Andrés Pérez de Lara - Fresh From Florida 250 Race Preview
Event: Fresh From Florida 250 (100 laps / 250 miles)
Round: 1 of 25 (Season Opener)
Track: Daytona International Speedway
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date & Time: Friday, February 13 | 7:30 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | NASCAR Racing Network (NRN) | SiriusXM Ch. 90
Team Stats & Notes
- Niece Motorsports Daytona Stats:
NCTS Starts: 23; Top-Fives: 4; Top-10s: 8; Best Finish: 3rd (Ross Chastain, 2019).
- Stacked Driver Lineup: Niece Motorsports is bringing four high-profile drivers to Daytona for Friday's NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) season-opening race. With global motorsports icons, viral content creators, Cup Series superstars, and international flare, the team is sure to have its share of fan favorites.
No. 44 Acceptance Insurance Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Andrés Pérez de Lara | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
- Andrés Returns: Sophomore driver Andrés Pérez de Lara returns to Niece Motorsports to drive the No. 44 Chevrolet full-time in 2026. Pérez de Lara made a midseason change over to the team last year, completing the last eight races of his rookie season.
- On the Box: Veteran Crew Chief Wally Rogers will continue to lead the No. 44 team for the second year in a row. Rogers has been at Niece Motorsports since 2021, and has overseen several of the team's entries over the years.
- On the Roof: Former driver Andy Houston will continue to spot for the No. 44 team this year. Houston initially joined the team last year for select events, but will now serve as the primary spotter for the truck throughout the whole year.
- Pérez de Lara's Daytona Stats:
NCTS Starts: 1; Best Finish: 14th (2025).
ARCA Starts: 2; Best Finish: 12th (2024).
- Rogers' Daytona Stats:
NCS Starts: 8; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 7th (2014).
NOAPS Starts: 14; Wins: 2 (Randy LaJoie, 2001 & Tony Stewart, 2006); Top-Fives: 2; Top-10s: 2.
NCTS Starts: 6; Top-Fives: 2; Top-10s: 2; Best Finish: 2nd (2020).
- 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.
- Quoting Pérez de Lara: You finished off last season with Niece Motorsports and are back full-time this year. What are your thoughts returning to the team?
“I’m super excited to come back to Niece Motorsports after a strong building year we had in 2025. To carry that into 2026 with the same team, and by also welcoming Acceptance Insurance on board with us, I have extra motivation to go out and find more of those good results. I’m excited to return to Daytona, and I think that visiting these tracks again for a second time will be a good advantage. The whole No. 44 team and I are ready to have a great season.”
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 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.
