Team Information:
Started: 20th
Finished: 26th
Laps: 194/200
Laps Led: 0
Status: Running
2016 Driver Points: 14th
2016 Owner Points: 15th
Rico Abreu Race Recap:
Rico Abreu, driver of the No. 98 Safelite/Curb Records Toyota Tundra, made his track debut in the rain delayed NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) Wednesday night. Showing speed in both practice sessions, Abreu made it to Round 2 in the unique, three-round NCWTS qualifying session, before a spin, and contact with the wall, forced the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender to a back-up truck for the 200-lap event.
Starting from the rear of the 32-truck field, Abreu was able to work his way into the top-25 by lap 20, and was scored 12th by lap 50. Complaining of a Toyota Tundra that was, “loose through the center,” the ThorSport Racing driver was able to maintain a position inside the top-20 for the first-half of the 200 lap event. However, at lap 103, Abreu radioed into his crew that he had no power, and lost valuable track position, as he brought his Safelite Toyota Tundra to the attention of his crew, while under green. Scored 28th, multiple laps down to the race leaders, Abreu would continue making laps around the .533-mile track, gaining experience, and every position he could obtain on the race track, before crossing the stripe in the 26th position, six laps down, to race winner Ben Kennedy.
Quotes:
“This just wasn’t our day. The guys worked so hard to get this back-up truck ready after the incident in qualifying, and I can’t thank them enough for that. We had to start at the rear of the field, and were just biding our time, being patient working our way through traffic. I just hate it for my guys, Toyota, and all the Safelite guests that came out to support us tonight. Hopefully, I can have some solid runs for them moving forward.”
News & Notes:
- The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) had two practice sessions on Wednesday in preparation for the UNOH 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Rico Abreu was 3rd, and 8th, respectively, in both sessions.
- Making his track debut at BMS in the NCWTS, Abreu was forced to a back-up truck for the 200-lap event due to a spin in Round 2 of NCWTS qualifying on Wednesday afternoon. Abreu ran as high 12th, and finished 26th.
- In 13 starts in 2016, Abreu has led one lap en route to one top-five (Eldora), and four top-10 finishes.
- In 15 career NCWTS starts, Abreu has led one lap en route to one top-five (Eldora), four top-10, and eight top-15 finishes.
- Abreu’s ThorSport Racing teammates finished 24th (Hayley), 30th (Rhodes), and 32nd (Crafton).
- Up Next: The Careers for Veterans 200 at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, August 27.