Abreu getting used to NASCAR life

NEWTON - Before Jan. 17, Rico Abreu was a racecar driver known almost exclusively to the dirt racing world.

Sure, he stood out - both for his talents behind the wheel of a Sprint Car and for his 4-foot-4, 95-pound stature. But, relatively, his life and career were calm.

That changed on a Saturday night in Tulsa, Okla., when he won the prestigious Chili Bowl, an indoor Midget car race that has brought in the likes of Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kenny Wallace. The victory vaulted him straight to the forefront of motorsports conversation in the weeks leading up to the Daytona 500 and start of NASCAR national and touring series.

'The Chili Bowl was the biggest win of my career. I've had a lot of publicity after that; a lot of media attention,” Abreu said. 'I feel like I've dealt with it really well. At some point, you're going to have these big moments in your career, and it's all in how you handle yourself.

'I feel like I've done a good job not getting too excited or being too quiet about it. It's all things I've never experienced before, and it's been really cool to experience those moments.”

It didn't take long for car owners outside the dirt ranks to take notice of the former World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year.

He signed a deal to compete in the K&N Pro Series East division with HScott Motorsports after the big win, having never competed in a stock car on asphalt. The 23 year-old was named to the NASCAR Next class for 2015-16 last week and comes into Iowa Speedway with two top 10s in his No. 98 K&N Pro Series car.

Abreu is good friends with NASCAR Sprint Cup racer Kyle Larson, as well as many other NASCAR racers from California who started on dirt, but before starting the asphalt process hadn't been around many of the people in the NASCAR garage.

'My biggest thing is being around all the people,” Abreu said. 'I've never been around all these people - everyone on my K&N team, in the shop, and now with the NASCAR Next program. Getting to know all these people has been the coolest thing for me.”

Abreu added the full slate of 14 K&N Pro Series East races for 2015 - which includes two stops at Iowa Speedway, starting Saturday - and also will still be in his Sprint Car in the neighborhood of 70 races this year.

He said he struggles with calling any of what he's gotten to do and is going to get to do hard, but if anything it's been trying to find a few quiet moments where he isn't on the go.

'At the NASCAR races, you're really busy, and I'm not used to that - being so busy,” Abreu said. 'Going from autograph session to back in the racecar to another autograph sessions. That's the thing, knowing where you've got to be.

'It gets difficult at times, but as long as I fit a little nap in between things, I'm fine with it.”

His racing schedule is just one part, as he does outreach at elementary schools and at other venues for kids to help teach kids about how to treat people who are different from them, and how physical stature or looks don't have to define them and their future.

With his career trajectory pointing upward, he's proof positive.

'It's been really unique, going to all these different schools,” Abreu said. 'I've spoken to them about anti-bullying and where I came from and my background. I just want to educate kids on accepting people who are obviously different and how to go about it.

'I feel like I get better at getting my message across the more I do it because my whole life I've grown up not knowing I was any different from anyone else. It's all new to me and I enjoy doing it.”

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