Ross Chastain - 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. 44 Protect Your Melon New York Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Ross Chastain | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
- Chastain's Watkins Glen Stats: Ross Chastain will make his first-career NCTS start at Watkins Glen this weekend. Chastain has made several starts in other national series here, including six in the Cup Series. Last year, Chastain won the pole for the NCS race and went onto earn his first top-five (fourth) in the race. In eight NXS starts on the road course, Chastain has one top-five and two top-10s, including a fourth-place effort in 2023.
- Rogers' Watkins Glen Stats: Wally Rogers has called one prior NCTS race at Watkins Glen, finishing 34th with Chad Chastain in 2021. Rogers has also called four NXS races here, earning two top-10s including a best result of seventh with Bobby Labonte in 2007. In four NCS races, Rogers' best run came with Scott Speed in 2012, when he finished 17th.
- On the Truck: Chastain's No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from the New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, who has had a longstanding relationship with the veteran.
- Recapping IRP: Ross Chastain and the No. 44 team had to earn their top-10 finish the hard way at IRP. Initially starting from the 12th position, Chastain fell back in the opening stage as the handling went away. After the first pit stop of the night, the left front tire fell off his truck, resulting in a freak airborne moment on pit road. With his battered Silverado trapped a lap down, Chastain would inevitably get back into contention via the free pass in stage two. From that point on, the team marched forward, and would finish the night in ninth-place.
- Owner Points Rundown: The No. 44 team remains 17th in the owner points standings following their top-10 run in IRP. Heading into Watkins Glen, the team is only two points behind TRICON Garage's No. 15 entry in 16th, and they have a 41-point lead over McAnally-Hilgemann Racing's No. 81 Chevrolet in 18th.
- Quoting Chastain: You'll have a lot of other drivers from other series competing in this race, so who do you expect to run against most?
“For sure, I’d think the Truck Series regulars are going to be hard to beat. The guys that race trucks every week, they’re just so in tune with it. I love Watkins Glen as a road course, and have a fun time racing against those guys. No matter who else comes in from the other series, it’s the regulars that are probably going to be the toughest. I feel confident that our No. 44 Chevy will be able to compete amongst them all on Friday.”
About The New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee: The New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) coordinates traffic safety activities in the state and shares useful, timely information about traffic safety and the state's highway safety grant program.
The Committee is comprised of thirteen agencies who have missions related to transportation and safety. The GTSC is chaired by the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles and acts as the state's official liaison with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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).
