Matt Mills Bio
Matthew Robert Mills, born on November 14, 1996, is an American professional stock car racing driver from Lynchburg, Virginia. He is best known for competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where he has driven the No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST for Niece Motorsports. Mills has also made starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Cup Series, building a career that has progressed from short tracks to the national stage.
Across his time in NASCAR, Mills has worked with several teams, including B. J. McLeod Motorsports, JD Motorsports, Young’s Motorsports, and Niece Motorsports, primarily fielding Chevrolet entries. He is recognized for his steady development through the sport’s lower ranks and his persistence in reaching full-time competition at the national level.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Robert Mills was born on November 14, 1996, and grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia. Like many young racing fans in the region, he developed an early fascination with motorsports and began exploring the sport at a young age. Virginia’s short-track scene provided plenty of opportunities for young drivers to gain experience close to home.
Mills started racing at age twelve in go-karts. A year later, he moved up to Junior Champ Karts and spent three years competing in that category, building the foundational skills that would shape his driving style. During this period, he learned the basics of race craft, including how to handle traffic, manage tire wear, and navigate close competition.
Path to NASCAR
In 2012, Mills transitioned to Open Wheel Modifieds at Midvale Speedway, where he earned the Rookie of the Year award. The following year, he moved up to Outlaw Super Late Models, gaining experience in heavier, more powerful cars that demanded greater commitment and consistency.
In 2014, Mills attended a rookie seminar for NASCAR at Daytona Beach, Florida, and received clearance to race in the ARCA Racing Series and the K&N Pro Series. Although he did not enter either of those series right away, he ran a limited schedule in the JEGS/CRA Pro Series in 2015 while continuing his late model career, keeping his progression toward the national NASCAR ranks on track.
Matt Mills Career
Early Career (2016)
On June 29, 2016, it was announced that Mills would join SS-Green Light Racing for select races in the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He made his first national-series start at Bristol Motor Speedway in August, finishing 27th. Mills ran four additional races for SS-Green Light that season, scoring a best finish of 21st in the penultimate race at Phoenix International Raceway.
That same year, Mills also worked on expanding his experience across regional events, balancing his growing Truck Series schedule with continued development at the late model level. The 2016 season gave him a first taste of NASCAR’s national series competition and confirmed his desire to pursue a full-time career in stock car racing.
Xfinity Series Breakthrough (2017-2019)
In March 2017, Mills was named the driver of B. J. McLeod Motorsports’ No. 8 entry at Phoenix Raceway in what was expected to be a one-race deal, replacing Jeff Green. He finished 30th in his Xfinity Series debut. He returned to the series at Richmond, again driving McLeod’s No. 8, and later made a start at Chicago with JD Motorsports in their No. 15 car.
On February 2, 2018, it was announced that Mills would drive the No. 15 car for JD Motorsports for all but one race of the season, skipping the opener at Daytona. Although the agreement eventually fell through, with Joe Nemechek taking over at Bristol, Mills made several more starts with the team before parting ways after the June Michigan race. That summer, he also made a Truck Series start for DGR-Crosley at Michigan but wrecked due to inexperience.
Mills returned to B. J. McLeod Motorsports in 2019 and became the team’s full-time driver of the No. 8, which was later renumbered to No. 5 after a number swap with JR Motorsports. His multi-year run with BJMM established him as a familiar presence in the Xfinity Series garage.
Craftsman Truck Series Progression (2022-2023)
In 2022, Mills drove the No. 20 truck for Young’s Motorsports on a part-time basis while also running the majority of the Xfinity Series schedule for B. J. McLeod Motorsports in their No. 5 car. The following year, he returned to Young’s Motorsports to drive the No. 20 truck at Las Vegas in March, continuing to sharpen his skills in the Truck Series.
Niece Motorsports Era (2024-Present)
On October 12, 2023, Niece Motorsports announced that Mills would drive the No. 42 truck full-time in 2024, taking over the seat as Carson Hocevar moved up to the NASCAR Cup Series with Spire Motorsports. The opportunity marked Mills’ first full-time commitment in the Craftsman Truck Series at a competitive team.
During the 2024 Baptist Health 200, Mills was injured after Conner Jones intentionally sent him into the turn 3 wall. Jones was held for two laps during the race and then suspended for the following event at Martinsville. On September 24, 2024, Niece Motorsports announced that Mills would continue with the team for 2025, locking in his long-term future with the organization.
Driving Style and Strengths
Mills is known for his patience and willingness to log laps, traits he developed through years of start-and-park entries and limited schedules. His experience across modifieds, late models, and stock cars has given him a versatile skill set suited to a range of track types. Working with Niece Motorsports has allowed him to focus on consistency and finishing races, which remain essential to his continued growth.
Notable Races and Milestones
Mills’ 2024 full-time move with Niece Motorsports stands as a major career milestone, as does his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Kansas Speedway in 2021 with B. J. McLeod Motorsports. His 2019 full-time Xfinity Series campaign with BJMM and his return to the Truck Series with Young’s Motorsports in 2022 represent key steps in his journey to becoming an established national-series competitor.
Matt Mills Career Wins
Matt Mills has built his NASCAR career on persistence and steady development rather than headline victories, and his win totals across national series are limited. The bulk of his recorded finishes reflect a driver focused on gaining experience, completing races, and earning a longer-term opportunity with a competitive team.
Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Mills has competed in multiple Truck Series seasons with SS-Green Light Racing, Faith Motorsports, Martins Motorsports, Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing, Young’s Motorsports, and Niece Motorsports. His best finishes during his early Truck Series appearances were 17th-place results with Faith Motorsports in 2017. Since joining Niece Motorsports full-time in 2024, he has continued to chase his first national-series victory.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of NASCAR’s national series, Mills earned the Rookie of the Year award in Open Wheel Modifieds at Midvale Speedway in 2012 and spent several years racing Outlaw Super Late Models. These regional accomplishments laid the groundwork for his transition into NASCAR’s development pipeline and ultimately the national series.
Matt Mills Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Matt Mills’ family and racing lineage is limited. He grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia, where the local short-track scene played a central role in shaping his early interest in motorsports. Beyond his hometown roots, detailed information about his parents or extended family is not widely documented.
Personal Life
Details about Mills’ personal life, including marital status, spouse, and children, are not publicly confirmed in available sources. He remains active on social media, where fans can follow his racing updates and behind-the-scenes content from the track.
2025 Season Performance
Matt Mills entered the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season with Niece Motorsports after the team confirmed his continuation on September 24, 2024. His full-time seat in the No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST provided him with a stable platform to build on his 2024 results and pursue his first national-series victory.
On August 27, 2025, it was announced that Mills would also drive the No. 91 DGM Racing with Jesse Iwuji Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Gateway, expanding his schedule across both national series. The additional start reflected the growing confidence teams have placed in his experience and race craft.
With Niece Motorsports continuing to invest in his development and added Xfinity opportunities on the horizon, Mills’ 2025 season represents a key step in his evolution from a part-time Truck Series driver into a multi-series competitor with a clear long-term path in NASCAR.