Team Information:
Started: 24th
Finished: 4th
Laps: 94/94
Laps Led: 0
Status: Running
2016 Driver Points: 14th
2016 Owner Points: 16th
Rico Abreu Race Recap:
Rico Abreu, driver of the No. 98 Safelite AutoGlass Toyota Tundra, made his track debut at Talladega Superspeedway in Saturday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Fred’s 250. Starting 24th, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender worked his way through traffic, and overcame damage from the “Big One,” at lap 61, to finish fourth in the 94 lap event. The top-five result was Abreu’s second top-five finish of 2016 and the second of his young career.
Starting 24th, Abreu maintained a position inside the top-20 through the races first 60 laps. Newly appointed crew chief, Bud Haefele, brought the No. 98 Safelite AutoGlass Toyota Tundra down pit road, under caution, at laps 15, 37, and 44 for four tires, and fuel, and at lap 52 for fuel only. Unfortunately, Abreu received right-side damage to his Toyota Tundra on lap 61, following the “Big One,” which collected 14 trucks. Haefele brought the No. 98 machine to pit road for a final stop, for two tires and fuel, and Abreu restarted inside the top-15 at lap 68. Over the final 26 laps, the ThorSport Racing driver worked his way through traffic, and crossed the stripe in the fourth position behind race winner, Grant Enfinger.
Rico Abreu Quote:
“It was a good race. I just maintained there. My spotter worked me through all the crashes, and we made it through a majority of the big wrecks, although we got a little bit of damage there around lap 60. That’s just speedway racing though. I’m just happy to get a solid finish for this team, and everyone at Safelite AutoGlass.”
News & Notes:
- The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) had two practice sessions on Friday afternoon in preparation for Saturday’s Fred’s 250 at Talladega Superspeedway. Rico Abreu was 12th in the first session, and did not participate in the final practice session.
- Making his track debut at Talladega Superspeedway, Abreu started 24th, ran as high as fourth, and finished fourth. The top-five result was Abreu’s second career top-five finish.
- In 19 starts in 2016, Abreu has led one lap en route to two top-five (Eldora & Talladega), and five top-10 finishes.
- In 21 career NCWTS starts, Abreu has led one lap en route to two top-five (Eldora), five top-10, and nine top-15 finishes.
- Abreu’s ThorSport Racing teammates finished 19th (Hayley), 22nd (Crafton), and 24th (Rhodes).
- Up Next: The Texas Roadhouse 200 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, October 29 at 1:30pm ET.