Matthew Michael Gould Bio
Matthew Michael Gould (born January 8, 2006) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the Nos. 41 and 44 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs for Niece Motorsports. Earlier in his career, he also raced part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA Menards Series East. He is based out of Mooresville, North Carolina, the heart of NASCAR country, and has worked with crew chief Tom Ackerman at the national level.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Michael Gould was born on January 8, 2006, in Mooresville, North Carolina, in the United States. Growing up in Mooresville placed him near many of the sport’s race shops and short tracks, giving him early and frequent exposure to stock car racing. That environment helped shape his interest in becoming a professional driver from a young age.
Gould comes from a racing family. His father, Phil Gould, has worked as a crew chief in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series garage and currently serves as the crew chief for the No. 45 truck at Niece Motorsports. Having a parent directly involved in race-day operations gave Gould an inside view of how teams prepare for races, and that background has been part of his development as a driver.
Path to NASCAR
Gould began his racing career in 2019 in the Allison Legacy Series, a popular stepping-stone series for young drivers in the Southeast. He ran eight races that season and finished ninth in the final standings, posting a best result of fourth at both Orange County Speedway events. The following year, he made one more start in the series and finished fourth at Anderson Speedway.
He then moved into the NASCAR Late Model stock ranks, where he built his resume with three wins across two seasons at Orange County Speedway, Florence Motor Speedway, and Hickory Motor Speedway during 2021 and 2022. Those short-track results caught the attention of Niece Motorsports, leading to his ARCA Menards Series debut in 2022 at the Milwaukee Mile in the No. 40 Chevrolet.
Matthew Michael Gould Career
Early Career (2019-2022)
Gould’s earliest documented results came in the Allison Legacy Series, where he showed steady progress as a teenager. His best finishes of fourth at Orange County Speedway hinted at the potential that would later carry him into national touring series competition.
Between 2021 and 2022, Gould became a winner in NASCAR Late Model competition, scoring three victories across the trio of Orange County Speedway, Florence Motor Speedway, and Hickory Motor Speedway. These Late Model wins marked him as one of the promising young drivers on the Southeast short-track scene.
ARCA Menards Series Breakthrough (2022-2023)
In 2022, Gould made his ARCA Menards Series debut at the Milwaukee Mile, driving the No. 40 Chevrolet for Niece Motorsports. Because that race was a combination event with the ARCA Menards Series East, it also counted as his East Series debut. He qualified twelfth and finished one lap down in tenth position, a clean first start at the national level.
Later in 2022, he returned for the season finale at Toledo Speedway, where he started twelfth and finished one lap down in eighth. In 2023, Gould returned to ARCA for the race at Bristol Motor Speedway, this time driving the No. 42 Chevrolet for Cook Racing Technologies. After starting fifteenth, he was limited to twelve laps before overheating issues forced him out, and he was credited with a 31st-place finish. Across his ARCA Menards Series career, he recorded zero wins, two top-ten finishes, and zero poles, with a best points result of 49th in 2022.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Breakthrough (2024-2025)
On August 16, 2024, Niece Motorsports announced that Gould would make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut at Milwaukee in the team’s No. 44 truck. For this race, Tom Ackerman served as his crew chief rather than his father Phil, who continued to crew chief the No. 45 entry. The Truck Series debut marked his arrival on a NASCAR national touring series stage.
Gould has since run additional Truck Series starts for Niece Motorsports in the Nos. 41 and 44 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs, with Tom Ackerman continuing as his crew chief. His best Truck Series points result is 53rd in 2025, with zero wins, zero top tens, and zero poles through his listed races.
Niece Motorsports Era (2022-Present)
Gould’s relationship with Niece Motorsports has been the through line of his national-series career. He first joined the team for his 2022 ARCA debut in the No. 40 Chevrolet and returned to the organization for his Truck Series debut in 2024. The team has fielded him in both the No. 41 and No. 44 entries as he continues to gain seat time at the national level.
Working with crew chief Tom Ackerman in the Truck Series program has given Gould a steady technical partner as he builds his craft. His current-season form reflects a development year, focused on completing races and learning the rhythms of the Truck Series schedule rather than chasing wins.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gould’s background is rooted in short-track Late Model racing, where drivers learn to manage close-quarters battles and tire conservation. That foundation tends to favor drivers who are patient in traffic and consistent over long runs. His partnership with crew chief Tom Ackerman at Niece Motorsports has given him a stable voice on the pit box as he adjusts to the higher speeds and longer races of national-series competition.
Notable Races and Milestones
His 2022 ARCA debut at the historic Milwaukee Mile stands as a signature milestone, marking his first start on a national touring series oval. The 2024 Truck Series debut at Milwaukee with Niece Motorsports represented his first NASCAR national series start, and his Late Model victories at Orange County Speedway, Florence Motor Speedway, and Hickory Motor Speedway remain his first feature wins.
Matthew Michael Gould Career Wins
Gould’s verified feature wins came during his Late Model stock car career, where he recorded three victories between 2021 and 2022. He has not recorded a win in any of the NASCAR national touring series or in ARCA competition, with his top results limited to top-ten finishes in ARCA.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Highlights
Gould has not yet posted a win, top-ten finish, or pole in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His best points result is 53rd in 2025, and his listed Truck Series races stretch from the 2024 LiUNA! 175 at Milwaukee through the 2025 eero 250 at Richmond. Each start has been part of a part-time development schedule with Niece Motorsports.
Other Wins and Performances
In ARCA Menards Series competition, Gould finished 49th in the 2022 standings with two top-ten finishes and no poles. In the ARCA Menards Series East, his best result was 47th in 2022 with one top-ten finish and no poles. His three Late Model wins at Orange County Speedway, Florence Motor Speedway, and Hickory Motor Speedway remain his most notable victories to date.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCA Menards Series | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| ARCA Menards Series East | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Matthew Michael Gould Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gould is the son of Phil Gould, a crew chief who currently leads the No. 45 truck team at Niece Motorsports. Phil Gould’s role on the pit box has given the family a direct connection to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series garage. That relationship helped open the door for Matthew to join Niece Motorsports for his ARCA and Truck Series opportunities.
Personal Life
Gould was born and raised in Mooresville, North Carolina, a town widely associated with professional stock car racing. He continues to be closely tied to the Niece Motorsports organization through his on-track role and his family’s crew chief presence in the shop. Public details about his life outside of racing remain limited.
2025 Season Performance
Gould’s 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season has been a part-time development campaign with Niece Motorsports, driving the Nos. 41 and 44 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs. He is credited with a 53rd-place position in the final Truck Series standings for the year, reflecting limited starts rather than a full-season points fight. With Tom Ackerman serving as crew chief, the focus has been on completing laps and building experience.
His listed 2025 Truck Series activity includes the eero 250 at Richmond Raceway, one of the newer additions to his national-series resume. Across the season, Gould has continued to log seat time at a variety of tracks, an important step for a young driver still refining his craft.
Looking ahead, the partnership with Niece Motorsports and crew chief Tom Ackerman gives Gould a clear development path. Continued starts in the Truck Series, combined with his prior ARCA and Late Model experience, position him to chase his first national-series top-ten finish in the seasons to come.
