Niece Motorsports Overview
Niece Motorsports is an American professional stock car racing team based in Salisbury, North Carolina. Founded in 2016, the organization currently competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and also fields entries in Dirt Late Models and Late Model Stock Cars. The team is co-owned by Josh Morris and Greg Fowler and runs Chevrolet-manufactured vehicles, including the flagship No. 42 Silverado and No. 45 Silverado in the Truck Series. Although the team has not yet captured an overall drivers’ championship, it has built a reputation for developing young talent and securing race victories at the national level.
The team operates out of a shop in Salisbury and fields multiple trucks under a variety of car numbers, including the Nos. 42, 45, 22, 38, 40, 41, 44, 17, and 50. Drivers such as Tyler Reif, Conner Jones, Parker Eatmon, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ross Chastain, and Landen Lewis have piloted the team’s Chevrolets in the Truck Series. With a growing presence across multiple NASCAR-supported series and short-track disciplines, Niece Motorsports remains a steady competitor in American motor racing.
Founding and Organizational Origins
Niece Motorsports was established in 2016 by co-owners Josh Morris and Greg Fowler, with the goal of building a competitive stock car operation centered on hard-working drivers and Chevrolet equipment. The team set up its base of operations in Salisbury, North Carolina, a region with a strong tradition in grassroots and late model racing. From the outset, the owners focused on creating a structured environment that could support drivers across multiple levels of the sport.
The early foundation of the team revolved around the No. 45 truck entry in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, where Casey Smith made the team’s debut in 2016. Over time, the organization added additional truck numbers and expanded its technical staff to accommodate larger schedules. The Salisbury shop became the central hub for car preparation, race-day engineering, and driver development, allowing Niece Motorsports to maintain a consistent identity across its various entries.
Growth Into NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Competition
After its initial seasons running part-time schedules, Niece Motorsports increased its presence in the Truck Series by fielding full-time entries and adding new trucks to its stable. The team gradually built relationships with Chevrolet and with several engineering and crew-chief personnel who helped improve the performance of its Chevrolets on intermediate and short tracks. By 2019, the organization had expanded to running multiple trucks on a regular basis and was attracting experienced drivers capable of contending for wins.
The team’s competitive leap came during the late 2010s and early 2020s, when drivers like Ross Chastain, Carson Hocevar, Bayley Currey, and Brett Moffitt brought the organization into victory lane. In addition to its Truck Series program, Niece Motorsports also entered the ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series East, and the ARCA Menards Series West, using these platforms to evaluate young talent before promoting them to national-level competition. The team also made a one-off appearance in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2018, signaling its broader ambitions within the sport.
Niece Motorsports Competitive Journey
Since its founding, Niece Motorsports has progressed from a small part-time Truck Series team to a multi-truck operation that competes weekly in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The organization has recorded 9 total victories and 2 pole positions across 220 career race starts, with all of its wins coming in the Truck Series. While the team has yet to secure an overall drivers’ or owners’ championship, its growth in scale, personnel, and performance demonstrates a clear upward trajectory.
Early Seasons and Development (2016–2018)
Niece Motorsports began its on-track journey in 2016 when Casey Smith drove the No. 45 truck in two events. The team returned in 2017, originally planning a part-time schedule but expanding to a full-season effort with T. J. Bell as the primary driver. The No. 38 truck also debuted that year as a start-and-park entry. In 2018, the organization moved Justin Fontaine into the No. 45 for a full schedule and fielded additional trucks, including the No. 22 for Austin Wayne Self and the No. 38 with rotating drivers such as Max McLaughlin, Ross Chastain, and Landon Huffman.
The 2018 season also featured the team’s first NASCAR Xfinity Series attempt, with Victor Gonzalez Jr. entering the Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen. Although that one-off appearance did not result in a strong result, it showcased the team’s willingness to explore national series beyond the Truck Series. Sponsorship deals and crew-chief arrangements were gradually refined during these early years, setting the groundwork for the organization’s first victories later in the decade.
Breakthrough in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (2019–2022)
The 2019 season marked the team’s first breakthrough at the national level. Ross Chastain, who had driven part-time for Niece Motorsports the previous year, was named co-driver of the No. 45 truck for the 2019 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series schedule alongside Reid Wilson. In May 2019, Chastain delivered both his and the team’s first Truck Series victory at Kansas Speedway, capitalizing when Stewart Friesen ran out of fuel with three laps remaining. Chastain finished the season with three wins, ten top-fives, nineteen top-tens, one pole, and a second-place finish in the championship standings.
