Tyler Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and in Lucky 13! (Photo Credit: Niece Motorsports | X)

Lucky 13 rides along with the driver who qualifies 13th, keeping an eye on how their race unfolds. This driver could be sent to the back of the pack and still pull off a victory, or their luck could take a nosedive early in the race. With luck on their side – or against them – anything can happen! So, grab your four-leaf clovers, your lucky horseshoes, and maybe even a rabbit’s foot for the latest Lucky 13! Will it be fortune or misfortune? Let’s find out!

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship

Driver: Tyler Reif
Organization & Number: Niece Motorsports, #41
Crew Chief: Mike Shiplett
Spotter: Stevie Reeves

Stage 1

In his series debut, Tyler Reif qualified P13 but immediately moved up a position when Layne Riggs was forced to the rear for unapproved adjustments. As drivers took it five- and six-wide, the caution immediately waved on the opening lap as Dawson Sutton collided with Daniel Hemric.

Despite the chaos, Reif restarted P12 on Lap 7, and he immediately catapulted into the top 10. On Lap 11, he settled into P11 with some guidance from Spotter, Stevie Reeves.

(Photo Credit: Niece Motorsports | X)

As the run ran long, Reif fell to P19. Reeves said, “Think about what you need. We’ll get you fixed up.”

As Chandler Smith took to the pits, Reif gained a position. He held on to P18 until Riggs worked his way around him with two to go.

He finished the stage P19 and gave an update on the handling of his truck.

Stage 2

Following a pit stop and a quick debrief with his spotter, he returned to the track in P19.

(Photo Credit: Niece Motorsports | X)

Reif immediately went three-wide on the restart, and while he put up a fight, he fell to P20. On Lap 90, he worked his way around Matt Crafton to return to P19.

Halfway through the stage, he was running P18 and settled in to learn the truck.

In the closing laps of the second stage, he fought hard to hold off Crafton and finished the stage in P18.

Stage 3

His crew gained him three spots on pit road, setting him up P15 with 51 to go. After chaotic three-wide action, Reif settled in at P16 and was battling between Cole Butcher and Andres Perez.

(Photo Credit: Niece Motorsports | X)

The caution waved with 40 to go when Clay Green spun out. Crew chief Mike Shiplett made a last-second call to bring Reif to the pits. Reif lined up P13 on fresh tires with 33 to go, and immediately found himself four-wide, and then the caution waved, followed by the red for clean-up.

Reif was running P14 at the time of the red, and the team discussed the plan moving forward. The team opted to remain on track and restarted P10 with 28 to go.

Following a brief stint in the top 10, he fell to P11. As Tyler Ankrum worked around him, he lost another spot. But in the subsequent laps, Reeves encouraged his driver, and he stayed in the fight, working to hold off Tanner Gray.

With 11 to go, Gray got around Reif, putting the Lucky 13 driver back in P13. However, six laps later, he returned to P12.

Suddenly, the caution waved as Connor Mosack slowed with a tire issue. This forced NASCAR Overtime.

NASCAR Overtime (x2)

Reif noted he was happy with the truck, and Shiplett brought his driver to the pits for fresh tires only. This had Reif lining up P17, but he was told, “It’ll be a cluster up front,” for the two-lap shootout.

At one point, trucks were seven-wide.

As a result, before the white could wave, there was a pileup, and another red flag.

As the team discussed who should be where in the lineup, Shiplett said, “Don’t worry about it, buddy. There’s a storm coming, and there’s a 41 on the door.”

Engines re-fired, and Reif was running P11 when the green waved for the second overtime restart.

The checkered waved, and Rief brought it home P9 for his first-ever Truck Series race. Reif was encouraged by Reeves and Shiplett following his debut performance.

(Photo Credit: Niece Motorsports | X)

NASCAR fans know sponsors make the sport go ’round. We want to give a shout-out to McLaren Transport. They played a huge part in the weekend for the No. 41 team.

Be sure to give Tyler Reif (Facebook, X) and Niece Motorsports (Facebook, Instagram, X) a follow to keep up with the latest news from the driver and team.