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SPORTSFriday 19 February 2016
NASCAR’s next big thing could be 4-foot-4 Rico Abreu
DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP)
— Rico Abreu crashed a
Dale Earnhardt Jr. interview
to snap a selfie with NAS-
CAR’s most popular driver.
His caption on Snapchat:
“YES!!!!!! OMG Dale Earn-
hardt Jr.!!!!!”
Abreu was a bustling burst
of energy this week at Day-
tona 500 media day, crash-
ing Q&As, and pulling up
seats to chat up writers.
On the red carpet, Abreu
was a favorite — even as
journalists had to take a
knee to talk to him. On his
director’s chair seat, Abreu
charmed the media, his
feet dangling with room to
spare above the ground.
Yes, NASCAR’s next big
thing might be all of 4-foot- Abreu was born with
4 of Truck Series driver Rico achondroplasia, a genetic
Abreu.
“I’m uniquely different and
it’s great,” Abreu said.
Abreu has been great al-
ready over a brief racing
career that has produced
wins at marquee races at
every level he’s competed.
His victory burnouts are a
reason to race to YouTube
if you haven’t hit a Midwest
dirt track lately.
But the days of 100 races
Carli Lloyd leads 4 Americans
on international women’s team Midget national champion
The Associated Press
Midfielder Carli Lloyd is
among four Americans
chosen for the first Wom-
en’s World XI.
Lloyd’s hat trick led the
U.S. past Japan in last
year’s World Cup final.
She is joined on the team
by American goalkeeper
Hope Solo and defenders
Meghan Klingenberg and
Julie Johnston.
The international All-Star
squad was announced
Thursday by FIFPro, soc-
cer’s world players’ union.
Players from 33 nationali-
ties in 20 countries voted.
Other selections include
defenders Kadeisha Bu-
chanan (Canada) and
Wendie Renard (France);
midfielders Amandine
Henry (France) and Aya
Miyama (Japan); and for-
wards Eugenie Le Som-
a year mucking it up in the
dirt appear over. Abreu
has made the next step
on the national level and
makes his NASCAR debut
driving the No. 98 Toyota
of ThorSport Racing Friday
night at the Trucks opener
at Daytona International
Speedway. The only com-
pensation for his size is the The 24-year-old Abreu said
configuration inside the
truck.
The pedals are off the dash-
board bar, moving closer
to Abreu, and his seat is
moved up about 6 inches.
The steering wheel is closer
to his body because of his
short arms.
“(NASCAR) has approved
it all and said it was fine,” “My parents always pushed
Abreu said. “It’s comfort-
able and safe.”
disorder of bone growth
that results in abnormally
short stature.
His success as much as his
size has made him a fan
favorite and a popular per-
sonality in the garage.
Chip Ganassi, a team
owner in NASCAR, Indy-
Car and sports cars, sent
his second-ever tweet to
Abreu: “There’s a name
you’ll be hearing more of.
The United States’ Carli Lloyd, right, scores past Ireland goal-
keeper Emma Byrne during the first half in a women’s interna-
tional friendly soccer game Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, in San Di-
ego.
mer (France), Anja Mittag
(Germany) and Celia Sasic
(Germany).
Lloyd was voted FIFA Wom-
en’s Player of the Year last
month and earned the
Stay Tuned!” Driver Rico Abreu walks through the garage area before prac-
Ganassi Sprint Cup driver tice for Friday’s NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Daytona In-
Kyle Larson is close friends ternational Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 18,
with Abreu and they be- 2016. NASCAR’s next big thing might be all of 4-foot-4 of Truck
gan their racing careers in Series driver Abreu. He’ll compete Friday in the series opener
California. “It’s cool when
you grow up with him and Associated Press
now you are doing about
the same thing,” Larson
said.
he didn’t experience much
teasing growing up in Cali-
fornia about his size. He
played football and base-
ball as a kid and wrestled
until middle school. When
his friends kept growing dur-
ing the teen years, Abreu
fell in love racing custom
go-karts built by his father.
me to do things,” he said.
“If I knew I wasn’t capable
of doing it, I accepted it.
But if someone told me I
wasn’t capable, I sure as
hell don’t accept that.”
Abreu, who said he has
been victimized by cy-
berbullying about his size,
visits elementary schools
preaching acceptance
and telling kids to always
chase their dreams.
“That’s the best feeling of it
all, the accomplishments,”
he said. Oh, he’s racked up
accomplishments.
Abreu is the 2014 USAC series champion Matt Craf-
ton.
and a two-time defending Trucks are only a start for
Chili Bowl champion. He the pint-sized power who
earned his first career stock wants to reach new heights
car victory last July, rac- in motorsports.
ing to the win at Columbus “Growing up, I never knew
Motor Speedway in Ohio. any of this was possible,”
He said fans often stop him Abreu said. “It’s great to
before and after races to have the confidence to
say what an inspiration he know that all of this can
is. happen. I’d like to run the
Abreu will ditch the dirt for Indy 500. I’d like to run the
asphalt Friday night in a Daytona 500. I’d like to run
field that includes two-time the Rolex 24 Hours.”q
Associated Press
Golden Boot as top player
at the World Cup. Buchan-
an, who attends the Uni-
versity of West Virginia, was
voted Best Young Player at
the World Cup.q