(Sean Gardner/Getty Images for NASCAR photo)
LAS VEGAS — For the first time in his career, Rico Abreu is standing above the rest of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series field on the speed charts.
Abreu finally led a national series preliminary session in his 20th career NCWTS appearance, topping final practice on Saturday afternoon ahead of the DC Solar 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The St. Helena, California native and long-time dirt sprint car and midget standout led the way with a lap of 30.577 seconds (176.603 mph) in the No. 98 Safelite Auto Glass/Curb Records Toyota for ThorSport Racing.
While his time was a shade off of Mike Skinner’s LVMS track record (30.326/178.065), Abreu does gain the satisfaction of joining his three ThorSport teammates in leading at least one practice session this season.
Opening practice leader Daniel Hemric was second (30.621/176.350) in Happy Hour, just ahead of Spencer Gallagher, who clocked in third (30.647/176.200).
All three manufacturers were represented among the practice podium, with Hemric’s Ford and Gallagher’s Chevrolet both within a tenth of a second of Abreu’s Toyota.
Matt Crafton and points leader William Byron completed the top five.
Cole Custer, John Wes Townley, Grant Enfinger, Timothy Peters and Ben Rhodes filled out the rest of the top 10 positions.
Chase contenders outside the top 10 included Christopher Bell (11th), Ben Kennedy (12th), Johnny Sauter (13th) and John Hunter Nemechek (17th).
Gallagher had the best 10-lap consecutive average during the one-hour session at a speed of 173.886 mph.
Qualifying for the DC Solar 350 rolls off at 6 p.m. ET, with live coverage on FOX Sports 2.
