RPW Exclusive: Why The Rico Abreu and Tony Stewart Racing Merger Just Makes Sense
Column By: DYLAN TERRY / RPW – WATERTOWN, NY – Another shockwave was sent through the world of sprint car racing on Thursday afternoon, as Tony Stewart Racing and Rico Abreu Racing announced a merger of the two teams beginning in the 2026 season.
The duo announced that the #24 car will follow the entirety of the High Limit tour in 2026, with some World of Outlaws shows mixed in when the schedule allows.
The official press release reads:
“Rico Abreu will drive for Tony Stewart/Curb-Agajanian Racing beginning in 2026, driving the No. 24 winged sprint car fulltime in the Kubota High Limit Racing Series as well as in select, high-profile sprint car events throughout the United States.
TSR will operate under the High Limit Racing franchise currently held by Rico Abreu Racing. High Limit Racing has approved the lease of the franchise to TSR.
“Rico has proven to be a tremendous talent behind the wheel, but also a great ambassador for the sport,” said Tony Stewart, owner, TSR. “Rico and I have been good friends for a long time, and I’ve always admired the way he races. He competes with passion, and he is the gold standard for the way he represents his partners and the sport.
“Rico is the complete package, and we’re genuinely excited to have him join our program.”
Abreu is one of the most recognizable names in sprint car racing. The 33-year-old from St. Helena, California, currently leads the High Limit Racing championship standings thanks to a series-leading nine victories. He is the 2014 USAC National Midget champion and a two-time winner of the prestigious Chili Bowl Nationals.
“Driving for Tony Stewart Racing is a dream come true,” Abreu said. “Tony has built one of the most respected programs in all of racing, and having the chance to represent TSR feels like a huge reward. Tony has been a friend and mentor to me for many years, and to go racing with him in High Limit Racing is a surreal opportunity that I’m excited to begin.”
The partnership between Abreu and Stewart underscores TSR’s commitment to building on its legacy of success and competing at the highest level of sprint car racing.
Full details of team partners and the 2026 racing schedule will be released at a later date.”
While many are surprised by this move, it makes a lot of sense for both parties when you start breaking it down more closely:
FAN FAVORITES – With TSR having had so much success with former drivers like Steve Kinser, Donny Schatz, Danny Lasoski, and Kerry Madsen it is very evident that the team has become a household name that is synonymous in sprint car racing. When you pair this legacy with Rico Abreu, who has been one of the most successful and arguably the most popular driver in all of dirt racing over the past few seasons, it seems like a dream combination for marketing and sponsorship partners. This will allow both sides to sell a ton of merchandise off the track; while enabling them to also strengthen their relationship with existing sponsors both teams share such as Curb-Agajanian, and it also provides them with the opportunity to bring on more partners and support in future seasons.
MUTUAL RESPECT – Rico’s friendship with team owner Tony Stewart goes way back, and the duo has admired characteristics of one another from afar while sharing success in numerous types of race cars. Both have raced in NASCAR, with Tony being a multi-time champion in the Cup Series and Abreu having been a winner in the Craftsman Truck series. Both drivers have captured multiple Chili Bowl titles, which is another feat that not many can say they have done. Both drivers share an immense passion for the world of motorsports, demonstrated by their versatility in every car they both have driven over the years.
WARNER REUNITES WITH TSR – Abreu’s current crew chief Ricky Warner is a former employee of TSR and had the most successful stint of his career during that time. As the mastermind behind Donny Schatz’s historic stretch of dominance with the World of Outlaws, Warner now returns to a familiar environment with staff members and some equipment he previously has worked with. While he has been also quite successful on his own with Rico, the added familiarity and existing chemistry he has with TSR could propel the #24 to even higher levels in the 2026 season.
CLOSE PROXIMITY – Both existing race shops for RAR and TSR are currently located in Brownsburg, IN. This makes a merger like this very accessible, as only one building will be needed now. Because both shops are so close, it shouldn’t be a stressful or tedious process for the parties to come together into a single building. It should be an organized and smooth transition for all involved as the team gears up for a busy 2026 season.
In conclusion, this merger seems to be a very positive move overall for both sides involved, which in turn should generate some excitement and potentially attract some new fans to the sport that we all know and love. Be sure to be on the lookout for the TSR #24 to be near the front of the pack on a nightly basis throughout the entirety of the 2026 season every time they hit the track.
