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MAY STARTS HOT FOR ABREU BUT ENDS MONTH WITH HIM SLIDELINED Saint Helena, California. June 1, 2014. Continuing the hot start to his 2014 racing season, Rico Abreu opened May with another big win as he captured his second straight Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway. Other top runs around the country also kept Abreu high in the monthly worldwide driver rankings in National Speed Sport News, as he lost only one place from the previous month, placing second this time around to Supercross champion Ryan Villopoto. However, by the end of the month Abreu’s sizzling pace of early season success was overshadowed by an injury that has sidelined the California hotshoe for the time being. Bradway weekend began with Silver Dollar Speedway holding a regular point series race with an enhanced purse and larger than normal field of 35 cars on hand. Abreu qualified ninth and turned an outside front row heat race start into a win. The inversion draw placed the Abreu Vineyards #24 again on the outside of the front row in the feature event. As Kyle Hirst drove to the front and took the 25 lapper Abreu settled for a fourth place finish. The next night saw Abreu on top of his game for the high paying Bradway Memorial. He began by qualifying third of the 38 cars pitted, and then transferred to the dash with a fourth place finish in heat three. The draw placed Rico’s Paul Silva wrenched mount on the pole, where he took the $1000 win. The win earned another pole for the main event and Abreu took full advantage by outpacing the field throughout the 40 lap race. The win was Abreu’s second consecutive King of the West Series victory and seventh of his career, and deposited an additional $6500 in his pocket. “It feels great to get another Bradway win,” said Abreu in victory circle. “I can’t thank Paul Silva and my guys enough for giving me a great car. We’ve been on a roll to start the year and I really hope we can keep it up when we head back to the Midwest later this month.” Abreu’s next stop was to be the following Friday at Granite City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Illinois for the USAC/POWRi National midget “Hut Hundred.” However Mother Nature had other thoughts in mind, which saw the major event rained out for the second consecutive year. The same contingent headed to Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Illinois the next night for the “Belleville Bash.” Back in the seat of the Keith Kunz Motorsports midget, in which his last appearance saw a two night sweep of the “Kokomo Grand Prix,” Abreu set a new track record (11.098) to begin the festivities. A second place finish in the opening heat placed him sixth on the feature grid. Contact with another car in the early going sent Abreu to the back of the field. From there he wowed the crowd with a determined drive back to the front of the 40 lap race, garnering a podium finish behind teammate and defending USAC national midget champion Christopher Bell, and second place Bryan Clauson. “I was a little too impatient early and got into the back of someone,” Rico said after the race. “Luckily it was early enough in the race that we were able to rebound and get back through there. The track was a handful, but we passed a lot of cars.” Abreu then headed to North Carolina for a midweek race that saw the Outlaw Kart grad return to his roots for the star studded Speed Sport Challenge at Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury. With names such as JJ Yeley, Paul McMahan, and Joey Saldana, along with the top outlaw kart talent from around the country on hand, Abreu had his work cut out for him in the overpowered mini missiles. With 54 karts assembled he qualified 12th and transferred to the A-main with a third place finish in his heat. Unfortunately, engine issues sent Abreu’s kart to the infield late in the race while running in the top ten. “This sure was a lot of fun to be a part of such a big event for the outlaw karts,” Abreu said at the end of the night. “These cars are small but they are about as fun as anything you can race, as you can see by some of the people who hopped into one just for this race. I just wish we could have had a better showing, and I hope to be able to do it again next year.” Next up for Rico was a double header at one of his favorite tracks, Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, as both events comprised the Sue Thiel Memorial. Night one saw 26 cars pitted as Abreu posted fast time. A flat tire in his heat race relegated the Kunz # 97 to the B-main, which Abreu won. A start from deep in the feature field didn’t deter Rico from getting another podium finish, as he was topped only in the final standings by Bell. “Keith, Pete Willoughby, and Chuck Gurney gave me a really fast car tonight” Rico commented. “I wish we didn’t have that flat in the heat race. I still thought I had a shot at winning though.” The next night saw another bright beginning as Abreu again set quick time over a 27 car field. After powering to the heat race win Rico gridded fourth in the 22 car field. With KKM teammate Tanner Thorson leading in the early stages of the feature, calamity struck Abreu as he clipped the right rear tire of another competitor going into turn three. From there Rico cleared the turn three and four fence, ending with a big tumble outside the racetrack. Although he jumped out of his heavily damaged machine seemingly uninjured, further tests in the coming days revealed a broken collarbone. Following surgery in Indianapolis Rico is on the mend. The USAC midget point leader is optimistic about his prospects of returning. “One of my biggest goals for this season is to win the USAC national midget title,” said Abreu. “The next point race is the opener for Indiana Midget Week at Gas City Speedway on June 11th. I’m going to do everything I can to be ready by then.” Abreu’s racing efforts are sponsored by Abreu Vineyards, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, Alpinestars, Stadelhofer Construction, FK Rod Ends, Schoenfeld Headers, Brown & Miller Plumbing, BR Motorsports, All Star Performance, Lucas Oil, Wilwood Disc Brakes and XYZ Machining, Inc. For more information, photos and videos on Abreu please visit www.ricoabreuracing.com.
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