Tyler Reif - NCTS Championship Race Preview
Event: NCTS Championship Race (150 laps / 150 miles)
Round: 25 of 25 (Season Finale)
Track: Phoenix Raceway
Location: Avondale, Arizona
Date & Time: Friday, October 31 | 7:30 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | NASCAR Racing Network (NRN) | SiriusXM Ch. 90
Team Stats & Notes
- Niece Motorsports Phoenix Stats: Niece drivers have made a total of 23 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) starts at Phoenix Raceway. The team has recorded four top-10 finishes over the years, including a best overall result of seventh-place which was delivered by Kaden Honeycutt last year.
No. 41 McLaren Transport Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Tyler Reif | Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
- Welcome to the Big Leagues: Henderson, Nevada's Tyler Reif will make his NASCAR national series debut this weekend at Phoenix Raceway. The 19-year-old competed full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East tour this year and finished second in the championship points standings. Reif grew up racing on the short tracks of the west coast, and is a multi-time winner in ARCA, Late Models, and U.S. Legends Cars competition.
- Reif's Phoenix Stats: Tyler Reif has competed in three ARCA Menards Series races at Phoenix Raceway. In 2023, he won in his series debut at the track when he was just 16 years of age. Reif has also ran three standalone ARCA Menards Series West races here, securing one top-five and two top-10s.
- Shiplett's Phoenix Stats: Mike Shiplett has called one NCTS race at Phoenix, resulting in a 25th-place finish last year with Matt Mills. Shiplett has made 13 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) starts on top of the pit box here, including three top-fives and six top-10 finishes. The crew chief has earned two poles at this track; first in 2010 with AJ Allmendinger in the Cup Series, and then in 2018 with John Hunter Nemechek in NXS competition. In 11 Cup starts, Shiplett earned two top-10 finishes here.
- On the Truck: Reif's No. 41 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from McLaren Transport, a division of DQS Solutions & Staffing. This race will mark their first foray into primary sponsorship in NASCAR.
- Recapping Martinsville: Conner Jones and the No. 41 team had a great run going in Martinsville, but did not get the finish they deserved. After qualifying 25th, Jones methodically advanced his position throughout the opening two stages. A great strategy call in stage two earned Jones two additional points and set him up to use fresh tires at the end of the race. Unfortunately, contact from another competitor sent him spinning late in the event and he was only able to recover to a 22nd-place finish.
- Quoting Reif: You've won at Phoenix before, so what is so special about this place to you?
“I think I run well at Phoenix because it’s similar to a lot of the tracks on the west coast that I grew up racing on. It’s a bigger track than all of those ones, but it races like a short track with the only difference being dirty air. I like how there are two different corners and the dog leg here because you have to be aggressive on restarts. It just fits my driving style. I’m super excited to make my Truck Series debut this weekend with everyone at Niece Motorsports and McLaren Transport behind me, it’s going to be so much fun.”
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team that has competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) since 2016. 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).
About McLaren Transport: McLaren Transport, a division of DQS Solutions & Staffing, is a leader in automotive logistics, specializing in reliable, safe, and efficient transportation across the U.S. and Canada. Supporting its core transportation services, McLaren also offers warehousing, cross-docking, and supply chain solutions for temperature-sensitive goods. Strategically located near the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the company supports efficient border-crossing for clients across industries. Backed by DQS’s logistics and operational resources, McLaren delivers end-to-end solutions that drive efficiency, strengthen partnerships, and keep the automotive and logistics industry moving forward.
