Niece Motorsports announced today (Saturday, March 23) that Angela Ruch will drive the No. 44 Chevrolet in 12 races this NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series season.
Welcome to the team @Angela__Ruch!
— Niece Motorsports (@NieceMotorsport) March 23, 2019
Ruch has competed in three NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series races in her career, two of which came this season driving the No. 8 NEMCO Motorsports Chevrolet. She began this season with an eighth place finish in the NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona International Speedway. She also finished 16th in the Strat 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
She also will star in a new TV docu-series this spring entitled “The Ruch Life,” which will focus on how she balances her racing career, her relationship with her husband, and her role as a mother as she and her husband recently adopted a new baby.
Angela Ruch will make her debut with Niece Motorsports at the Vankor 350 at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, March 29. Here is the remainder of her schedule with Niece Motorsports.
.@Angela__Ruch's #NASCAR Truck schedule:
Texas – March 29
Kansas – May 10
Charlotte – May 17
Texas – June 7
Chicagoland – June 28
Kentucky – July 11
Pocono – July 27
Michigan – Augt 10
Canadian Tire – Aug 25
Las Vegas – Sept 13
Talladega Oct 12
Homestead – Nov 15— Jim Utter (@jim_utter) March 23, 2019
Ruch, the 35-year-old niece of Derrike Cope, looks to improve upon Niece Motorsports strong start to the season. The No. 44 Chevrolet, which Ruch will drive, has been driven by Timothy Peters in the first three races of the season. Peters currently sits in 11th in the championship standings. Reid Wilson will drive the No. 44 Chevrolet in the TruNorth Global 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Of the remaining races this season, Niece Motorsports will need to find a driver for seven races for the No. 44 Chevrolet.
The team also fields the No. 45 Chevrolet, which has been driven by Ross Chastain in the first three races this season. Although Chastain is ineligible for Truck Series points, he has accumulated three Top 10 finishes and the No. 45 Chevrolet is in third place in the owner standings. Chastain will again drive the No. 45 Chevrolet in the TruNorth Global 250 at Martinsville Speedway. Reid Wilson will also drive the No. 45 Chevrolet at some point this season.
Mark Kristl joined Frontstretch at the beginning of the 2019 NASCAR season. He is the site's ARCA Menards Series editor. Kristl is also an Eagle Scout and a proud University of Dayton alum.