Photo Credit: Contreras Motorsports
It’s often said that racing is a family affair, and that will ring true at Gateway Motorsports Park this weekend as Enrique Contreras III is set to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season debut for his uncle, Carlos Contreras.
Carlos Contreras is a familiar name in the NASCAR garage as a driver. Since 1999, he’s started 108 races between the NASCAR XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series, but this year, he became the first national series owner from Mexico. Contreras started two races this year as a driver before letting Mike Bliss drive for a few races, but now his nephew will take his turn at the wheel.
The race at Gateway will be Enrique’s first in the Truck Series since 2014 at Martinsville Speedway where he finished 20th driving for Rick Ware Racing. He also has one XFINITY Series start at Phoenix International Raceway last year where he finished 34th.
In addition to his two national series starts, the younger Contreras also has 47 NASCAR Mexico Series starts where he won Rookie of the Year honors in 2011. He has a best career finish of seventh in that series twice.
The goal for Contreras this weekend in the No. 71 MOTUL Chevrolet Silverado is to gain experience to run more races this season, and possibly build towards a full-time campaign in 2017.
