"This is one of the best opportunities I have been
given," said Abreu. "I appreciate the support and the hard work
that everyone at ThorSport Racing and Curb Records has put into all of
this for me to live my dream. I'm thankful to be a part of Duke's team and am
excited to race with all my ThorSport Racing teammates and crewmembers.
"My team, sponsors and fans will know that I'm giving 100%
effort every time I'm at the track and on the track. My goal is to get the most
out of every lap and every opportunity this season. I'm looking forward to
meeting new fans and representing ThorSport and Toyota well."
Abreu, 23, has already enjoyed a degree of success that most
drivers only dream about. Last season, the St. Helena, California native
competed in more than 100 events, with two major wins. After sweeping his Chili
Bowl Nationals preliminary night, winning his heat, qualifier and A-Main, he went
on to win the 29th annual Chili Bowl Nationals, one of dirt track racing's most
prestigious events.
The achievement introduced the talented racer to a new audience;
NASCAR. Making just his seventh-career start in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series
East, Abreu won at Columbus (OH) Motor Speedway in July. He concluded his
rookie season fifth in NKNPSE fpoints, earning three poles, and leading 119
laps en route to four Top-five and eight Top-10 finishes. He was also voted as
the series Most Popular Driver.
"Competing full time in the NASCAR K&N East Series
prepared me the most for this opportunity," said Abreu. "My first
time being in stock cars and getting a full season under my belt helped me
understand how to race and put together full races, longer races, than I was
used to running in open wheel cars."
In November, Abreu made his NASCAR national touring debut in the
NCWTS at Phoenix International Raceway and went on to compete in the
season-ending event at Homestead-Miami Speedway, earning a career-best finish
of 13th.
"Running the last two Camping World Truck Series races of
2015 was a huge help," continued Abreu. "I know what to expect now
compared to last year when I had no experience on tracks bigger than one
mile."
The NASCAR NEXT alum's 2016 campaign will be led by NCWTS veteran
crew chief, Doug George. Entering his 12th season in the series, George is
credited with five poles, two wins, 32 top-five and 65 to-10 finishes. ThorSport
Racing has competed in the Truck Series annually since 1996 and has
fielded at least one truck in 454 races, a series record.
"We look forward to Rico joining our race team in 2016,"
said Duke Thorson, owner of ThorSport Racing. "Rico has proven himself at
every level in racing to date, and is a winner and true racer in every sense of
the word. He brings a style and attitude that reflects who we are, and what we
are all about. We are prepared to give him every single opportunity to win, and
look forward to seeing what he can do in his first full-time season in the
Truck Series."
ThorSport Racing will kick off it's 21st season of completion in
the season-opening NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International
Speedway on Friday, Feb. 19. All the action will be televised live on FOX Sports
1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.
Additional sponsorship for the No. 98 Toyota Tundra will be
announced at a later date.
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