SALISBURY, N.C. — Reigning zMAX CARS Tour Pro Late Model Series champion Ben Maier joins Niece Motorsports to drive for the team in next weekend’s inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the St. Petersburg Street Circuit.
Maier, who hails from Annapolis, Md., has spent his career competing in several forms of motorsports. From his upbringing in go karts and micro sprint cars, then later moving into the Stadium Super Truck Series, to running door-to-door on short tracks and honing his craft on road courses, Maier has been touted as a noteworthy prospect due to his versatility.
The 17-year-old made his NCTS debut last June at Lime Rock Park, where he earned his best-career finish of 18th-place, and later made his second start at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL.
Supporting Maier’s efforts at St. Petersburg will be DQS Solutions & Staffing, J.F. Electric, and BOE Marine, who will each serve as co-primary sponsors on the No. 4 Silverado.
“I’m super excited to join Niece Motorsports for my third Truck Series start at St. Pete,” said Maier. “I think it’s going to be a fun race, and we should have a pretty fast truck there. We’ve been preparing a lot on the simulator, and I feel ready to go. Huge thanks to everyone at the team, Chevrolet, DQS Solutions & Staffing, J.F. Electric, and BOE Marine for making it happen.”
As a former Trans-Am race winner at World Wide Technology Raceway in Gateway, Maier is well-equipped to contend in next Saturday’s event. Though he has never raced at St. Pete before, Maier has plenty of experience competing on the streets of Long Beach, Nashville, and Detroit.
Maier is the second CARS Tour champion to be added to Niece Motorsports driver lineup, further emphasizing the developmental capabilities of the series. He joins reigning Late Model Stock Series champion, Landen Lewis, who will also make his first start of the year at St. Pete as Maier’s teammate.
“We are all looking forward to seeing what Ben can do in his first Truck Series race for our team at St. Pete,” said Cody Efaw, Niece Motorsports CEO. “I think it says a lot about our company to have both of last year’s CARS Tour champions driving for us, given the caliber of drivers who compete there on a regular basis. Ben has been eager to learn since he showed up at our shop, and I think he will do a great job for us.”
