Team Information:
Crew Chief: Doug George
Manufacturer: Toyota
Engine: Triad Racing Technologies
2016 Driver Point Standings: 15th
2016 Owner Point Standings: 16th
Sounding Off – Rico Abreu:
Your career-best NCWTS finish came at Texas Motor Speedway, another intermediate track, last month. Do you feel like you can be a strong contender for the win again this weekend?
“We had a really strong Safelite Toyota Tundra on that last long green-flag run at Texas. I had the momentum, just couldn’t keep it off the wall there at the end, and it cost us a win. I know we’ve had the speed all year, and done well at the intermediate tracks – especially Atlanta and Texas, so hopefully we can put it all together this week. With the new track repave, it makes for an even playing field, so hopefully we can get another good finish for all the Safelite guests that are coming out to support me Thursday night.”
News & Notes:
- Chassis Chatter… The No. 98 ThorSport Racing team will unload chassis No. 45 for Thursday night’s Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway. This is the same chassis that Abreu raced at Kansas Speedway (22nd), Iowa Speedway (18th), and Gateway Motorsports Park (14th) earlier this season.
- Off-Weekend Fun…Abreu raced his Sprint Car at Badlands Motor Speedway in Brandon, SD during the July 4th holiday weekend, finishing fourth on Sunday, July 3.
- Rookie Stripe… Abreu, who is competing for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in 2016, is currently fifth in the standings after nine races this season.
- Race Rewind – Gateway… Making his track debut at Gateway Motorsports Park in the NCWTS, Abreu started 23rd in a back-up truck, battled a tight Toyota Tundra throughout the 160-lap event, and finished 14th in the Drivin’ for Linemen 200.
Abreu’s 2016 NCWTS Stats:
- Starts: 9
- Top-5 Finishes: 0
- Top-10 Finishes: 2
- Best Start: 13th (Dover)
- Best Finish: 9th (Texas, June)
- Laps Completed: 1500 of 1516 (98.9%)
- Laps Led: 1
- Start: 18.6
- Finish: 17.2
Abreu’s Career NCWTS Stats:
- 11 starts since 2015
- 2 top-five finishes
- Best start: 13th (Dover, 2015)
- Best finish: 9th (Texas, June, 2016)
- Average Start: 17.7
- Average Finish: 17.8
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
Race Information:
Date: Thursday, July 7
Time: 8:30pm ET on FOX Sports 1
Track: 1.5-mile
Distance: 150 laps/225 miles