Sean Gardner, Getty Images
Race Information:
Started: 15th
Finished: 12th
Laps: 147/147
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/Curb Records Toyota Tundra, made his second career start at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS) in Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) Striping Technology 350. Starting 15th, Abreu was able to work his way inside the top-15 by lap 50, battling a free Toyota Tundra that got worse on the long runs. Running as high as ninth, but consistently inside the top-15 throughout the 147-lap event, the ThorSport Racing driver looked as though he would have another solid night in the “Lone Star State.” Unfortunately, a late-race pit road penalty, with less than 20 laps remaining, forced the Safelite driver to the tail end of the field in the final laps. Restarting 17th, Abreu was able to battle his way back to a 12th-place finish behind race winner, Johnny Sauter in the closing laps.
Rico Abreu Quote:
“We fought a loose Toyota Tundra throughout the entire race tonight. I feel like we made some gains on it there at the end of the race, but I threw a solid finish away by speeding on pit road. That’s just the ups and downs of this sport. I can’t thank Safelite AutoGlass, and Toyota for believing in me. Hopefully, I can keep putting together solid finishes for the final two races of the season.”
News & Notes:
- Due to rain on Thursday afternoon at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS), the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) only had one practice session on Friday morning in preparation for Friday night’s Striping Technology 350. Rico Abreu was 12th-quick of the 35 trucks that took time.
- Making his second career start at TMS, Abreu started 15th, ran as high as ninth, and finished 12th in the 147-lap event.
- In two starts at TMS, Abreu has one top-10 finish.
- In 21 starts in 2016, Abreu has led one lap en route to two top-five (Eldora & Talladega), and five top-10 finishes.
- In 23 career NCWTS starts, Abreu has led one lap en route to two top-five (Eldora), five top-10, and 10 top-15 finishes.
- Abreu’s ThorSport Racing teammates finished second (Crafton), 10th (Hayley), and 15th (Rhodes).
- Up Next: The Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday, November 11 at 10pm ET.