Niece Motorsports is gearing up for the second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) super speedway event of the season at Echo Park Speedway in Atlanta this weekend. Following encouraging performances in the season opener at Daytona, the team is focused on leveraging that speed and experience to secure a strong finish. The squad’s lineup includes drivers Tyler Reif, Andrés Pérez de Lara, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., each piloting Chevrolet Silverado RST trucks backed by notable sponsors such as AutoVentive, Precision Vehicle Logistics, Acceptance Insurance, and J.F. Electric.
Tyler Reif Makes First NCTS Start of the Season with High Expectations
Tyler Reif of Henderson, Nevada, will kick off his NCTS season at Echo Park Speedway, marking his first start at this track and his first of the year in the series. Having debuted last October at Phoenix Raceway with a top-10 finish in the season finale, Reif is positioned as the primary driver for the No. 42 AutoVentive / Precision Vehicle Logistics Chevrolet Silverado RST through 2026. Reif’s crew chief, Landon Polinski, also makes his NCTS debut in Atlanta, adding fresh leadership to the team.
Reflecting on his upcoming race, Reif stated,
“I’m really looking forward to racing at Atlanta and am hoping to carry over some of the stuff I’ve learned over the years from the ARCA Menards Series. I learned a lot about the dirty air aspect of Truck Series racing when I ran Phoenix, so I just have to be cautious and aware of where everyone is in front of me. I think our main goal for the whole day is just to execute and make sure we run every lap so we can be there at the end of the race with our Precision Vehicle Logistics Silverado.”
– Tyler Reif, Driver
The No. 42 truck benefits from support by AutoVentive, an innovative software company specializing in automotive logistics solutions, and Precision Vehicle Logistics, which offers customized finished vehicle logistics services globally. The team is eager to translate its solid start at Daytona into consistent results on Atlanta’s demanding super speedway.
Performance Recap and Owner Points Outlook for No. 42 Team
At Daytona, Travis Pastrana drove the No. 42 BRUNT Workwear truck with resilience in his first NASCAR race in three years, maintaining a clean race and competing within the lead pack. Capitalizing on late-race developments, Pastrana finished 15th, a respectable position that leaves the No. 42 team 17th in owner points standings. They trail closely behind Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet (16th) and sit just ahead of ThorSport Racing’s No. 13 truck (18th), illustrating a tight early-season competition.
Andrés Pérez de Lara Brings Momentum Into His Full-Time Season
Driving the No. 44 Acceptance Insurance Chevrolet Silverado RST, Andrés Pérez de Lara will return to Echo Park Speedway with experience from one prior NCTS start and aims to improve upon his best finish of 27th in 2025. The crew chief, Wally Rogers, brings a wealth of experience, including seven NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) starts and victories in related racing series dating back to 2003.
In Daytona, Pérez de Lara advanced through the field starting from deep in the pack and ran competitively within the draft. Although he fell just out of the top-10 on the final lap, he finished with a solid 13th place. This performance positions him 11th in driver standings, only two points shy of the current Chase cutoff.
Regarding his super speedway experience, Pérez de Lara remarked,
“I think after racing in the pack all day last week in Daytona, I gained a lot of confidence heading into Atlanta. I feel good with the pushes I got, and think it’s prepared me for what we have going on this weekend. Atlanta is a very different style of super speedway, but we’re going to try and put ourselves in the right position. I think we have a good shot at it because my Acceptance Insurance Chevy was strong in Daytona. We showed speed there, but just have to put everything together.”
– Andrés Pérez de Lara, Driver
Acceptance Insurance, as the team’s anchor partner, is a large U.S.-based personal lines insurer with over 700 agents nationwide. The company emphasizes affordable insurance solutions and community support, providing a solid sponsorship foundation for the No. 44 Chevrolet.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Anticipates Adapted Strategy at Echo Park Speedway
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will make his first NCTS start at Echo Park Speedway, driving the No. 45 J.F. Electric Chevrolet Silverado RST. He has a notable history in NASCAR Cup Series, including 18 starts, one pole position, and a best finish of fifth in 2025. Stenhouse’s crew chief, Phil Gould, brings extensive experience with a track record of top-10 finishes, ensuring strong leadership for the team.
Stenhouse Jr. had an impressive debut in the Truck Series at Daytona, earning a sixth-place finish and demonstrating a calculated and steady performance. His team currently holds eighth place in owner points, tied with TRICON Garage’s No. 5 truck and holding a three-point lead over McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s No. 18 Chevrolet.
Discussing track conditions and race style at Atlanta, Stenhouse Jr. explained, “I don’t know, our Cup races are starting to string out a bit. I think the asphalt is getting aged a little bit, and there are a lot of aspects of it still being a super speedway, but it’s more trending towards an old, worn out surface like Daytona. I was just watching an old O’Reilly Daytona race from 2010 a few days ago and I think it will be similar to what we’ve got in Atlanta just because it’s got another year of sitting there and another cold winter on it.
Talking to Phil (Gould), we’ve got a totally different style truck that we take to Atlanta versus Daytona, so that tells me that handling is a big portion of that. You’ll still need to draft, but you have to have a truck that handles well to be able to do that. I’d rather take a truck that’s a little bit slower that handled well so you could hold the throttle down. I’m looking forward to it.” – Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Driver
J.F. Electric and Utilitra provide essential support for the No. 45 team, complementing its competitive ambitions this weekend.
Strategic Importance of Echo Park Race for Niece Motorsports
The Echo Park Speedway event represents a crucial opportunity for Niece Motorsports to solidify its position in the early stages of the Truck Series season. With three diverse drivers—Reif, Pérez de Lara, and Stenhouse Jr.—the team showcases a mix of emerging talent and seasoned experience. Their Chevrolet Silverado RST trucks are backed by strong partnerships and prepared team leadership, positioning them to contend for top finishes on Atlanta’s challenging super speedway surface.
Success at Echo Park has the potential to elevate the team’s standings significantly, given their close quarters with competitors in owner and driver points. Moreover, mastering the race’s unique dynamics—such as handling the aged asphalt and drafting in pack conditions—will be essential for achieving consistent results as the season advances.
Ultimately, Niece Motorsports’ performance in Atlanta will set the tone for upcoming races and demonstrate the team’s ability to refine strategies while maintaining their resilience and determination on diverse track formats.
