To those who know both, a partnership between Rico Abreu and Tony Stewart seemed inevitable, but it’s still a bit of a shock given all the moving parts that were required before making it a reality.
There are so many headlines to emphasize with this announcement.
- Rico Abreu will drive for Tony Stewart Racing next season
- Tony Stewart Racing will move from World of Outlaws to High Limit
- RAR’s infrastructure will become the new TSR
- TSR is leasing the RAR High Limit charter (franchise)
But beyond the headlines, this is about the culmination of 13 years’ worth of friendship between Abreu and Stewart, and two parties that bring something the other doesn’t currently have.
It’s about want and not need.
In the aftermath of TSR parting ways with the legendary Donny Schatz, Stewart wanted a driver and someone to truly justify the continued existence of the program. Abreu is a brilliant marketer that has methodically built a team that is on the verge of winning High Limit championships.
Abreu could use a foundation that allows him to focus more on race craft and less on resource acquisition. Stewart has built-in partners and just wanted a driver that could slide into the championship winning, crown jewel contending legacy established by Schatz.
How this deal came together
To have two really close friends be able to bring those things to each other makes it all the sweeter.
“Over the last decade or so of friendship, Tony and I would talk about finding a way to do something together,” Abreu told Motorsport before the announcement. “We’ve thrown a lot at the wall over the years but it was always if I found the funding or if he started a second full-time team. Then it was tricky because we both had teams with incredibly established identities.”
Abreu said he made the call first.
“I called him and ran the idea by him that we could bring my entire team with me and run it under the TSR banner,” Abreu said. “I showed him my infrastructure. I pitched him on how the personality of TSR and Rico Abreu Racing could work together. He said he would think about it.”
And then he called back and the details were sorted out.
“For me, it’s just the chance to race for championships and crown jewels with one of the most successful teams in the modern history of the sport,” Abreu said. “It’s about having all the resources and to get the job done behind the wheel.”
While TSR will retain some of its infrastructure, Abreu will bring over crew chief Ricky Warner, who spearheaded 10 World of Outlaws championships and 10 Knoxville Nationals with Schatz before joining RAR in 2022.
Car chief Zack Middlebrooks and tire specialist Brady Forbrook will also make the jump to the new-look TSR, which will now be branded No. 24, which was the subject of some back-and-forth.
Tony Stewart
Stewart wanted his trademark No. 14 while Abreu felt like so much of his identity was tied into the No. 24. So instead, it will be a No. 24 but in a familiar Smoke font.
The timing is interesting because Abreu is the current High Limit driver and owner’s championship leader. He has won nine races on the tour and 16 overall Winged 410 victories in 56 starts.
This is a career season for Abreu and the case could be made that he doesn’t have to join forces with Stewart. To wit, the Abreu and Stewart partnership is also about High Limit and the big picture goals for those two figures into what that sanctioning body is working towards.
“You look around at the growing landscape of Sprint Car racing and High Limit and the impact potential is huge,” Abreu said. “You look at what High Limit, Brad and Kyle, Mark Floreani have built and the value of being apart of this is starting to become. Like, a franchise is probably about to become available and what that is worth due to the guaranteed revenue built into it.
“And that’s the other cool thing about us racing for the championship this year, racing to become the top seeded franchise and the value that comes with that. I’m really proud to be a part of this and to see Tony Stewart Racing become a part of this too.”
But again, above all else, Abreu has long wanted to work with Stewart as the culmination of a friendship that started at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in 2012.
“People see the other side of Tony Stewart,” Abreu said. “The part of him that is a gruff hard ass but all I’ve ever seen from Tony is kindness. Someone kept breaking into our shop and Tony told me to come over and work out of his place and I was reluctant to at first.
“My dad always taught me to be really independent, to not expect someone to do something for you, but I learned how genuine Tony was. I ended staying at Tony’s place like five years in a row. I learned a lot about Tony during that stretch.
“He always treated me respect. He respected me as a racer. I haven’t always had confidence, as a little person, believing that I fit in here but he always made me feel like I belonged. I learned a lot about leadership from Tony. And above all else, when we got done doing (Dale Jr. Download), I just sent him a thank you text for all of that because I don’t know that I would have made it without people like him who made me feel welcome here in the first place.”
