Tony Stewart's decision proves right as Rico Abreu wins in High Limit Racing and hints at Truck Series entry

Tony Stewart made a bold move, and now it is already paying off. Rico Abreu has given Tony Stewart Racing a strong start in High Limit Racing, and people are taking notice. Just a few races into the 2026 season, the decision already looks right.

This was not just another team change. When Tony Stewart brought Rico Abreu in last year, it felt like a big risk. Many saw it as a gamble that could either change the game or fail badly. But now, things are moving in the right direction.In only their fourth race together, Abreu delivered a big win at Central Arizona Raceway. That result has quickly changed the early season story. It also showed that Stewart’s plan is working faster than expected.

The team is not just competing. They are winning. And because of this strong start, new doors are also opening for Abreu. His performance is not only helping Stewart’s team, but also putting his name into bigger conversations, including NASCAR.

Rico Abreu rewards Tony Stewart gamble with High Limit Racing win as NASCAR path opens after Kyle Larson rivalry spotlight

Rico Abreu did not take long to prove his value. At Central Arizona Raceway, he drove the No. 24 car to victory in the Cactus Classic race in High Limit Racing. It was only his fourth race with Tony Stewart Racing, but he looked fully in control.

The race itself was not easy. Big names like Brad Sweet, James McFadden, Brian Brown, and Ryan Timms all dropped out early. That left a close fight between Abreu and Tanner Thorson.Thorson led for a long time. But everything changed after a restart on Lap 14. Abreu saw his chance, made his move, and took the lead. After that, he stayed calm and pulled away to win by 2.697 seconds.After the race, Abreu explained his approach. He said, “I knew the harder I drove my car, it was interesting tonight, you know, the slower it was, so I really had to back my corners up and allow the tire to work and just make sure we kept our momentum up throughout the race.”That smart thinking helped him secure his 26th career High Limit Racing win. He also earned $10,000 for the victory. Behind him, Tanner Thorson finished second again, showing strong form. Daison Pursley impressed too, moving from 10th to finish third.Now, there is more to the story. Tony Stewart’s recent return to NASCAR has also created new ideas for drivers like Abreu. Stewart raced again at Daytona in 2026, and that caught everyone’s attention.Abreu spoke about it openly. He said, “I would jump on the horse. You know, I would be very specific about what track we go to. I love what Chris Rice is doing with that race team. I just think that it has to, right now for me, sprint car racing comes first, but I would definitely entertain, you know, running a truck series race.”This shows that while sprint racing is still his main focus, he is thinking about NASCAR too. Teams like Kaulig Racing, working with Chris Rice, are now giving chances to drivers from different backgrounds.

Their flexible system makes it easier for drivers like Abreu to try new formats without leaving their main career.Tony Stewart has played a big role in this shift. By stepping back into a truck himself, he showed that drivers can move between series and still perform well.For now, Abreu is focused on winning races. But if this strong run continues, a NASCAR appearance may not be far away.