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NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver Rico Abreu:

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Rico Abreu does not have the typical racer’s story. He didn’t grow up in a racing family. He didn’t get behind the wheel of a kart or quarter midget at a young age. Rico was, according to modern standards in racing, a little late to the game. None of this affected his career, however, as Rico has posted wins in every car he’s sat in. From karts to midgets to winged sprint cars and now NASCAR stock car racing, he continues to break the racing mold.

Rico first competed in a kart at the age of 15 and turned his first laps on a dirt track that his family built in the backyard of their Northern California home. For nearly two years, Rico honed his skills on the track until making his first competitive start in which he finished fourth. He finished that season, at the age of 17, with his first win at Cycleland Speedway, near Chico, Calif.

In 2011 Rico made the jump to midget racing as well as 360 and 410 ci winged sprint car competition, where he was named the 360 ci Rookie of the Year by the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum. The following year he earned his first sprint car victory at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico and earned USAC Midget Rookie of the Year honors. 2012 proved to be successful for Rico, as captured his first sprint car victory at Silver Dollar Speedway. Rico continued on this career path and found great success, earning the 2014 USAC National Midget Championship, multiple World of Outlaws wins and the prestigious Belleville Midget Nationals title. Over a three-year span, Rico tallied 45 wins between winged, non-wing and midget competition.

Rico’s 2015 race season saw him capture some major career milestones. Rico won the 29th annual Chili Bowl Nationals, one of dirt track racing’s most prestigious events. Rico also climbed into a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East car for the first time. He won his first NASCAR race, at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway, in just his seventh-career NASCAR start. With four top-five and eight top-10 finishes in 14 starts, Rico completed his rookie season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East fifth in the final point standings. Abreu also made two starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) in 2015.

The 2016 season started in a familiar way for Rico, as he captured the 30th annual Chili Bowl Nationals, his second-straight Chili Bowl championship. Rico will compete full-time in the 2016 NCWTS, driving the No. 98 Safelite AutoGlass Toyota Tundra and competing for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors for ThorSport Racing.

Rico was born with achondroplasia, the most common cause of dwarfism, which encourages him to inspire other people to pursue their dreams. Rico speaks at elementary schools about acceptance, anti-bullying and embracing people’s differences. Rico is also active in farming and has formerly raised pigs as part of his 4-H involvement. His future goals include competing in both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500.

Career Highlights:

• 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
• 2014 USAC Midget National Champion
• 2015 Chili Bowl Winner
• 2015 Pepsi Nationals Winner
• 2015 NASCAR K&N Series Most Popular Driver

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