Team Information:
Started: 27th
Finished: 11th
Laps: 130/130
Status: Running
Driver Points: 20th
Owner Points: 21st
Quote:
“We had a better Toyota Tundra than our finish. We got hung out on the outside a few times and I spun my tires. It gets really tricky on the outside, how slick it is. Overall, it was a good race and we were able to grab some spots with guys falling out. We were trying to make laps and finish. I got the high side going into 1 & 2 and that is where I made up a lot of ground. Atlanta is really slick and technical. It’s hard to keep your tires underneath you the longer the runs go. Hats off to my pit crew. I came off pit road and gained spots each stop. I am thankful to have a good pit crew that ThorSport Racing has set me up with. It was cool to have all the Safelite people here again, and I am looking forward to Martinsville in a few weeks.”
News & Notes:
- The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) had three practice sessions on Friday afternoon in preparation for Saturday’s Great Clips 200. Rico Abreu, driver of the No 98 Safelite/CURB Records Toyota Tundra was 19th, 18th, and 21st overall, respectively.
- In his track debut, Abreu started 27th and finished 11th in the 130-lap event at Atlanta (Ga.) Motor Speedway.
- Early in the race Abreu reported a tight-handling condition while running 18th.
- Crew chief Doug George would bring the No. 98 Safelite Toyota Tundra to pit road at laps 39, 61 and 107, respectively, for four tires and fuel.
- A solid pit stop on lap 39 by the ThorSport Racing over-the-wall crew allowed Abreu to restart ninth on lap 42.
- Around the halfway point Abreu reported a problem with his shifter and was forced to hold it in gear during the caution laps.
- On lap 60, Abreu reported that his Toyota Tundra was too loose on exit.
- With just over 30 laps to go, Abreu brushed the wall in Turns 1 & 2, but was able to keep racing.
- While running 10th, with less than 20 laps remaining, Abreu was able to miss a big wreck at the front of the field that involved four trucks including his ThorSport teammate, Matt Crafton.
- After a short red flag, the Safelite/CURB Records Toyota Tundra driver restarted 11th, with 15 laps remaining.
- Abreu fell back to 14th before the final caution flag flew on lap 124 for an accident in Turn 4.
- Abreu restarted 11th, with only two laps remaining, and was able to hang on to grab his career-best finish in four NCWTS starts.
- Abreu’s ThorSport Racing teammates finished second (Hayley), sixth (Rhodes), and 30th (Crafton)
- Up next: The Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Saturday, April 2, 2016