Abreu was emphatic, he’s not giving up his dreams of racing in motorsports' big leagues. During his formative years as a racer, those dreams included the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.

So after learning of a setback in NASCAR, would he try his skills in the IndyCar Series?

“My goals from Day 1 — that I’ve always said to everybody — my goals are to run the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500, and I just want to win races on top of all that.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m winning races in sprint cars, if I’m winning races in midgets, if I’m winning races in non-winged sprint cars, if I’m winning NASCAR truck races — which I know I can do. I’ve had a lot of speed. I just never put a whole race together. The biggest thing is about putting those puzzle pieces together. And I wouldn’t say no to any good opportunity.”

Abreu’s close friend Bryan Clauson competed in the Indy 500 three times. His third start came last May where he finished 23rd driving for Dale Coyne. Less than three months later, Clauson died on Aug. 7 from injuries sustained in the Belleville (Kan.) Midget Nationals. In October, Clauson was posthumously named IndyCar's Most Popular Driver.

“Clauson did run (the Indy 500), but he’s up there with all the elite drivers,” Abreu said.

Abreu is no slouch when it comes to midget racing either. The 25-year-old St. Helena, Calif., native won the 2014 USAC Midget National championship, the 2014 Belleville Midget Nationals and the last two Chili Bowl Nationals.

Following a full season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, where Abreu won at Columbus (Ohio) Motor Speedway and posted three poles, four top fives and eight top 10s in 14 starts, he advanced to the Camping World Truck Series. After 23 starts in the No. 98 ThorSport, the rookie driver earned two top fives and five top 10 finishes.

“Initially, my path was to race whatever,” Abreu said. “I don’t want people to think I’m sitting here, quitting or giving up on anything. Once we find a situation that works for me, it what we’ll push for.

“I have good people behind me. It’s just a matter of putting everything together. It’s like a puzzle. And you have to put every piece together. And if there’s pieces missing, the puzzle isn’t complete.”