Stewart’s Protégé Breaks Silence on NASCAR Truck Return

Tony Stewart’s return to the NASCAR Truck Series has brought an old question back into the spotlight: could his most accomplished dirt-track protégé follow him?

Stewart, a three-time Cup Series champion, ended a decade-long absence from NASCAR competition in February.

He drove Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 Ram at Daytona.

He returned for another outing at Talladega in October.

That made two Truck Series appearances during the 2026 season.

Now, his comeback has reopened the door to a possible return for one of his own star drivers.

Rico Abreu is that driver.

He addressed the possibility in a recent interview with Taylor Kitchen.

“If the opportunity’s right, I don’t think I would say no, but I think what I have to be personally careful with is creating other distractions that don’t necessarily run in line with what I have going on,” Abreu said.

Abreu is not ruling out another NASCAR Truck Series appearance.

But he is not actively looking to make one happen either.

His priorities are firmly rooted in sprint car racing.

He is chasing championships there.

He is building a brand that extends beyond his results on the track.

A NASCAR opportunity would have to fit into that bigger picture rather than pull him away from it.

That commitment has been strengthened by his partnership with Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing.

Abreu joined the organization for the 2026 season.

He took over the No. 24 sprint car in the High Limit Racing Series.

The move brought together two established names in dirt racing.

It also allowed Abreu to retain the core group that helped build his own operation.

Crew chief Ricky Warner, car chief Zack Middlebrooks and mechanic Brady Forbrook made the move with him.

That preserved the chemistry that had become central to his team’s success.

The partnership is also the culmination of a friendship that stretches back to 2012.

Abreu has spoken openly about Stewart’s influence on his career.

He recalled how the NASCAR champion offered him space to work after someone repeatedly broke into his shop.

Abreu was initially hesitant to accept the help because he had always valued being independent.

But Stewart made him feel welcome.

Abreu even stayed at Stewart’s place for several years during that period.

He has described Stewart as a friend and mentor who helped him develop confidence and taught him lessons about leadership.

Their professional relationship took years to materialize because both had established racing operations.

The timing finally worked in 2026.

Stewart has also praised Abreu’s ability to build a strong team and represent its partners.

That made the driver a natural fit for TSR’s next chapter.

For Abreu, the move is about more than having a competitive car.

He has spent years developing Rico Abreu Racing.

He built its infrastructure and invested in the business side of sprint car competition.

In April, he showed off a new 7,500-square-foot race shop on a three-acre property near Indianapolis.

The facility includes a machine shop, gym and dedicated space for the team’s equipment.

Abreu explained that after spending years renting facilities, he wanted to invest in something of his own.

His commercial partnerships are another part of that growth.

Carquest, SugarBee Apples, Waste Connections and Arc-Zone.com are among the brands supporting his 2026 program with TSR.

The organization also announced partnerships with FloRacing and other companies for the No. 24 entry.

For Abreu, maintaining those relationships and continuing to grow his profile are important parts of the work happening away from the racetrack.

His NASCAR experience, meanwhile, dates back to 2015.

Abreu made his Truck Series debut at Phoenix.

He then competed in the season finale at Homestead, where he finished 13th.

That led to a full-time opportunity with ThorSport Racing in 2016.

He drove the No. 98 Toyota.

He finished 13th in the championship standings.

His best result came at Eldora Speedway, where he finished third.

Abreu returned to ThorSport for a one-off appearance at Eldora in July 2017.

The dirt-track specialist had finished third there the previous year, making the event a natural opportunity to return.