By T.J. Buffenbarger
ROSSBURG, Ohio (September 24, 2016) — Rico Abreu made his effort to fly back from New Hampshire to run the USAC National Midget Car Series portion of the 4-Crown Nationals at Eldora Speedway worthwhile with a dominating victory in the feature event. Abreu was fast qualifier, won his heat race, and then took the lead from Chad Boat and drove away from the field. The win was Abreu’s second 4-Crown Midget Car feature win of his career driving for Keith Kunz Motorsports.
“They give me phenomenal race cars every time I come and race for this guy,” Abreu said about the Keith Kunz led race team. “All we did was sit there and shoot the shit and laugh, just enjoying. It’s what makes part of racing. I’m very fortunate to race for these guys.”
Chad Boat and Tanner Thorson raced side by side for the lead into turn one while Abreu went from the top of the track to dive to the bottom of turns one and two to go from sixth to second by turn three. Abreu followed that by diving under Boat for the lead through turns one and two. Boat tried to cross lines and counter Abreu’s move, but Abreu was able to hold onto the lead in turn three.
From there Abreu motored away from the field and built up a half track lead until the caution appeared for Tyler Courtney slowing down the front stretch.
Abreu pulled away during the restart while Bacon and Thorson moved Boat back to fourth. Up front though it was all Abreu pulling away for the victory over Thorson, Bacon, Boat, and Holly Shelton.
USAC National Midget Car Series
4-Crown Nationals
Eldora Speedway
Rossburg, OH
Saturday September 24, 2016
Qualifying: 1. 97K – Rico Abreu, 17.164; 2. 97 – Spencer Bayston, 17.647; 3. 76M – Brady Bacon, 17.647; 4. 67 – Tanner Thorson, 17.721; 5. 33 – Davey Ray, 17.724; 6. 84 – Chad Boat, 17.775; 7. 71 – Ryan Robinson, 17.852; 8. 67K – Holly Shelton, 17.972; 9. 25X – Jerry Coons Jr. , 18.065; 10. 37 – Jake Blackhurst, 18.153; 11. 7K – Tyler Courtney, 18.155; 12. 4 – Ryan Greth, 18.197; 13. 11A – Andrew Felker, 18.211; 14. 11AG – Dave Darland, 18.236; 15. 37X – Justin Grant, 18.391; 16. 3N – Jake Neuman, 18.491; 17. 52 – Issac Chapple, 18.528; 18. 81JR – Bear Wood, 19.075; 19. 71.5 – Robert Bell, 19.266; 20. 5 – Gary Gibson, 19.763; 21. 3 – Eric Hein, 20.411; 22. 50 – Tony Dimattia, NT; 23. 25 – Steve Buckwalter, NT; 24. 71K – Carson Macedo, NT; 25. 76 – Ken Drangmeister, NT;
Heat Race #1 (8 Laps): 1. 97K – Rico Abreu, 2. 67 – Tanner Thorson, 3. 11A – Andrew Felker, 4. 71 – Ryan Robinson, 5. 3N – Jake Neuman, 6. 37 – Jake Blackhurst, 7. 3 – Eric Hein. DNS: 50 – Tony Dimattia.
Heat Race #2 (8 Laps): 1. 97 – Spencer Bayston, 2. 11AG – Dave Darland, 3. 33 – Davey Ray, 4. 67K – Holly Shelton, 5. 52L – Issac Chapple, 6. 7K – Tyler Courtney, 7. 71.5 – Robert Bell, 8. 25 – Steve Buckwalter.
Heat Race #3 (8 Laps): 1. 84 – Chad Boat, 2. 76M – Brady Bacon, 3. 71K – Carson Macedo, 4. 25X – Jerry Coons Jr, 5. 37X – Justin Grant, 6. 4 – Ryan Greth, 7. 8JR – Bear Wood, 8. 5 – Gary Gipson.
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 97K – Rico Abreu, 2. 67 – Tanner Thorson, 3. 76M – Brady Bacon, 4. 84 – Chad Boat, 5. 67K – Holly Shelton, 6. 33 – Davey Ray, 7. 71K – Carson Macedo, 8. 71 – Ryan Robinson, 9. 25X – Jerry Coons Jr, 10. 11AG – Dave Darland, 11. 11A – Andrew Felker, 12. 37X – Justin Grant, 13. 3N – Jake Neuman, 14. 52 – Issac Chapple, 15. 37 – Jake Blackhurst, 16. 8JR – Bear Wood, 17. 71.5 – Robert Bell, 18. 7K – Tyler Courtney, 19. 3 – Eric Hein, 20. 5 – Gary Gipson, 21. 4 – Ryan Greth, 22. 97 – Spencer Bayston. DNS: 25 – Steve Buckwalter.
Larry Rice Hard Charger Award: Macedo