final lap to clinch his Championship 4 berth last fall. It was Briscoe’s first Cup Series superspeedway win.
Team Toyota battles for points lead… The championship picture continues to be tight in the NASCAR Cup Series with Christopher Bell only five points out of the lead. Briscoe (-24 points), Denny Hamlin (-31) and Reddick (-56) are all within one race heading into Talladega.
Crews plans to be one-spot better at Talladega… Brent Crews continues to look for his first NASCAR victory and Talladega might be the place for it. In his superspeedway debut, the 18-year-old was impressive, driving through the field to finish second at Talladega earlier this year. The runner-up result was one of 11 top-five finishes this year for the Toyota Development Driver – tied for third amongst all drivers.
Honeycutt looks to add another first… Kaden Honeycutt and his team delivered at Phoenix, earning his first win at the mile oval and helping the Texan expand his Truck Series points lead to 39 markers heading into Talladega. A first superspeedway win would go a long way to helping Honeycutt secure the championship. The Toyota Development Driver finished eighth in Daytona in February, and finished top-10 in his Toyota debut at Talladega last fall.
Champions running Tundras at Dega… Corey Heim will return to the Truck Series at Talladega, piloting the No. 1 Toyota Tundra for TRICON. Heim, the reigning Truck Series champion, has been impressive in his recent Cup Series starts – including finishing fifth at Phoenix on Sunday. Despite all of his on-track success in Trucks, Heim is looking for his first Talladega win, with the runner-up result he scored one year ago being his best finish there thus far. His teammate in the No. 5 TRICON Tundra will be Thomas Annunziata, who won the ARCA title last month in thrilling fashion at Kansas Speedway.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs approximately 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
No. 4 Blues Hog Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Cleetus McFarland | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
McFarland Returns: Hell yeah, brother! Garrett Mitchell (a.k.a. Cleetus McFarland) is back in the No. 4 Niece Motorsports Silverado for his third NCTS start of the season at Talladega Superspeedway. McFarland raced at both Daytona International Speedway and Michigan International Speedway with the team earlier in the year and looks to improve on his career-best finish. In the spring, McFarland led 19 laps in the ARCA race at Talladega and came home as the runner-up finisher.
McFarland’s Talladega Stats:
Cleetus McFarland will make his first-career NCTS start at Talladega on Friday.
NCS Starts: 12; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 10th (2021).
NOAPS Starts: 7; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 7th (2018).
NCTS Starts: 1; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 9th (2024).
On the Truck: McFarland’s No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with primary support from Blues Hog, an award-winning premium barbecue product producer based near St. Louis. Blues Hog offers incredible tasting barbecue sauces, rubs, snack sticks, and heat-and-eat meats, and has developed a worldwide fan following.
Ride With Cleetus: Fans will have a chance to ride along with the No. 4 Chevy throughout the entirety of Friday’s Love’s RV Stop 225 via an onboard camera which will be live streamed on NASCAR’s YouTube channel.
Recapping Phoenix: 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.
Quoting McFarland: You almost won your first ARCA Menards Series race here in the spring, so does that help your confidence in returning to Talladega this weekend?
“Well, I’ve also gotten to run the truck more than six laps now, so I was excited getting to go to Michigan and run a full race and end on the lead lap. I have a feel for how the truck drives way better, and I’m just fired up to get back to Dega. I love Dega, I love everything about it, I love the people, I love the boulevard, I love the action, I love Blues Hog, and now I get to go back and hopefully do better than second.”
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.
No. 42 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Conner Jones | Crew Chief: Landon Polinski
Jones Returns: Conner Jones is back in the seat of the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet for his fifth NCTS start of the season at Talladega. Jones most recently raced at Charlotte two weeks ago, and is in search for his first top-10 finish of the year. His season-best finish heading into Talladega is a 14th-place finish in the spring Charlotte event.
Jones’ Talladega Stats:
Conner Jones will make his first-career start in any series at Talladega on Friday.
Polinski’s Talladega Stats:
NCTS Starts: 1; Best Finish: 19th (2025).
On the Truck: Jones’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with primary support from Niece Equipment, one of the country’s largest producers of fuel & lube trucks.
Recapping Phoenix: 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.
Owner Points Outlook: Reif’s 27th-place finish at Phoenix kept the No. 42 team posted 24th in the owner point standings. Ahead of Talladega, the team is 44 points behind Kaulig Racing’s No. 10 team in 23rd, and seven points ahead of Rackley W.A.R.’s No. 26 Chevrolet in 25th.
Quoting Jones: Since you’ve never raced at a super speedway before, what is your mindset heading into this weekend?
“I’m really just going to try and stay in the draft to learn as much as I can on Friday. I’m probably going to stay in the middle and towards the back of the pack to come out of there with a good finish. You have to be smart on the super speedways, and the only way you can get a good finish is to survive the whole race. I’ve raced in Atlanta before but have never been to Talladega, so I’m looking forward to this weekend and hope to have a good run with our Niece Equipment Chevy.”
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
NCTS Starts: 7; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 10th (2023).
On the Truck: Pérez de Lara’s No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Acceptance Insurance, who serves as the team’s anchor partner this season.
Recapping Phoenix: 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.
Driver Points Outlook: Pérez de Lara’s 12th-place finish in Phoenix bumped the driver up two positions in the point standings, now up to 14th overall. With three races left in the season, Pérez de Lara finds himself in a close battle with Brenden Queen and Tanner Gray, who are all separated by just two points. He is also just 13 points behind Justin Haley in 13th.
Quoting Pérez de Lara: Since you aren’t racing for points, do you feel like you can race more aggressively this weekend considering it will be all about going for the win?
“That’s true. Obviously, we know super speedway racing is very intense and there are a lot of things that can happen. I feel really confident heading into Talladega after the experience I gained in Daytona and Atlanta earlier this year, especially since both of those races were really solid for us. I’m ready to head there this weekend with the freedom to make some more aggressive moves than I’m used to. We don’t have much to lose in terms of the points, so we can be on the aggressive side. Hopefully that will help us stay on the right side of things this time.”
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. 45 J.F. Electric Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Landen Lewis | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Lewis’ Talladega Stats:
Landen Lewis will make his first-career start in any series at Talladega on Friday.
Gould’s Talladega Stats:
NCS Starts: 1; Best Finish: 26th (2014).
NOAPS Starts: 6; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 7th (2015).
On the Truck: Lewis’ No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from J.F. Electric and Utilitra, who serve as his anchor partners for the season.
Recapping Phoenix: 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.
Owner Points Outlook: Lewis’ 16th-place finish in Phoenix closed the gap even further in the owner point standings. Still scored in 10th overall, the No. 45 team is now only six points behind the Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet in ninth. The team is also 19 points behind Spire’s No. 77 Chevrolet in eighth, and 21 points behind TRICON Garage’s No. 1 team in seventh.
Quoting Lewis: Without having any prior experience in this type of racing, how well do you think you’re going to adapt this weekend?
“The biggest thing for me is that Talladega is a completely different animal than any other place, just like Daytona. Not having any plate experience, I’m going to really have to rely on my spotter, Brandon McReynolds. He does a really good job of breaking things down before the race, and I think that will help me a lot this weekend. I’ll definitely talk to all the people I have in my corner as much as possible to soak up whatever knowledge I can. It’s going to be one heck of an experience, that’s fore sure. I just want to make it through the day, because I feel like if you complete all the laps and have a clean day, you’ll get a good finish. That seems to be the theme at the plate tracks, so I am looking forward to making the most out of it with our J.F. Electric Chevy.”
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 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).
