Team Information:
Started: 20th
Finished: 10th
Laps: 255/255
Status: Running
Driver Points: 14th
Owner Points: 14th
Rico Abreu Race Recap:
The No. 98 Safelite/CURB Records Toyota Tundra driver started 20th and finished a career best 10th in Saturday’s Alpha Energy Solutions 250 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. Abreu, who was making his track debut at the “paperclip,” got shuffled back early on, but navigated his way through traffic battling a loose Toyota Tundra. Crew chief Doug George brought the No. 98 machine to pit road, under caution, for four tires and fuel at laps 93, 135, and 187, respectively. In the caution-filled final 59 laps of the 250-lap event, Abreu exercised patience as he worked his way up from 20th, to finish 10th – a career-best finish in five NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts.
Quote:
“I’m definitely happy with our Safelite Auto Glass Toyota Tundra team. Just a solid run. We put together a strong day. I started out slow, but we worked our way to the front there at the end. If we had some restarts go our way, we could have finished a little better – just the difference between starting on the outside and the inside. Just really tried to pace myself and not wear myself out. This track is really tough and I’m glad everyone had a good finish.”
News & Notes:
- The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series had three practice sessions on Friday afternoon in preparation for Saturday’s Alpha Energy Solutions 250. Abreu was 15th, 19th, and 29th, respectively
- In his track debut at Martinsville Speedway, Abreu started 20th and finished 10th – a career best finish in five NCWTS starts
- Abreu’s 10th-place finish was his career-first top-10 NCWTS result
- The ThorSport Racing driver was the second highest finishing Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender in Saturday’s race extended 255 lap event
- Abreu’s ThorSport Racing teammates finished seventh (Crafton), ninth (Hayley), and 16th (Rhodes)
- Up next: The Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway on Friday, May 6