18-year-old driver Matt Gould will be making his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Niece Motorsports in Martinsville.
Racing runs in the family; Phil Gould, Matt’s father, is not only a former racer but also serves as the esteemed crew chief for the No. 45 team at Niece Motorsports. This familial legacy has undoubtedly influenced Matt’s journey into professional racing, establishing a foundation upon which he can build his driving career.
Gould’s early ventures in racing began with competitions in Outlaw Karts on dirt tracks, where he amassed over 80 feature race victories at Millbridge Speedway. He then transitioned onto asphalt, displaying his performance by bagging his first Late Model Stock Car win at Orange County Speedway in 2021, followed by additional victories at Florence Motor Speedway and Hickory Motor Speedway.
In 2022, Gould made a significant mark by debuting in the ARCA Menards Series at just 16 years old. His performance at the Milwaukee Mile and later at Toledo Speedway made heads turn, as he achieved top-10 finishes in both races. Despite facing challenges such as technical issues at Bristol Motor Speedway, Matt continued to demonstrate his potential.
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Gould’s history with Niece Motorsports is deeper than simply being a driver. During his high school years, he honed his technical skills as a mechanic at the team’s shop. After graduating high school, he joined Niece Motorsports full-time, contributing significantly to the road crew and working in various mechanical roles.
Confirming that Gould would be making a return to the No. 44 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado at Martinsville, the team posted to social media:
“Back for one more! @itsmattgould will pilot the #44 at @MartinsvilleSwy next week with Niece Equipment on board.”
Gould also posted to social media:
“Super thankful for another opportunity in the Truck series. We were the 6th fastest truck at Milwaukee up until our issues, so looking forward to seeing what we got at Martinesville!” [sic]
The Martinsville Truck Series race is set to take place on Friday 1 November. Speaking earlier in the year about the opportunity, Gould commented:
“It means everything. I’m only 18 years old, but I feel like I’ve worked my whole life to get here. It’s really cool to do this with my family at Niece Motorsports, and it’s been cool to work on the truck with my dad. It’s going to be weird racing against him, but I’m really excited for a new opportunity.”
He added:
“You just learn discipline. Hickory is very rough and worn out, so you have to take what the car gives you. The Late Models around here have a lot of horsepower and don’t really weigh much, so they dance around the race track. You’re really driving a street car that’s set up for racing.”
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Current Playoff Standings
- Grant Enfinger – +18
- Corey Heim – +30
- Christian Eckes – +29
- Ty Majeski – +5
On The Bubble: - Rajah Caruth – -5
- Taylor Gray – -13
- Nicholas Sanchez – -20
- Tyler Ankrum – -23
