Andrés Pérez de Lara - Bully Hill Vineyards 167 at The Glen Race Preview
Event: Bully Hill Vineyards 167 at The Glen (72 laps / 167.4 miles)
Round: 8 of 25 (Regular Season)
Track: Watkins Glen International
Location: Watkins Glen, New York
Date & Time: Friday, May 8 | 4:30 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | NASCAR Racing Network (NRN) | SiriusXM Ch. 90
Team Stats & Notes
- Niece Motorsports Watkins Glen Stats:
NOAPS Starts: 1; Best Finish: 31st (Victor Gonzales Jr., 2018).
NCTS Starts: 6; Top-10s: 3; Best Finish: 8th (Connor Zilisch, 2025).
- Double Take: For the second time in three races, Niece Motorsports will field two full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers in the NCTS race on Friday. Shane van Gisbergen takes over the No. 4 Chevrolet, while Ross Chastain remains in the No. 45 Silverado. Both Trackhouse Racing drivers will pull a ‘triple-duty’ weekend and also compete in Saturday’s NOAPS race.
- Pit Road Gladiators: Niece Motorsports pit crews continued their hot streak in Texas last week, proving why they are some of the best in the business. The No. 44 team put up the first, second, and fourth-fastest four-tire stops of the night, with the No. 45 team also completing two stops inside the top-10 as well.
No. 44 BLAC / GoKartMania Academy Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Andres Perez de Lara | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
- Pérez de Lara's Watkins Glen Stats:
NCTS Starts: 1; Best Finish: 21st (2025).
ARCA Starts: 2; Top-Fives: 1; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 4th (2024).
- Rogers' Watkins Glen Stats:
NCS Starts: 4; Best Finish: 17th (2012).
NOAPS Starts: 4; Top-10s: 2; Best Finish: 7th (2007).
NCTS Starts: 2; Best Finish: 30th (2025).
- On the Truck: Pérez de Lara's No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from BLAC (a Mexican technology company) and GoKartMania (an indoor go kart race track chain). The two brands have joined forces to sponsor the fastest go kart racers in Mexico for a fully-funded Formula 5 seat. To learn more, visit https://blac.racing/en.
- Recapping Texas: Andrés Pérez de Lara and the Acceptance Insurance team appeared to have a clean run going in Texas but got swept away in a late-race crash. Pérez de Lara qualified the highest out of his teammates in 15th-place but fought the handling on his truck which made it difficult to maintain track position. The No. 44 pit crew made several adjustments throughout the race and kept him in the hunt for a top-10 finish, but he was forced into the wall twice by his fellow competitors and ultimately had too much damage to finish. He was credited with a 30th-place result.
- Driver Points Outlook: Following Pérez de Lara’s crash in Texas, the driver of the No. 44 lost some ground in the points standings. He remains 17th overall, but faces a 40-point deficit to current Chase cutline driver, Stewart Friesen. Pérez de Lara is nine points behind Grant Enfinger in 16th, and six points ahead of Dawson Sutton in 18th.
- Quoting Pérez de Lara: Last year, you had a shot at contending for the win at this track. You’ve got to feel pretty good about returning here, right?
“Yeah, I’m excited about going back to road course racing. The No. 44 team has been working hard putting a really good truck together for that one, and it’s going to be a very competitive field. It should be a good test of our speed on the road courses. We’re just trying to get some good momentum going our way since the last few races haven’t been that great. I’m hoping we can get a solid result with our BLAC / GoKartMania Academy Chevy and starting a good momentum streak.”
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).
About BLAC: BLAC is a technology and logistics company specializing in real-time tracking, asset visibility, and intelligent monitoring solutions for transportation, providing also location and condition data in real time for all shipments in the entire supply chain operations. With operations and coverage at an international level, BLAC provides advanced tracking technology designed to help companies reduce risk, improve operational control, and protect high-value cargo through real-time visibility and smart alert systems.
Through its innovative platform and 24/7 monitoring capabilities, BLAC supports businesses across multiple industries with scalable solutions focused on logistics security, transportation efficiency, and asset recovery. With years of experience in GPS tracking, supply chain visibility, and transportation security, BLAC continues to position itself as a trusted technology partner for companies seeking smarter and safer logistics operations.
About GoKartMania: GoKartMania is Mexico's leading indoor go-kart track, a 100% Mexican company with a global presence. Our karts are of European origin and feature the most precise timing system. At GoKartMania, you'll find activities for the whole family and a wide variety of race formats and activities.
We're the ideal place for both beginners and seasoned motorsport enthusiasts. From a fun-filled, adrenaline-fueled afternoon with the family to competing in high-level series and championships, including position races, knockout format, endurance races, and karting clinics. We also offer birthday parties, team building activities, product launches, and much more.
