Team Information:
Crew Chief: Doug George
Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Triad Racing Technologies
2016 Driver Point Standings: 17th
2016 Owner Point Standings: 18th
Sounding Off – Rico Abreu:
You’ve got a couple starts at Iowa Speedway. How do you approach this race versus a track you’ve never seen before?
“I feel like we’ll get up to speed a lot quicker in Iowa, because I feel like I have a line already figured out there that I like. I can focus on getting the truck good instead of working on finding the right line, and then getting the truck good. I’m excited for this weekend because we were really good there last year in the K&N car. It’s another track that has multiple grooves. The asphalt’s worn out, it’s had some strong winters, so the surface is really abrasive, and I enjoy those kind of tracks.”
We’re back to short-track racing at Iowa Speedway this weekend. Is Iowa a track you enjoy racing at?
“There’s a big bump getting in to Turn one, so however you get in there, you gotta be careful. I think it’s one of the best tracks we go to, honestly. In both of the K&N races there, it never disappointed – it was really exciting. You could do slide jobs, you could run the top, up by the wall, you could run the middle, you could run the bottom. So, you know, it’s one of those tracks it would be cool to see a cup series race at, and it’s definitely one of my top five favorite tracks.”
News & Notes:
- Chassis Chatter… The No. 98 ThorSport Racing team will unload chassis No. 45 for Saturday night’s Speediatrics 200 at Iowa Speedway. This is the same chassis that Abreu raced to a 22nd-place finish earlier this season at Kansas Speedway.
- Hawkeye State Stats… Abreu, who will be making his 10th career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) start on Saturday, has two previous starts at Iowa Speedway in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2015. In his track debut (May), the Rutherford, California native started 17th and finished 18th, due to a wreck. In his last start at the .875-mile track, Abreu started on the pole, led 23 laps, and finished third.
- Rookie Stripe… Abreu, who is competing for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in 2016, is currently fifth in the standings after seven races this season.
- Race Rewind – Texas… Making his track debut at Texas Motor Speedway, Abreu started 13th, ran as high as second, even contended for the race win on the last lap, but tagged the wall, and finished ninth.
Abreu’s 2016 NCWTS Stats:
- Starts: 7
- Top-5 Finishes: 0
- Top-10 Finishes: 2
- Best Start: 13th (Dover)
- Best Finish: 9th (Texas, June)
- Laps Completed: 1140 of 1156 (98.6%)
- Laps Led: 1
- Start: 18.6
- Finish: 17.6
Abreu’s Career NCWTS Stats:
- 9 starts since 2015
- 2 top-five finishes
- Best start: 13th (Dover, 2015)
- Best finish: 9th (Texas, June)
Abreu’s Career Stats:
- 2011 360 Winged Sprint Car Series Rookie of the Year
- 2012 won the Trophy Cup at Thunderbowl Raceway
- 2012 USAC National Midget Series Rookie of the Year
- 2013 & 2014 Belleville Midget Nationals Winner
- 2013 4 Crown Nationals Winner at Eldora Speedway
- 2013 & 2014 Johnny Key Classic Winner – One of five drivers to win back-to-back titles
- 2013 USAC Gold Crown Midget Nationals
- 2014 USAC Midget National Champion
- 2015 Chili Bowl Nationals Winner
- 2015 Pepsi Nationals Winner
- 2015 NASCAR K&N Series Most Popular Driver
- 2016 Chili Bowl Nationals Winner