June 1, 2016, St. Louis Region – Popular NASCAR Camping World Truck Series rookie Rico Abreu made a pit stop in the St. Louis area this afternoon to help promote the June 25 Drivin’ For Linemen 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park.

Abreu, driver of the No. 98 Safelite AutoGlass Toyota, appeared on three St. Louis-area television stations before departing to compete in his Sprint Car tonight at Gas City, Indiana.

Abreu never has raced on the 1.25-mile superspeedway but has won at many short tracks in the area. He is looking forward to competing at Gateway in a little more than three weeks.

“I’m excited. I feel Gateway has a lot of similarities to Phoenix. I raced there at the end of last year in my debut for the Truck Series,” said Abreu. “We had a lot of speed there so we’re going to bring that here. I’m getting a lot of input from my (ThorSport Racing) teammate Matt Crafton. He’s had a lot of success at Gateway and was really fast here last year. I’ll pick his brain during practice. It’s hard to say until you get out onto the track. That’s what we’re waiting for.”

Abreu, just 24 years old, already has established a winning reputation for himself. He’s won the coveted Lucas Oil Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma, twice (2015, 2016) — not to mention 45 World of Outlaws Sprint Car and USAC Midget Series races between 2015 and 2016.

Abreu told the local media he felt he was very close to winning his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and that it could come at Gateway.

“Yes, it definitely could come here. The restarts at pit stops at the end of the race get really exciting. You just have to have one big play in your favor and you could put yourself in a position to win the race.”

Tickets are on sale for the Drivin’ For Linemen 200, which is joined this year by the USAC Silver Crown Series and ARCA Midwest Tour. Spectator gates will open at 8 a.m.

Friday, June 24

5-6 p.m. — NASCAR garages open to the public.

6-10 p.m. — Party at the ‘Plex at the Gateway Kartplex (kart racing, music, entertainment). NASCAR drivers have been invited to participate.

Saturday, June 25

8 a.m. — Spectator gates open.

8:30-9:25 a.m. — First NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice.

9:30-10:20 a.m. — First USAC practice.

10:30-11:55 a.m. — Final NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice.

12:30 p.m. — USAC qualifying.

1 p.m. — ARCA Midwest Tour practice.

1:45-2:30 p.m. — NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver autograph session (infield area).

2:15 p.m. — ARCA Midwest Tour qualifying.

3 p.m. — USAC driver introductions.

3:30 p.m. — Vatterott College Silver Crown Showdown (USAC Silver Crown Series, 60 laps, 75 miles).

4:45 p.m. — NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Drivin’ For Linemen 200 qualifying (multi-vehicle, three rounds).

6 p.m. — Illinois Lottery Presents ARCA Midwest 50 (40 laps, 50 miles, timed event).

7 p.m. — NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver introductions.

7:30 p.m. — NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Drivin’ For Linemen 200 (160 laps, 200 miles).

Schedule is subject to change.

For tickets and information, please call GMP at (618) 215-8888 or visit www.gatewaymsp.com. Follow GMP on Facebook and Twitter.

The vision for the new Gateway Motorsports Park is to create a racing lifestyle that attracts enthusiasts, professionals, amateurs and car lovers by harnessing the energy and passion of the thousands of racing fans in the heart of the Midwest.

Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering nearly 200 acres, Gateway is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the region, encompassing a ¼-mile NHRA-sanctioned drag strip, 1.25-mile superspeedway, 1.6- mile road course, a state-of-the-art Karting facility and a new 14-acre, multi-purpose dirt off-road venue.