ThorSport Racing drivers Rico Abreu and Matt Crafton were made available to the media at Texas Motor Speedway:
RICO ABREU, No. No. 98 Safelite Auto Glass/Curb Records Toyota Tundra, ThorSport Racing
What are your expectations for your first Texas race?
“I think they are pretty high after the last few weeks truck racing. I think between Dover and Charlotte, we had some solid runs, not just the greatest finishes. I think our trucks have a lot of speed as an organization right now at ThorSport with the 88 (Matt Crafton) running good, the 13 (Cameron Hayley) and the 41 (Ben Rhodes) are there as well as the 98. I’m excited.”
Has Matt Crafton given you any advice about racing at Texas?
“Quite a bit, more so on just the tire fall off. We’re running a new tire, same as the Cup cars ran earlier this year. Just the differences at all these tracks, it’s all new to me. Definitely good to get back and forth with him (Matt Crafton) on different grip levels from Charlotte to here. We had a day race in Charlotte, so the track was really hot and slimy, sliding around a lot and I felt you could move around a lot. Just watching the race (here) last year, I felt you could move around a lot here as well. I will pick Matt’s brain throughout practice here today and see where we finish.”
How valuable has Matt Crafton been to you as a teammate this season?
“He’s been huge, off the track, on the track, mountain bike riding – wherever we go. More so at the race track from these last three weeks of truck racing, he’s so detailed about everything he explains and describes and feels. He’s been doing it for a long time. I don’t expect anything else. Being able to run over to his truck out of practice or him come over and look under the splitter or work my crew chief Doug (George). ThorSport Racing in general is a great organization and everyone works really well together, which just keeps building the organization to what it is at today. I think Matt (Crafton) in general has so much to do with all that. At the end of the day, they are the ones that everyone goes to and ask questions or they are in your garage on your side of the shop helping you guys.”
Do you feel pressure to perform well based on your past success at the Chili Bowl?
“Not any expectations on mine. I’ve had a lot of success in open-wheel racing – Sprint Cars, Midget Cars, go karts and the K&N East series. I feel like the Truck Series is the next step and the success I’ve had so far. I haven’t been off results, but the people that have been around me and affiliated with me every weekend have seen it. I’m happy where I’m at right now. I’m not in any rush. I plan on being here for a long time.”
How would you describe yourself off the track?
“I just like to have fun and enjoy life. That’s what it comes down to and to be happy. You look around and look at us sitting up here how lucky we are to be here. As race car drivers, and that being our job. I am pretty hard on myself because I know how incredible of an opportunity I’ve been given. I try to take advantage of all these opportunities just because there’s someone out there that doesn’t get those opportunities and aren’t as lucky as we are all here. I’m happy where I’m at and enjoying every moment of it.”
MATT CRAFTON, No. No. 88 Menards/Ideal Door Toyota Tundra, ThorSport Racing
What about this track suits your driving style?
“I love the June race – it’s one of my favorites because you have to lift the most. You’re not running wide open for 15 laps. If you’re in clean air it puts the driver in the seat more because you have to modulate the throttle and do different things to make the truck fast. You can slip and slide and it reminds me more of Atlanta, and that’s one of my favorite race tracks and why I love coming to Texas. You can search, move around and just like Rico (Abreu) said, he was the only one in the rookie meeting asking anything about running the high line here, and I know where he’ll be tomorrow during the race.”
How do you think Rico Abreu has handled the fan attention he’s received?
“He’s done real well. He’s not really worried about that, he’s just driving a race car. At the end of the day, it’s about driving a car and having fun and putting on a good show. That’s what we are here to do for all the fans and the people that watch it on TV. He looks at that and he’s having fun, which is the most important thing. A lot of people get here and get stressed out and forget to have fun. We’re having fun. I know I am, and I know he is as well.”
What will be your approach to the rest of the season before the Chase now that you have two wins?
“I’m going to experiment, but we’re not going to get too far out of the box. We’ll try some things some weeks. We’re going to go try to win more than just two races before we get to the Chase. We don’t want to do anything stupid and finish 10th and be aggravated by that. We’re here to win races. If it’s not that good in practice, we’re not going to lead the race, but we’re definitely going to experiment some.”
