Matt Gould - eero 250 Race Preview
Event: eero 250 (250 laps / 187.5 miles)
Round: 18 of 25 (Regular Season Finale)
Track: Richmond Raceway
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Date & Time: Friday, August 15 | 7:30 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | NASCAR Racing Network (NRN) | SiriusXM Ch. 90
Team Stats & Notes
- Special Announcement: Niece Motorsports officials will make a special team announcement via a press conference in the Richmond Raceway Media Center at 1:00 PM ET on Friday, August 15. The press conference will be live streamed on NASCAR.com/PressPass.
- Niece Motorsports Richmond Stats: Niece drivers have made a combined total of 17 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) starts at Richmond Raceway. The organization captured a victory at this track back in 2023 with Carson Hocevar, and its drivers have picked up one top-five and two top-10s. Last year, Kaden Honeycutt was the team's lead finisher in 14th-place.
- Strength in Numbers: Niece Motorsports will debut a fourth, part-time entry in its NCTS fleet on Friday as the No. 41 Silverado returns to the track for the first time since Phoenix, 2024.
No. 41 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Gould | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
- Gould Returns: Driving behind the wheel of the No. 41 Silverado will be rookie, Matt Gould, who will make his second start of the year and fourth in his short career. Gould, the son of Crew Chief, Phil Gould, has been primarily working as a mechanic on both the No. 44 and 45 teams this season, in addition to making a handful of NASCAR Advanced Auto Parts Weekly Series starts in his family-owned Late Model Stock car.
- Crew Chief Change: Winning crew chief, Mike Shiplett, will lead the No. 41 team in select events that it plans to compete in to close out the season. Shiplett, who has been associated with the organization for a year, had been on top of the pit box for the No. 42 team before shifting over to the part-time team.
- Gould's Richmond Stats: Matt Gould will make his first NCTS start at Richmond Raceway on Friday night.
- Shiplett's Richmond Stats: Mike Shiplett has called one NCTS race at Richmond, resulting in a 21st-place finish with Bret Holmes last year. Shiplett is a two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) winner at the short track, winning with Kyle Larson in 2017 and Cole Custer in 2019. In total, Shiplett earned four top-fives and six top-10 NXS finishes here. Through 12 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) starts, Shiplett picked up a pair of top-10s including a best of seventh with AJ Allmendinger in 2011.
- On the Truck: Gould’s No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Niece Equipment, who will be featured as a co-branded primary sponsor along with DQS Solutions & Staffing, J.F. Electric, and Precision Vehicle Logistics.
- Quoting Gould: You’re looking to make your second start of the season, but first at Richmond. Who have you leaned on the most to help you at this track?
“I’ve heavily leaned on Kevin Harvick for preparing for Richmond. Kevin has given me a lot of good input on what to do and how to approach different situations. I’m really excited for this weekend, building the truck with my crew chief, Mike Shiplett, and the No. 41 team has been fun. It’s an honor to carry the Niece Equipment, DQS Solutions & Staffing, Precision Vehicle Logistics, and J.F. Electric colors this week and I hope to have a good run for them all.”
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).
About Niece Equipment: For over 30 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.
About DQS Solutions & Staffing: Guided by a mission to achieve excellence and adaptability, DQS partners with clients to create custom solutions that address unique business challenges. Recognized as Michigan’s fastest-growing company and #22 in the nation on the Inc. 5000 list, DQS drives industry growth while giving back through its nonprofit, Foundation for Pops, and partnerships like the River Rouge School District.
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 Utilitra: Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners.
About Precision Vehicle Logistics: Precision Vehicle Logistics is a customer-focused group of professionals committed to service excellence in finished vehicle logistics. Precision offers a unique combination of talented experience, industry-leading software and systems, and a network of partners and resources to deliver customized solutions to the world’s leading automakers.