After Chastain’s departure, Niece Motorsports signed Ty Majeski to run the No. 45 full-time in 2020, though Majeski was later replaced by Trevor Bayne after fifteen races. The team expanded further by adding the No. 40 truck, driven at various points by Ross Chastain, Garrett Smithley, Ryan Truex, T. J. Bell, Travis Pastrana, Carson Hocevar, Trevor Bayne, and Bayley Currey. In 2021, Brett Moffitt joined the team as the full-time driver of the No. 45, while Carson Hocevar assumed the same role in the No. 42 and Dean Thompson drove the No. 44. That same year, Ryan Truex moved into the No. 40 for a full-time campaign.
The 2022 season was highlighted by Carson Hocevar’s development in the No. 42. Although he missed time following a crash at Gateway, he returned at Sonoma and scored a strong sixth-place finish after being relieved by Daniel Suárez. Ross Chastain also visited victory lane that year in the No. 41 truck at Charlotte Motor Speedway. As the Truck Series evolved into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Niece Motorsports continued to expand its fleet and prepare for sustained championship contention.
Modern Program and Current Direction (2023–Present)
The 2023 season represented one of the strongest years in team history. Carson Hocevar opened the year with a twelfth-place finish at Daytona before capturing his first career win at Texas in dramatic fashion, spinning Nick Sanchez out of the lead on the final lap of double overtime. He added victories at Nashville and Richmond, then won at Homestead-Miami to advance to the Championship 4. Although contact at Phoenix affected his final finish, Hocevar was elevated to third in the final standings after a penalty to another competitor.
Following Hocevar’s promotion to the NASCAR Cup Series, Niece Motorsports named Matt Mills as the full-time driver of the No. 42 in 2024, with the team renewing him for a second season in 2025. Landon Polinski was later named crew chief of the No. 42 for the final eight races of the 2025 season, beginning at Darlington. The No. 45 has been led in recent seasons by drivers including Johnny Sauter, Kaden Honeycutt, Connor Mosack, and Ross Chastain, with Kaden Honeycutt initially announced as the full-time driver for 2025 before being released mid-season to sign with another manufacturer for 2026. Connor Zilisch and Bayley Currey completed the final nine races of that campaign.
Philosophy and Competitive Strengths
Niece Motorsports has built its identity around developing drivers, maximizing Chevrolet equipment, and maintaining consistency across a multi-truck operation. The team’s focus on short-track and intermediate ovals has produced strong qualifying efforts and late-race reliability. By blending veteran leadership with emerging talent, the organization positions itself as a stepping stone for drivers moving toward national-level success.
Key Milestones and Major Moments
Key moments in team history include Ross Chastain’s breakthrough win at Kansas in 2019, Carson Hocevar’s three-win 2023 campaign that advanced him to the Championship 4, and Ross Chastain’s victory in the No. 41 at Charlotte in 2022. Natalie Decker’s fifth-place run at Daytona in 2020 also set a benchmark as the highest finish by a female driver in Truck Series history, reflecting the team’s willingness to support drivers from diverse backgrounds.
Niece Motorsports Achievements and Results
Niece Motorsports has accumulated 9 wins and 2 pole positions across 220 starts since its debut, all of its victories coming in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. While the team has yet to win a drivers’ or owners’ championship, it has consistently fielded competitive Chevrolets and helped launch the careers of several notable drivers.
Craftsman Truck Series Achievements
All 9 of Niece Motorsports’ victories have come in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The team’s first win was delivered by Ross Chastain at Kansas Speedway in May 2019, followed by two additional Chastain victories that same season. Carson Hocevar added three wins in 2023, and Ross Chastain added a Darlington win in 2024 while driving the No. 45. Bayley Currey also contributed a win during the team’s expanding schedule, reinforcing the depth of the organization’s competitive program.
Conference Achievements
Within the Craftsman Truck Series, Niece Motorsports has been a consistent presence in the playoffs. Carson Hocevar’s 2023 Championship 4 appearance stands as the team’s most significant playoff run to date, with the organization securing multiple top-ten points finishes in recent seasons.
Divisional Achievements
The team has fielded entries across multiple divisions of NASCAR-supported competition, including the ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series East, and the ARCA Menards Series West. Although Niece Motorsports has not posted wins in those ARCA series, its participation has helped develop drivers such as Carson Hocevar, Bayley Currey, and Matt Gould in preparation for the Truck Series.
Series Achievements
In the broader NASCAR ladder, Niece Motorsports has competed in the Xfinity Series on a one-off basis with Victor Gonzalez Jr. at Watkins Glen in 2018. The team has also expanded into grassroots short-track categories through its Dirt Late Models and Late Model Stock Cars programs, with drivers such as Bayley Currey, Connor Hall, and Matt Gould representing the organization on regional circuits.