Rico Abreu held off a spirited challenge from Tyler Thomas to win Wednesday night’s A main and advance to Saturday night’s Chili Bowl Nationals feature.
Kevin Thomas finished third. All three advanced to Saturday night’s finale.
Abreu has made 26 career starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He drove the entire season in 2016 but made only one Truck start last season. He won the Chili Bowl Nationals main event in 2015 and 2016.
JJ Yeley placed eighth in Wednesday’s A main. Donny Schatz, who drives for Tony Stewart’s World of Outlaws team, placed 23rd in the 24-car field.
Action continues Thursday. Among those scheduled to compete are 2017 Truck Series champ Christopher Bell, C.J. Leary in a car owned by Cup driver Alex Bowman, and Tanner Thorson in a car that features the partnership of Richard Childress Racing and Dooling Hayward Motorsports.
I feel like these guys don’t get enough credit for the work they do preparing their cars to compete for wins night in and night out! I’m truly thankful to drive for them! @KeithKunz @PWilloughby71 pic.twitter.com/oyZMLL0OqM
— RICO (@Rico_Abreu) January 11, 2018