Donovan Strauss - Zero Carbon Bioethanol 150 Race Preview
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
Tune-In: FOX Sports 2 | NASCAR Racing Network (NRN) | SiriusXM Ch. 90
Team Stats & Notes
- Niece Motorsports Phoenix Stats:
NCTS Starts: 27; Top-10s: 5; Best Finish: 7th (Kaden Honeycutt, 2024).
- Double Header Race Weekend: In addition to competing in the NCTS race at Phoenix Raceway, Niece Motorsports will enter the CARS Tour season finale at South Boston Speedway on Saturday night. Connor Hall will be behind the wheel of the No. 4 J.F. Electric / Utilitra Chevrolet for the 125-lap race, which will air live on FloRacing.
No. 4 Nightclubs Suck Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Donovan Strauss | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
- Strauss Returns: CARS Tour Late Model Stock Series regular Donovan Strauss returns to the seat of the No. 4 Nightclubs Suck Chevrolet Silverado RST at Phoenix Raceway for his second-career NCTS start. Strauss made his debut with Niece Motorsports at North Wilkesboro Speedway earlier this year, and most recently competed in the prestigious ValleyStar Credit Union 300 race at Martinsville Speedway.
- Strauss’ Phoenix Stats:
Donovan Strauss will make his first-career start in any series at Phoenix on Friday.
- Shiplett’s Phoenix Stats:
NCS Starts: 11; Poles: 1 (A.J. Allmendinger, 2010); Top-Fives: ; Top-10s: 2; Best Finish: 9th (twice - 2011 & 2020).
NOAPS Starts: 13; Poles: 1 (John Hunter Nemecheck, 2018); Top-Fives: 3; Top-10s: 6; Best Finish: 2nd (2019).
NCTS Starts: 2; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 9th (2025).
- On the Truck: Strauss’ No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with primary support from Nightclubs Suck, a performance apparel brand which also offers athletic training programs. The truck will sport a new, eye-popping camouflaged paint scheme with bright orange accents to promote the company’s new line of performance hats.
- Recapping Charlotte: Matt Mills and the Utilitra team battled through a considerable amount of adversity in Charlotte. Rolling off from 19th, Mills ran conservatively early on in his first start since last year’s season finale. As the night progressed, Mills began his advance through the field. Unfortunately, his No. 4 Silverado was damaged after a multi-truck crash on lap 119. Shortly after, Mills was forced to pit under green as he had a left-front tire go down due to the damage. In his series return, Mills came home in 23rd-place.
- Quoting Strauss: Though most wouldn’t consider North Wilkesboro to be similar to Phoenix, what did you learn in your series debut that you can apply this weekend?
“For me, the biggest thing I learned in North Wilkesboro was how the trucks drive compared to the late models that I’m used to racing. I think having the seat time heading into Phoenix is going to be very helpful in making me feel comfortable in the truck, especially considering that we will be going faster here. With it being a one-day show, I just have to adapt really fast, but having made laps in the truck before, I feel like I will be able to do that a lot quicker. I’m super excited to make my second-career start with everyone at Niece Motorsports and Nightclubs Suck behind me.”
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 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.
