Niece Motorsports delivered standout performances in St. Petersburg, where team drivers achieved career-best finishes and overcame significant challenges on the street course. This Niece Motorsports race recap covers the hard-fought battles, team strategies, and record-breaking moments that defined the weekend in Florida.
Career-Best Result for Ben Maier and the No. 4 Team
Ben Maier, piloting the No. 4 DQS Solutions & Staffing / J.F. Electric Chevrolet Silverado RST with Crew Chief Mike Shiplett, faced an uphill battle after starting 35th due to the qualifying metric, despite a strong showing in practice. Undeterred by his starting position deep in the field, Maier executed a steady charge through the pack, improving to 19th by the end of Stage 1 and 13th by Stage 2. His persistence and the support from his team enabled him to finish 11th, his highest placement in the series, boosting his standing to 32nd in driver points and 33rd in owner points.
“I learned a lot out there and had so much fun in today’s race. It was great to be competitive and run side-by-side with the front runners, even though we had to start so deep in the field. It was a lot harder of a race than I had been used to running in other series, but Mike Shiplett and all the guys on our No. 4 team brought me such a great truck. I wish we could have gotten a top-10 there at the end, but I’m proud of the effort we had today. Huge thanks to everyone at Niece Motorsports, DQS Solutions & Staffing, J.F. Electric, BOE Marine, and Chevrolet for letting me go out and have fun out there.”
– Ben Maier
DQS Solutions & Staffing, based in Michigan, is recognized for its rapid growth and commitment to delivering tailored solutions to meet diverse business needs, while J.F. Electric’s legacy in the electrical contracting industry spans five generations and continues to foster strong client and employee relationships. BOE Marine, a Maryland company, supports recreational and professional boaters nationwide with a comprehensive range of marine electronics.
Tyler Reif Battles From the Back for a Solid Finish
Tyler Reif took the wheel of the No. 42 AutoVentive / Precision Vehicle Logistics Chevrolet Silverado RST, guided by Crew Chief Landon Polinski. Reif was initially set to start from 18th but was forced to drop to the tail end of the field during the opening pace laps due to a starter issue. Throughout the race, Reif repeatedly found himself at the back but refused to concede, working his way through the pack multiple times to capture 20th in Stage 1 and 17th in Stage 2 before ultimately finishing 16th. His efforts elevated him to 22nd in the driver points and 20th in owner points, marking a commendable performance under adversity.
“We overcame so much adversity out there today and I’m super proud of everyone on the No. 42 team for rallying behind me. I hate that we had to drop to the back so many times because we had a ton of speed in our truck today, but I enjoyed the challenge of driving through the field. I feel like we had to have passed the most trucks out there today; from the back into the top-12. After a hot race, I’m thankful to everyone who helped me after the race. I’m feeling a lot better now and look forward to coming back home. We have some time before my next Truck Series race, so I’ll be ready to go once it’s time to hop back behind the wheel. Thank you to everyone who supports us.”
– Tyler Reif
Following the race, Reif required medical evaluation for heat exhaustion at a local center but was released after treatment. AutoVentive serves as an industry-leading software provider for automotive logistics, while Precision Vehicle Logistics delivers customer-focused vehicle transport solutions across the nation.
Andrés Pérez de Lara Secures Top Ten for Zambos Team
The No. 44 Zambos Chevrolet Silverado RST, piloted by Andrés Pérez de Lara and overseen by Crew Chief Wally Rogers, started in 14th position. Pérez de Lara quickly entered the top ten early in the 150-mile event, capturing points in both stages by finishing 10th in each and ultimately achieving a season-best 7th-place finish, despite sustaining body damage due to on-track contact. His momentum keeps him firmly in the top-10 in championship standings, sitting 7th among drivers and 10th for owners.
“I’m happy with the end result we had today in St. Pete. It was a very challenging race, but we stayed out of trouble and had good speed to run up front there. We have some good momentum on our side now, so we’re going to try and keep it that way and keep improving each week so we can get even better. Thank you to everyone at Niece Motorsports, Team Chevy, Zambos, and Acceptance Insurance for everything they do for our team.”
– Andrés Pérez de Lara
Zambos®, a leading snack brand originating in Honduras, now has a significant presence throughout Central America, the Dominican Republic, and the United States, bringing its signature plantain chips to international consumers.
Landen Lewis Impresses in First Start with Sixth-Place Result
Landen Lewis, making his debut for Niece Motorsports in the No. 45 J.F. Electric Chevrolet Silverado RST with Crew Chief Phil Gould, started 8th and ran with the poise of an experienced competitor. Lewis finished third in both Stage 1 and Stage 2, maximizing valuable owner points for the team. His sixth-place finish on race day marks his first-ever top-10 result in the series and places him 18th in driver standings, while the No. 45 team sits 4th in the owner’s championship.
“We had a really solid day here in St. Pete. I’m super excited and thankful to be a part of this No. 45 team at Niece Motorsports. I just want to thank J.F. Electric, the team ownership group, Cody Efaw, Team Chevy, and all my guys here at the track and back at the shop. We ran third in both stages and ended up sixth, so it was a great race for us overall. We’ll keep building on this momentum for the next race I get to drive for them in.”
– Landen Lewis
J.F. Electric’s involvement continues to foster growth and experience for both drivers and the team, contributing to promising results for Niece Motorsports newcomers.
Resilience and Momentum Define Niece Motorsports’ St. Pete Weekend
Throughout a demanding weekend on the St. Petersburg circuit, Niece Motorsports demonstrated determination and skill. From career-best results by Ben Maier and Andrés Pérez de Lara to Tyler Reif’s gritty rebound from repeated setbacks, and Landen Lewis’ standout debut, every team member played a role in strengthening the organization’s competitive standing. As the teams look ahead to their next Truck Series opportunities, the momentum gained in St. Pete will drive continued progress both on and off the track. With partners such as DQS Solutions & Staffing, J.F. Electric, BOE Marine, AutoVentive, Precision Vehicle Logistics, and Zambos, Niece Motorsports is poised for further achievements this season.
