Owners of Big St. Louis-Area Electrical Contractor Buy Into Truck Racing Team
By Diana Barr – Associate Editor, St. Louis Business Journal
Aug 15, 2025
The owner of a St. Louis-area electrical contracting firm – one of the region's largest private companies – has joined the new ownership of a professional auto racing team that has competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for nearly a decade.
Greg Fowler, CEO of Edwardsville-based J.F. Electric, and his family have joined with Josh Morris, CEO of Dearborn, Michigan-based DQS Solutions & Staffing, to buy a majority stake in Niece Motorsports. Terms of the acquisition, announced Friday, weren't disclosed.
Niece Motorsports is based in Salisbury, North Carolina-based, where the pro truck racing team's 80,000-square-foot headquarters houses a race vehicle build shop and custom fabrication shop. it was founded by Al Niece, who has been majority owner since its inception in 2016. The team will retain its name under the new ownership. A spokesperson didn't immediately respond to a question about Al Niece's current ownership stake in the team, if any.
DQS, which provides workforce, security and logistics services, and J.F. Electric, as well as the Fowler family's Utilitra, an Edwardsville-based utility and tech company, have long been sponsors of the team. "This personal investment marks a deeper commitment to the team’s future," Niece Motorsports officials said in Friday's press release.
DQS, which already has provided Niece Motorsports with back-office functions such as HR and accounting since early this year, brings its business expertise and operational efficiencies to the team, officials said. DQS ranked No. 480 on the Inc. 5000 this year, with three-year revenue growth of 853%.
The Fowlers are making an "increased investment that ensures long-term stability and opportunity," for Niece Motorsports according to the release.
J.F. Electric is among St. Louis' largest privately held companies and largest family-owned businesses, reporting 2024 revenue of $306 million with 916 of its more than 1,100 total employees based locally. Utilitra, led by Candice Fowler, Greg Fowler's wife, also is among the region's largest private firms, as well as one of its biggest women-owned companies, with 2024 revenue of $61.2 million.
Niece Motorsports will continue to manufacture its vehicles entirely in-house, officials said, adding that it's one of "the few" organizations in the sport that does so.
With the new investment, Niece Motorsports is expanding its marketing, PR, and hospitality operations, as well as building out full-service video production and pit crew training facilities, which it says benefits the team as well as its partners.
“Racing is in our DNA,” Fowler said in the release. “We’ve proudly supported Niece Motorsports as a sponsor, and we’re ready to help fuel this next chapter as owners. The foundation is strong, and the possibilities ahead are even stronger.”
“Our investment in Niece Motorsports is about growth,” Morris said in a statement. “We believe in this team, its people and its future. From pit crews to hospitality to content creation, we’re building a racing organization that delivers both on the track and in the boardroom.”
“This partnership is a continuation of the momentum we’ve built over the last several seasons,” Al Niece said in a statement. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished. This change allows me to return to the heart of why I got into racing – the passion and excitement of competition – while entrusting the business to partners who believe in our team and our people.”
With the change in ownership, several Niece Motorsports employees take new titles that officials said formalize the "hands-on" leadership they've been bringing to the company. Cody Efaw, previously general manager, has been named Niece Motorsports' president and CEO. has been named President and CEO. Amanda Efaw, previously director of communications and wife of Cody Efaw, now takes the title chief marketing officer.
Also, Phil Gould, who the company said has been Niece Motorsports’ longest-tenured and winningest crew chief, was promoted to director of competition, overseeing performance and coordination of all race teams.
This year, in its 10th season competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Niece Motorsports is fielding four trucks: Nos. 41, 42, 44 and 45. The team has had nine wins since its 2016 founding.
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team that has competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) since 2016. Fielding the Nos. 41, 42, 44 and 45 trucks, the team has garnered nine wins, 50+ top-fives, 100+ top-10s, 200+ top-15 finishes and made five playoff appearances. Founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece, the team is owned by Josh Morris of DQS Solutions and Staffing and the Fowler Family of J.F. Electric and Utilitra. 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).
