Matt Mills - 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. 42 Utilitra / J.F. Electric Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Matt Mills | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
- Mills' Watkins Glen Stats: Matt Mills will make his first-career NCTS start at Watkins Glen International on Friday. In his lone NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) race at this track, Mills finished 38th due to a crash.
- Shiplett's Watkins Glen Stats: Mike Shiplett has yet to call a NCTS race at Watkins Glen. Shiplett has plenty of race experience at the track however, including five NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and seven NXS starts here. Shiplett finished inside the top-five (fourth) in the 2010 NCS race with AJ Allmendinger and ran third in the 2016 NXS race with Kyle Larson. He secured one top-five and three top-10s on Saturdays.
- On the Truck: Mills’ No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from longtime partners Utilitra and J.F. Electric, who will serve as his anchor partners for the entire 25-race season.
- Recapping IRP: Matt Mills and the No. 42 J.F. Electric team put forth a great effort in IRP, but couldn't find track position to move through the field. Mills started the race in 25th, and noted that his Chevrolet was tight early on. Through the first two stages, the team made several adjustments to help free his truck up, and were able to take advantage of the free pass to get back into contention. With a quick race pace and lack of cautions in the final stage, the team crossed the line in 21st-place.
- Points Rundown: With two races left to run in the regular season, Mills remains 19th in points. He is currently 15 points behind Jack Wood in 18th, and also has a 15-point lead over Dawson Sutton in 20th-place. Facing a 219-point gap below the Playoffs cutline, Mills needs to win either at Watkins Glen or Richmond to qualify for the postseason.
- Quoting Mills: Comparing your experience in the Xfinity Series on road courses, do trucks drive much differently here?
“Typically, going from an Xfinity car to a truck on a road course, you can drive a lot more aggressively and be harder on the brakes. The truck usually handles a lot better through the corners, so I think the speed is going to be a lot faster. I think Watkins Glen is another track that Niece Motorsports can be competitive at, so I’m excited to come back and race here again with our J.F. Electric team.”
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 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 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).
