Following in the footsteps of his uncle, Carlos Contreras, Enrique Contreras III is poised to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) debut in this weekend’s Kroger 200 from Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
In a joint partnership between SS Green Light Racing and Rick Ware Racing, the younger Contreras will pilot the No. 07 RaceTrac Chevrolet Silverado in the highly anticipated 200-lap slugfest Saturday afternoon.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, RaceTrac has been serving guests since 1934 and now operates more than 370 convenience stores locations in Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Texas.
The 22-year old driver advances his career to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, after participating in the full 2014 NASCAR Toyota Series season, where four top-10 finishes contributed to his 18th place championship standings placement.
With the goal of acquiring seat time, Contreras, the 2011 NASCAR Toyota Series rookie of the year, will utilize his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut to strengthen his racing resume, but also make a bid for participation in further NCWTS races next season.
“I’m very humbled by the opportunity to make my NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut this weekend,” said Contreras. “Typically, the fall Martinsville race has been one of the most competitive short track races on the schedule, but we’re hoping to find ourselves in that mix with a lot of hard work and some luck.”
While the Mexico City, Mexico native has never competed in a national series race at Martinsville, he is determined to earn the respect of his competition, but also find his niche on the racetrack.
“Our goal is to finish the race on Saturday,” Contreras added. “You have to be prepared for anything. Sometimes, the races at Martinsville can by physical or calmer than normal. However, if we keep our initial goals in check, we should be able to give RaceTrac and everyone who supports us, something to be proud of when the checkered flag waves.”
Despite no prior starts at the 0.526-mile paved oval, the Hispanic is hoping that his prior experience in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East (NKNPSE), not to mention his racing campaign in his native country of Mexico will prove to be beneficial.
“Some will argue that the K&N Series has some of the stoutest competition in racing throughout the year and even though it may have been a little bit since I’ve run on the tour, I remember the races like yesterday. I’m used to competing on short tracks for most of my life, so I’m hoping what I’ve learned over the year will (hopefully) pay off in a truck. Most of all, I’m looking forward to learning a lot.”
Rick Ware, team principal of Rick Ware Racing and often known for developing new talent across NASCAR’s national series’ offered his thoughts on Contreras’s impending Truck Series debut.
“Enrique knows the challenges that competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series brings, but he’s a talented young-man with a lot of passion and motivation,” he said. “Collectively, we felt Martinsville was a good opportunity to turn some laps in a truck and learn from some of the best. We’re extremely thankful to have RaceTrac’s support this weekend. If we can take the green flag and see the checkered flag in relatively good shape, we’ll consider the weekend a success.”
The Kroger 200 is the 19th of 22 races on the 2014 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule. The event will be televised live on FOX Sports 1, MRN Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio Channel 90 on Saturday afternoon, October 25 beginning at 1:00 p.m. The green flag is scheduled to drop at approximately 1:46 p.m. All times Eastern.
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