Connor Zilisch - Mission 176 at The Glen Race Preview
Event: Mission 176 at The Glen (72 laps / 176.4 miles)
Round: 17 of 25 (Regular Season)
Track: Watkins Glen International
Location: Watkins Glen, New York
Date & Time: Friday, August 8 | 5:00 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | NASCAR Racing Network (NRN) | SiriusXM Ch. 90
Team Stats & Notes
- Return to the Glen: The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) returns to the scenic Watkins Glen International road course this weekend for the first time since 2021. The series has raced at this historic track on six occasions since 1996, and it marks the second of three road course events on the 2025 calendar.
- Niece Motorsports Watkins Glen Stats: Niece Motorsports drivers have made a total of three starts at Watkins Glen. The team has one top-10 to its credit; a 10th-place showing with Carson Hocevar in 2021.
No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Connor Zilisch | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
- Driver Lineup: Road course ace and touted Chevrolet prospect, Connor Zilisch, will drive the No. 45 Silverado in Watkins Glen, and Bayley Currey will take over driving duties for the rest of the season.
- Zilisch's Watkins Glen Stats: Connor Zilisch will make his first NCTS start at Watkins Glen International on Friday. Zilisch is a two-time winner at this road course, having won both the NXS and ARCA races held here from the pole last year.
- Gould's Watkins Glen Stats: Phil Gould has called one NCTS race at Watkins Glen, which came in 2021 when he finished 10th with Carson Hocevar. In six NXS races held at the road course, Gould's drivers finished inside the top-10 on four occasions, including a best finish of eighth, twice.
- Recapping IRP: The No. 45 team fought the balance throughout the day at IRP. The team rolled off from 10th place to start, but experienced a tight handling condition and slid back in the first stage. Utilizing strategy to their benefit, the team pitted for four tires midway through stage two to pick up a handful of stage points in sixth. With a long run to end the night, the team was unable to capitalize on track position, relegating the No. 45 to a 14th-place finish.
- Owner Points Rundown: The No. 45 team is in a heated battle to contend for the final position in the owner points standings. Heading into Watkins Glen, the team sits seventh overall, but only has a 12-point gap over the cutline with ThorSport Racing's No. 98 entry. Conversely, the team is just six points behind Spire Motorsports' No. 7 team in sixth. Over the course of the next two races, the No. 45 team's goal is to gain enough points to secure a Playoff bid.
- Quoting Zilisch: What are your thoughts on competing in all three NASCAR national series races this weekend in Watkins Glen?
“It’s going to be a really cool weekend. I’ve never raced for Niece Motorsports before, but obviously, they’ve had a lot of success over the years and it will be really cool to just get to be a part of their team for one race. Watkins Glen is a track that I really like. It’s going to be a busy weekend for me running all three series, but I’m excited to get the track time on Friday and get to race in the Truck Series. I’m looking forward to having the chance to get the No. 45 team some more owner points to help lock them into the Playoffs. I’m also thankful to everyone at Chevrolet, Trackhouse, and JRM for allowing me to do this.”
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2025, the team celebrates its 10th consecutive season competing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) where it fields the Nos. 41, 42, 44 and 45. Since its founding in 2016, Niece Motorsports has garnered nine wins, 50+ top-fives, 100+ top-10s, 200+ top-15 finishes and made five playoff appearances. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a trusted build shop for the Chevrolet Silverados of multiple NCTS teams 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).
